Proctor Academy history

In 1852, Book-keeping, Theoretical & Practical Surveying, and Pen Drawing were added, and a library was established.

George Dustan took over as principal in 1854 when the school fell victim to a smallpox outbreak, in which one of the teachers and a former student died.

As the school struggled, former Andover resident John Proctor, the inventor of the threaded wood screw, returned, in 1857, to build up the town.

In 1865, the school was closed and reopened in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, as the Wolfeboro Christian Institute.

In 1881, the school was opened as Proctor Academy in honor of John Proctor's contributions to the school.

Not realizing the severity of the economic downturn, in 1932 the trustees of the school invested $45,000 to build Maxwell Savage Hall.

At the first assembly of the 1935 school year, Headmaster Carl Wetherell announced that he was quitting due to the poor outlook for the school.

In 1971, David Fowler succeeded Lyle Farrell as Headmaster.

In 1974, the mountain classroom program was created, combining an Outward Bound type of small group outdoor experience with specialized academic sessions.

In 1998, the school initiated a capital campaign that raised more than thirty million dollars, resulting in expansion of facilities (Eco-dorm, Wise Community Center, Teddy Maloney '83 skating rink, Steve and Sarah Wilkins Meeting House), growth of endowment and increased faculty salaries.

European Classroom, an art and French language program, was created in 2011, replacing the France program.