Isaac Hudson built the Academy using funds raised by several local families. The lower floor was used for a school room and the upper floor was a “public audience Room.” The fan light above the door is one of two in the Historic District; the bell tower contains the original bell. The Academy offered an education beyond the rudimentary classes offered by the public school. Children from outside Miller Place attended the school and boarded with local families. Shareholders were primarily members of the Congregation Church and sought teachers of similar persuasion. Shortly before the Civil War secondary public education became available to all children. Consequently, families no longer sent their children to the Academy. It closed in 1868 but continued as a library and was used for public functions such as Sunday school, fund raisers club meetings, polling place, lectures, and social gatherings. In the late 1890s the Academy became the public school until 1937 when the North Country Road School opened. Today it is a community library. Descendants of the original share¬holders still own the building. The boys who attended the school had their share of troublemaking – Daniel Miller had a load of grain to be delivered to Yaphank – and it was long journey in those days, and he loaded his wagon the night before to get an early start. In the morning he arose bright and early to find that his wagon and grain were gone. He searched and finally found it astride the ridgepole in his barn – the boys had snuck out late at night and completely disassembled the wagon with the grain and raised the pieces up to the roof in silence and reassembled it together there. Times may change, but mischievous school boys’ shenanigans don’t.
