The Richwood Academy, historically known as the Mount Pleasant School, is located at 836 Lambs Road in the Richwood section of the township of Harrison in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Built in 1870, the historic schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 2023, for its significance in architecture and education.[4] The building, also known as the Richwood Academy Cultural Center, is used by the Harrison Township Historical Society for lectures and performances.[5]

Mount Pleasant School
Richwood Academy, formerly the Mount Pleasant School
Richwood Academy is located in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Richwood Academy
Richwood Academy is located in New Jersey
Richwood Academy
Richwood Academy is located in the United States
Richwood Academy
Location836 Lambs Road, Richwood, New Jersey
Coordinates39°43′18″N 75°09′41″W / 39.72167°N 75.16139°W / 39.72167; -75.16139 (Mount Pleasant School)
Built1870 (1870)
Built byThomas S. Sharp and James Fletcher
NRHP reference No.100009116[1][2]
NJRHP No.3164[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 14, 2023
Designated NJRHPMarch 21, 2023

History and description

edit

The two-story, two-room schoolhouse was built in 1870 by Thomas S. Sharp and James Fletcher. It is the second one located at this site. The first was a one-room schoolhouse built in 1855.[4] The community has been known by various names, Mount Pleasant by 1850, Five Points in 1869, and Richwood in 1889. It was named by "Fancy Joe" Jackson after a relative, Garwood Richwood Marshall.[6] The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1950, when the township elementary school opened. In 1951, the Richwood Academy Association was formed and they purchased the building.[4]

 
Richwood Academy Cultural Center sign

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#100009116)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "Weekly List 2023 07 21". National Park Service. July 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Gloucester County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. September 11, 2023. p. 3. other names: Five Points School; Richwood School; Richwood Academy
  4. ^ a b c "Historic Richwood Academy Added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places". Harrison Township, New Jersey. September 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Harrison Township Historical Society".
  6. ^ Boyle, Freddie (November 19, 1960). "Quiet Richwood Once Was Gay". Courier-Post. p. 20.
edit