Westford Academy – The Westford Historical Society & Museum

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

From 1794-1897, Westford Academy was located on the corner of Main Street and Boston Rd.. It had a classroom on each floor.

The second Westford Academy building (1897-1955) is now Roudenbush Community Center on Main Street . 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 (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, was built in 1973, with a significant enlargement in 2000-01.

Original Founders and Trustee of Westford Academy

Westford Academy Trustee 1792
(Click on links for bios)

Capt. John Abbot, Westford, MA
Rev. Moses Adams, Acton, MA
Rev. Caleb Blake, Westford, MA
Col. Ebenezer Bridge, Chelmsford, MA
Jonathan Carver, Westford , MA
Hon. James Prescott, Jr., Westford. MA
Sampson Tuttle, Esq., Littleton, MA
Dr. Charles Proctor, Westford MA
Rev. Ezra Ripley, Concord, MA
Gen. Joseph Bradley Varnum, Dracut, MA
Col. Zaccheus Wright, Westford, MA

The Purchase of Westford Academy

Westford Academy was originally established as a private school, 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

WHS History Pod: Geoff Hall Westford Academy Class of 1966 talks about attending Westford Academy

WHS History Pod: Jim Antonelli talks about the building of Westford Academy, Pattern Rd
and the 2000/01 Addition.

The Histories of the Westford Academies by Reed Peraner,
produced for Andy Norander’s Westford History class. (2012)