Westford Academy (WA) was founded in 1792 as a private secondary school for children “of any nation, age, or sex.” It was exceptional from its beginning, taking both boys and girls as students as long as they could read the Bible without sounding out words and pay 9 shillings per term.
Today, it is Westford’s public high school, open free of charge to all children in the town. Westford Academy ranks among the best schools in the state, and the town is justifiably proud of its long tradition of education.
Westford Academy Building Generations
The first Westford Academy building (1794-1896) on Boston Road serves as the Westford Museum.
The second Westford Academy building (1897-1955) is now Roudenbush Community Center on Main Street .
The third Westford Academy building (1956- 1972) is now the Abbot School on Depot Road.
The fourth (and current) Westford Academy building(1973 to present) is located on Patten Road.
Westford Academy outgrew its original building, and in 1897 a second Academy building was constructed on Main Street. The highly ornamented building, designed in a late Victorian Richardsonian Romanesque style, is unique in Westford. The ell at the back of the building was added in 1928, the year the town purchased the Academy from the Westford Academy Board of Trustees. The building now serves as the Roudenbush Community Center.
The third Westford Academy building, now Abbot School, was built in 1955, followed by the fourth in 1973, with a significant enlargement in 2000-01.
The Purchase of Westford Academy
Westford Academy was originally established as a private school, but was changed to a public school in 1928. The vote took place a special town meeting on April 30, 1928 and the residents of Westford agreed to purchase the “Westford Academy” from the Trustees of the Academy. Below is the link to the Articles (1-5) as they were recorded in 1929 Annual Report of the Town of Westford for the year ending December 31, 1928
Special Town Meeting April 30, 1928 page 27
Special Town Meeting April 30, 1928 page 28