On May 26, 1826, an act passed the Legislature incorporating the Galway Academy, authorizing the issuing of stock to the amount of $1500, in shares of $10 each, and naming Lewie Stone, Jesse H Mead, Philo Dauchy, Hugh Alexander, Thomas Mairs, and Noel Root as trustees until the annual election, which was to be held on the second Tuesday of January in each year. At these elections, eleven trustees were to be elected annually, and each share of stock was entitled to one vote.

In 1837, the act of incorporation was amended so as to allow an increase of the capital stock to $2500, and the privilege of increasing it to $3500 at any time within five years if thought desirable.

As soon as possible after the act of incorporation was passed the stock was issued, and work commenced on the buildings. It was the aim of the projectors to build up an institution for the higher education of the young of both sexes in one building, but in separate and distinct departments. With this end in view, the buildings were pushed forward to completion, and in the spring of 1838 the institution was opened for the reception of pupils. Rev. Gilbert Morgan was engaged to take charge of the male department, and have a general supervision over the female department, which was placed under the special charge of Mrs. Bazeley, formerly of Brooklyn Collegiate Institute.

The school at once became a success. Pupils from all parts of the State and some from other States filled the rooms, and all started off in a very successful and promising manner.

Mr. Morgan remained in the position of principal but one year, and then, having some difficulty with the trustees, started a private school, in the now house occupied by Nathaniel Briggs, which he styled “Union Academy”, and which, after a year or two, he abandoned and moved away. He was succeeded in the principalship by Mr. Alexander Watson, who made a very successful teacher. The next principal was Paoli Durkee, and he was followed for a short time by Clark Beecher. The female department had meantime been under the control of Mrs. Bazeley, Miss Colton, Miss Watrous, Mrs. O’Brien, Miss Thompson, and others. In 1850, the school was converted into a female seminary solely, and D.W. Smith assumed the control of it. From time to time additions were built on and repairs made, until it had become, in a financial sense, non-paying. In 1860 the school was discontinued, and Mr. Smith moved away. The property had been heavily mortgaged to a Mr. DeGroot, of New York, who had advanced money for repairs and improvements. After lying empty and unused for eight years, on the 30^th of November 1871, it took fire and burned to the ground, and the enterprise, conceived in a noble spirit of the public improvement and brought to such a promising degree of efficiency at such expense of time and treasure, vanished in smoke and fell to the ground in ashes.

Among those who were most prominent in the conception of this laudable measure, and who devoted their energies, time and means to secure its accomplishments, we may without appearing invidious, mention Dr. Nathan Thompson, General Earl Stimson, Colonel Isaac Gere, Thomas Mairs, John Gilchrist, Jr., Edmond Hewitt, Daniel Carmichael, Joseph Newland, and E. O. Smith.

Taken from: History of Saratoga County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.

By Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester 1878