User:WJenos/sandbox

test of the sandbox

this is my second sandbox topic. I am excited to able to edit and make a small difference

New Section
ideas thoughts or concerns about wiki page

+being able to find information that is helpful, relevant, usable on wiki

+finding the time to be able to write a quality piece on New London Academy

+accessibility to editing, revising, saving on wiki

+maybe going to historic new london academy and talk with staff

Prof. D Response:
I can understand your concerns about finding material, but I don't want you to think you need to go there in person to talk to staff. The Siddons book will have most of what you need. You might also consult the Daisy Read book on New London history. Remember this is an encyclopedia article, not a research paper. What you'll want to do is learn all you can from the sources and then translate those into a readable, accessible piece for the general public.

Editing, revising, and saving will all come from your Wiki tutorials and in-class work. Let me know if you need help.

Prof. D

Evans Hall
Evans Hall was built in 1873 as a replacement for the Principal's House, which burned to the ground in 1867. It was named after Miss Martha Evans, the dorm matron and a teacher, who left the school to teach in Concord, Virginia. While the approval for the new building was confirmed in 1869, construction did not occur until 1872, after the short stint New London Academy had in the new public school system. During the time between the destruction of the original Principal's House and the construction of Evans Hall, it is unknown where the principals lived. Upon the construction of Evans Hall, which was built by J. W. Mays for $1,095. Evans Hall, though initially a residence for the principal, served other purposes in the latter years of the Academy. In the 1880's, a primary school was operated by the principal's wife. In the 20th Century, the principal's residence would be moved to Thomas Hall, and Evans Hall would be used first as a boys dormitory and later as storage and utility. In the 1960's, New London Academy was going through renovations and several buildings were demolished. Despite growing preservation efforts during the 1960's, Evans Hall was destroyed in 1964.

Thomas Hall
Thomas Hall was built as a boys dormitory in 1916-17, and was named for Principle O.A. Thomas. While the original plans for the dorm indicated that it would be a separate structure, the loan required that the money for construction had "...to be a renovation of, or an addition to, an existing building, not a new, freestanding structure." The principal at the time, Robert Q. Lowry, was disappointed in this because of his personal vision for the campus of New London Academy. The structure was eventually demolished in 1970 though the building it was attached to still stands.

Religion at New London Academy
While New London Academy has never been a religious academy at any point, though it has had religious connections in the past. First, the academy was affiliated with the New London Church or the Academy Church in the infancy of the school. When a Reverend Thomas Brown became the principal of New London Academy, one of his curriculum textbooks he marketed to prospective parents was the use of the New Testament as a textbook, though he took care to note that the school would avoid being linked to any one church denomination. Though there were no denominational links, one of the main goals of New London Academy and many schools at the time was to prepare the students for living completely, internally, externally and eternally. The school also hosted Vacation Bible School, and often let church organizations use the building, as some teachers were members of churches. The students also participated and even ran school chapels and led devotionals for other students. Students would also use religion to get out of class duties. A story noted in The Spirit of New London Academy goes as such. Ms. Coleman, a teacher at the academy was known for her passion for church and her disdain for the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Holy Bible. Students wanting to get out of their Latin lessons would ask her about the homily from the Methodist church, which she would gladly recite for the students. They would also ask her thoughts about the newest version of the Bible, the RSV, of which Ms. Coleman had many thoughts. Many of the students of New London Academy went on to be ministers, reverends, or bishops like JH Rice, Nicholas H. Cobb, who became the principal, and Bishop John Early.

=== Updates to General History/Info EDIT OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF NLA PAGE === In the late eighteenth century, New London, Virginia's hunger for education brought forth the need for proper education. Since the public school system had not been created yet, most schools were tuition-based academies. Thus, the New London Academy was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in December 1795. With the charter, New London Academy could be seen as more trustworthy. Early in 1775, the Academy was established on its present campus near the former town of New London as a classical school for boys.Eventually, the school became co-educational in the 1870's and in the late-1880's became affiliated with the new public school system. New London Academy is the only public school in Virginia to operate under a charter from the General Assembly. New London Academy has gone through many changes structurally, in addition to the changing makeup of the school body. Religion also played a big factor in the history of the school.