Submitted by Sara Zak
Academy Hall, West Suffield
The Suffield Historical Society is excited to announce a new chapter; starting in April, we will lease the historic Academy Hall in West Suffield from the West Suffield Village Improvement Association (WSVIA), potentially bringing this cherished landmark into our care for future generations.
Originally built in 1855 as the Center District, West Society school, Academy Hall served as a school until 1913, when the newly constructed West Suffield Elementary School opened at the site of the current fire station. At that time, the WSVIA purchased the building from the town. Over the years, Academy Hall has housed the fire department, hosted the Wide Awake Club, and served as a venue for countless community events. From 1950 to roughly 2010, the West Suffield Grange leased the building. Since 2000, the WSVIA has overseen renovations and ongoing maintenance of Academy Hall.
Academy Hall features several rooms ideally suited for exhibitions. The Society looks forward to sharing historic artifacts that are currently tucked away in the attic and closets of the Alexander King House. This summer, we plan to unveil a special display highlighting Suffield’s rich history. In addition, local public schools will showcase America250 projects created by students from all grade levels.
We hope that expanding our presence into West Suffield will inspire increased membership from that side of town. Currently, relatively few Society members reside west of Grand Street, and we want to ensure that the history from there and beyond the mountain is well represented in our stories. Whereas Main Street draws so much attention to the historic homes and the people who once lived in them, West Suffield deserves the spotlight for its natural beauty and history. Between the first cigar factory on Ratley Road and the Farmington Canal and the Congamond Lakes, West Suffield graces us with Sunrise Park and the Metacomet Trail.
While our focus is on Academy Hall this spring and summer, the Alexander King House & Museum will be open by appointment only. We will announce the date of Academy Hall’s opening celebration and its public visiting hours as soon as they are finalized. If you would like to help us set up our displays or share a favorite memory of West Suffield, contact us at suffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.