Poland Seminary

Poland Seminary,originallyPoland Academy,was a name used for a series of schools operated inPoland, Ohio.

First academy

The original Poland Academy was created in 1830 by aPresbyterianministernamed Bradley (first name unknown), in an room over ageneral store,teachingEnglish,classical languages,philosophyandliterature.After five years of operation, it was taken over by a man named Lynch who moved it to a site on what would be named College Street. This Academy closed in 1845 due to a lack of funding.

Second academy

In 1849, Barnabus F. Lee opened hisproprietaryLee's Girls Academy on College Street, and the Presbyterians opened a new Academy for boys. Lee's Girls Academy incorporated in 1854 as thePoland Female Collegeand moved into a larger building. In 1855, the Boy's Academy building burnt down and was never rebuilt, while the Female College moved into a new three-story brick structure elsewhere on College Street. Despite the name, the "Female College" appears to have begun taking male students at some time during this era, as contemporary biographies chronicle prominent males who were educated there.At some point, it seems to have shifted to the older name of Poland Academy, although the name ofPoland Instituteseems also to have been used.

TheOhio Law College,sometimes called the Poland Law School opened in 1855 in the building vacated by the Female College, but failed to attract funding, and in 1859 moved toCleveland, Ohio.The Poland Medical College which briefly operated on the third floor of the same building seems to have shut down at that time.

In the late 1850s,William McKinleyattended the Academy, graduating in 1859. Lee apparently had financing problems, as the Academy had to be reorganized in 1862. A new board oftrusteestook over, adopted the name "Poland Seminary," and paying off the debts of the old Academy; but by 1871, the school was once again suffering from a lack of cash. ThePresbyteryof Mahoning now took control of the school, operating it under the namePoland Seminary SchoolorPoland Union Seminaryas aChristian schoolteaching at ahigh schoolandjunior collegelevel. A dormitory for boys from out of town was built, but female students had to room and board in nearby private housing. From 1881-1883,Ida Tarbellwas thepreceptressor head teacher there.

Decline

In 1895, portions of the aging school building collapsed; the remainder was demolished, and a building built on the foundation. The seminary continued to struggle, and on June 21, 1909, the facility was sold to Poland's cityschool districtunder the condition that the high school retain the name of Poland Seminary. That school isPoland Seminary High School.

Notable alumni and faculty

• A. E. Lee- Ohio state legislator
• William McKinley- 25thPresident of the United States
• Ida Tarbell- muckraker journalist