Time is an abstract concept representing the progression of existence—measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. It gives structure to our lives by organizing past experiences, present events, and a future of possibilities, and time is both a scientific and philosophical phenomenon. In science, time is linked to Einstein's theory of relativity, which quantifies space, travel, and time. Philosophically, time governs natural—day and night, seasons, and lifetimes—serving as a constant yet fleeting measure of all that happens in an individual's life. Time ticks at the same rate for us all.
Recently, 573 Magazine had the opportunity to visit the historic Arcadia Academy and a former student of the Academy when it was an all-girl boarding school years ago. Built in 1846, the Arcadia Academy's time travel has created endless historical stories. Located in Arcadia Valley, the once Ursuline Academy was home to hundreds of young women. Today, it belongs to eight men and women relocated from California who seek to restore the building to its former greatness.
Walking through the grand archways and historic rooms, I brought my grandmother, who was once a student and a high school graduate of the Class of 1965. Having lived in the neighboring town her entire life, Linda Baldwin was what they liked to call a day student. Enrolling and beginning her classes as early as the first grade in 1953, she grew close to the other girls who attended the all-girls catholic school. Unlike the boarders, Linda, a day student, lived at home and commuted to school daily. Boarders were young women and girls from out of state, and in many cases from out of the country, who attended the Academy and lived in the dorms.
There are a millions memories here for Linda.
Strolling around the grounds of the Arcadia Academy, Linda reminisced about the time, twelve years, she spent here and the many friends and stories she created. In the theater, she told us about how she would skip out on plays to go into town with her girlfriends or how the nuns would sit above the balcony to watch those below. The room looked as if I had stepped back in time with the original wood chairs and waving glass nearly 200 years old—almost as if they were slowly melting over time.
John was smart, he signed up for the first and last dance on Linda's dance card.
Linda brought along many photos to accompany her stories. There were school class photos—all the young faces smiling, captured in time with black-and-white photography. The boys used dance cards to mark that the girl was permitted to dance with them. Her's was signed only once by her future husband, John Baldwin.
Several times Honor Roll student.
Linda still has her Academy class-dress.
It's funny how quality things always seem to stand the test of time.
Jeremiah and his partners focus all their time on preserving the history of this once-great estate. Traveling to other museums, reading old books, and talking to school alumni, they search for new ways to inform others about the building's history.
Historian Jeremiah and his partners offer guided tours throughout the Academy.
The old chapel is a great place for a private wedding.
The Academy offers many amenities, such as a bed and breakfast and guided facility tours. It also has a restaurant and ice cream parlor. The old chapel is used for weddings. If you're looking for a fun historic day out where your money goes towards the preservation of a local historical landmark, the Arcadia Academy in Arcadia Valley is time well spent.
There you have it. GET OUT THERE! Do something. Dig through your pictures. Take a tour. Restore a historic building. What one person can do, another person can. Do something. Do anything. GET OUT THERE!
words by Lakyn Douglas and T. Smugala
pics & video by Supreme Leader of 573 Magazine.
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