150th Anniversary Celebration Morris Academy Open House

On Saturday, May 23, visitors to the Morris Public Library enjoyed a step back in time to 1805, as Teen Advisory Council members, dressed in period costumes, greeted visitors to the “Morris Academy.”

A display of the Morris Academy, a pioneer school in coeducation lasting from 1790 to 1888, almost 100 years was created by the Library to celebrate the Town of Morris 150 Anniversary. Boys and girls were taught in the same classrooms with the same lessons, a practice unheard of in those days. The teens portrayed Academy students, along with the Academy founder and headmaster, James Morris, as well as Rhoda Farnam, their preceptress, head of the Ladies Department, and eventually second wife of James Morris. They treated the visitors to stories of what it was like to be a student at the Academy, what their day was like, and how homesick they would get, along with their future plans upon leaving the Academy. Visitors also had an opportunity to speak with James Morris about his liberal educational philosophy of coeducation and education of the “common man for the common walks of life,” and his insistence on high moral standards for his students. Rhoda Farnam explained to visitors the course of study they could expect for a son or daughter attending the Academy.

Sam Shurberg portrayed James Morris, with Paige Fischer as Rhoda Farnam. Connor Rollins was Obookiah, a missionary student from the Sandwich Islands, with Robin Morris, Kirsten Wyatt, Meagan Murray, Kelly Jeanfavre and Jenna Silver as female students. Robert Asman is the advisor for the Teen Advisory Council along with Library Director Lorraine Kerr Faison who did much of the actual coaching of the students in their roles. First Selectman, Karen Paradis and Sally Irwin, Library Board Chairman also assisted in the presentation with props, costumes and advice.

The library’s exhibit of the Morris Academy, along with information about James Morris, for whom the Town of Morris was named, will be in place until September. People are urged to stop by and view the exhibit and learn a little bit more about this very special man and the role his Academy played in the life of the area, as well as its influence in the political and social life of our early nation. Although Academy records are very limited, from lists of approximately 1200 students it was able to determine that about 10 town, 44 state, and 3 federal officials, 17 lawyers, 21 teachers, 8 doctors, 5 editors and 16 ministers and missionaries were former Morris Academy students, including John Brown and the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher. Approximately 58% of the students were male, and 39 % female.

Also assisting in the exhibit were Sharon Rosenberg, Connie Trolle, Barbara Aurell and Morinda Carlson Cree, along with Lance Loomis who is making a scale model of the Academy for display.

As a library fund raiser, a ceramic tile depicting the Academy and James Morris’ home is on sale in the library, along with Barbara Nolen Strong’s book, The Morris Academy, Pioneer in Coeducation in both paperback and hard cover. For further information contact the Library at 860-567-7440 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .