The Rise of Homer Central High School

Among all schools, there is always a story that dates back to the beginning. As for Homer High School, it traces back to February 4, 1819. However, it was known as Cortland Academy.

While attending Cortland Academy, students could take regular courses “usually taught in common schools, the best academies, and most studies continuing in college” (History of Homer New York). Cortland Academy was the first school in the area of higher learning. Additionally, the library contained over fifteen hundred volumes of work.

In the spring of 1830, Samuel B. Woolworth was appointed principal at the Cortland Academy. His effort built up the first classical school and provided those who did not intend to have a college degree, to have some knowledge in mathematics and natural science. To make the school even better, more teachers were brought to teach one specific course, so there was more devotion towards each subject. Written by Henry Barnard, “The American Journal Of Education Volume 15” entails more deeply on this information.

Before any of that happened, this beautiful academy was designed by George Almy. As described from Hamilton Child, “The new edifice occupies the site of the old one, is of brick, ninety-six feet long, and its greatest width seventy-two feet. The corners of the end projections and of the central tower are of hewn stone. The main entrance in the tower is finished in the same way and arched. The windows are all surmounted by cut stone. The lower story is for the heating apparatus and for chemical and lecture rooms. The second story is for the library, the cabinet, the mathematical and two large study rooms. The third story is for chapel and four study and recitation rooms. A Mansard roof gives room in the fourth story for two ante-rooms and a large hail with a central height of twenty-six feet. There are two rear entrances with staircases communicating with every story.” (History of Homer, New York).

Ultimately, this is the story of how our school became to be.