St. Johnsbury Academy history

Starting in 1850, railroads became a major factor in St Johnsbury's growth and industry.

The South Hall was built in 1870 to house the students and teachers at a total cost of $36,000 and the total cost to build and equip the Academy was $103,000, which was subsidized by the Fairbanks.

The school was reincorporated in 1873 in order to accomplish the founders’ goal of providing exemplary educational opportunities to a wider range of students, not just those destined for liberal arts colleges and universities.

Kelly’s plan was adopted as a result of the passage of the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act which obligated the federal government to pay one-half of the teaching expenses for vocational education if a program was created.

The vision of an educational curriculum for non-college bound students surfaced many decades prior to the advent of the vocational program at E. & T. Fairbanks, Co. in 1918.

The first Vocational School graduation was held in Athenaeum Hall on June 14th of 1922 with ten students receiving their diplomas.

The enrollment of 81 students in 1939 resulted in the establishment of a special committee – at town meeting – to investigate our trade school needs because the Vocational School building had been outgrown.

By a two to one margin the voters of 1940 approved the building of a new Trade School on the site of the Elmwoode estate of Henry Fairbanks on Western Avenue.

Trafton returned as principal in the fall of 1942, after being a member of the University of Vermont faculty.