Wilkes-Barre Academy Explained

Wilkes-Barre Academy was a private school in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, established in 1807.^[1] The school had numerous prominent alumni including several politicians.

History

An old courthouse building was used before it became Wyoming Academy and a new brick building constructed. Female students occupied two rooms in the school's building before the Girl's Institute was established.^[2]

In 1838, the school became Wyoming Academy.^[3]

Miner-Hillard Milling Company was a major business in the area. Many students came to the school from outside the immediate area.^[4]

Alumni

• Benjamin Alden Bidlack, politician^[4]
• Lord Butler, leader in the Pennsylvania militia and one term member of the Pennsylvania legislature
• George Catlin, artist^[4]
• George Denison, U.S. Representative^[5]
• Laning Harvey (1882-1942), Pennsylvania state senator^[6]
• Ovid F. Johnson, attorney general^[4]
• Charles Abbott Miner (1830 - 1903), state representative^[7]
• George Washington Woodward, U.S. Congressman
• Hendrick B. Wright, state politician^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. June 3, 1808. Carey and Bioren. Google Books.
2. Book: Castrignano, Elena. Wilkes-Barre. June 3, 2012. Arcadia Publishing. 9780738597775. Google Books.
3. Web site: A Circular of Inquiry from the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society Respecting the Old Wilkes-Barre Academy. Wyoming Historical and Geological. Society. 3 June 1883. Society. 3 June 2019. Google Books.
4. Book: History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties, Pa: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers. 200. wilkes-barre academy.. June 3, 1880. W.W. Munsell & Company. Internet Archive.
5. Web site: A History of Wilkes-Barré, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: From Its First Beginnings to the Present Time, Including Chapters of Newly-discovered Early Wyoming Valley History, Together with Many Biographical Sketches and Much Genealogical Material. Oscar Jewell. Harvey. Ernest Gray. Smith. June 3, 1909. Raeder Press. Google Books.
6. Web site: Somewhere in Time: Senator Laning Harvey . www.citizensvoice.com . 12 January 2020.
7. Web site: The Historical Record of Wyoming Valley: A Compilation of Matters of Local History from the Columns of the Wilkes-Barre Record. June 3, 1903. Press of the Wilkes-Barre record.. Google Books.