Then & Now: Andrew Small Academy Darnestown, 1908

“Then and Now” photos are an excellent way to explore the passage of time. In this special post, I have combined one of Lewis Reed’s original photograph’s for “then” and matched it with a corresponding contemporary shot for “now”. Taken over a century apart, these photos show the Andrew Small Academy in Darnestown, then and now.

Andrew Small Academy (THEN): In 1869, longtime member of the community and Scottish immigrant Andrew Small left a bequest for the establishment of a school for Darnestown. Named for its benefactor, the Andrew Small Academy was the largest school building in Montgomery County at that time. The building was used as a private educational institution until 1907, then used as a public high school for almost the next 50 years. The building was demolished in 1955 to make way for a new elementary school.

Andrew Small Academy building in 1908, shortly after it was closed. Photo by Lewis Reed

Andrew Small Academy (NOW): No longer standing. Site was located at 15030 Turkey Foot Road directly behind Darnestown Elementary School where a blacktop play area is now located. The tree shown in front of the Academy in Lewis Reed’s photo still stands north of the blacktop. The drive to the Academy came off Darnestown Road (Rt 28) sharing the same entrance to the northwest of the site still in use by Darnestown Presbyterian Church. The Academy was demolished in 1955 and replaced by the existing Darnestown Elementary School, which stands only a few hundred feet from where the academy was once located.

Darnestown Elementary School, which replaced the academy building in 1955.

Historical Marker https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=69716

The Academy was named for its benefactor, Andrew Small (a native of Scotland), who became attached to the neighborhood while working on the C & O Canal. The Andrew Small Academy is no longer standing. The school was located directly behind the Darnestown Elementary School, on Turkey Foot Road. The Andrew Small Academy was an important early private educational institution that was constructed in 1869 and used as a private school until 1907, when it was converted into a public high school.

This was the largest and finest academy in Montgomery County. It had boarding as well as local students, and went up through three years of high school. Up until 1892 the minister of the church was also principal of the academy and received a salary of $600. The school became the cultural center of the community with concerts, plays, recitals, and a literary society. In 1892 the academy got its first full time principal. Then in 1907 it was taken over by the Montgomery County school system, and in 1927 it was changed into an elementary school. This ended its service as a cultural center. A new elementary school (now Darnestown Elementary) was built to replace it in 1955.

Source: Maryland Historical Trust