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The History of Andrews Osborne Academy

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This is the history of Andrews Osborne Academy, located in Willoughby, OH.

Andrews Osborne Academy (AOA) is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day (age 3 to grade 12) and boarding (grades 7-12) school near Cleveland. The Academy offers early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary education to committed students in our multicultural settings.

1846 - Birthdate of Margaret Marsh St. John

Margaret M. St. John, who later became Mrs. Wallace C. Andrews, was born on February 10, 1846 to Dr. Orson Swift St. John and Louisa Card St. John.

1867 - Margaret St. John married Wallace C. Andrews

Wallace C. Andrews (age 34) married Margaret M. St. John (age 21) on February 7. They lived on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, for several years where Mr. Andrews attended to his coal, iron, Standard Oil, and railroad businesses.

Wallace & Margaret Andrews

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1899 - Fire Claims the lives of Wallace & Margaret

in the years that followed a court battle ensued for their estate.

1899 On April 7, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews and ten other persons perished in a tragic fire that destroyed their New York home at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Sixty-Seventh Street.

1899-1909 During these years, there was a series of legal battles though the Surrogate, the United States Court of Appeal, and, finally, the Supreme Court of the United States before the provisions of the Andrews' wills could be executed. The first contention was issued by the Andrew's next of kin and based on a New York law of 1860 that stated that no person with immediate living relatives could leave more than half of his estate to a charitable or benevolent enterprise. The second was by the Smithsonian Institution based on the provision in the wills stating that if for some reason the plans for the school for girls should fail or be termed illegal, the money earmarked for the school should go to the Smithsonian.

1902 - 1909

1902 - In March, the Ohio Assembly passed the Enabling Act to provide for the administration of a charitable trust such as the one indicated in the Andrews' wills. Based on this authorization, the School was incorporated on May 13. The Smithsonian Institution then contested the wills, claiming that Ohio Enabling Act was unconstitutional.

1908 - Justice Chase of the United States Court of Appeals, in October, ruled that Mr. and Mrs. Andrews had perished together in the fire and therefore the trustees of The Andrews Institute for Girls were entitled to the gift outlined in the Andrews' wills.

1909 - Sherwood D. Shankland, Superintendent of the Willoughby Schools and member of the State legislature from Lake County, was chosen as the first Superintendent of The Andrews Institute on October 13.

1910 - The Andrews Institute was founded

On September19, the fall term began with 21 regular and 60 part-time students. The first dormitory was a rented house at 40 Euclid Avenue; the first housemother was Mrs. Mary W. Seelye. The institution at first was located in the Andrews St. John homestead in Willoughby, OH.

Applicants for admission to the school were to be between the ages of 10 and 16. No classes were below the 6th grade. A physical examination was given before entering.

1912 - The First Commencement

The first Commencement was held on July 26. There were five graduates: Marion Billson, Helen Burke, Isabel Mosher, Louise Waite,and Nellie Wood.

In the Fall, enrollment had reached 150 students, three additional dormitories had been opened, and the departments of Millinery, Homemaking and Cooking were added.

1913 - The Present School Site Was Purchased

1913 In October, the present school site was purchased from Messrs. Ward, Harmon, Page, and Squares. Two events prevented building: World War I and the failure of the New York Steam Company (one source of the Andrews bequest). However, the new location was surveyed and drained, orchards and vineyards were planted and harvested and a nursery containing over 60,000 trees was planted.

1917

1917 - The first meeting of the Andrews Alumnae Association was held.

Early Alumnae Banquet 

1922 - Margaret St. John Building

1922 - Ground was broken for the Margaret St. John Building; the corner stone was laid on November 28. The Margaret St. John Building was dedicated in 1924.

Margaret St. John Building 

1922 - 1929

1922 - Mary W. Seelye became Superintendent of the School from 1922 to 1927.

1925 - The laundry building was moved from the St. John property to the Andrews campus.

1926 - The Survey Commission was appointed to study the needs of The Andrews Institute.

1927-1929 - Forrest S. Lunt served as Director; Miss Clara Menger served as the first Dean of Girls. Five new dormitories were completed: Andrews House, St. John House, Alice Hanscom House, House Four, and House Five. Elijah Ward House and Kirtland House were redesigned and rebuilt.

Dorms

There are seven cottages for student to live in. Under the wills The institute is for a free education of girls and for their support in proper cases during education rendering them self-supporting. There was a minimal charge of two dollars a week for students that board. By 1939 the boarding fees went up to 3 dollars and 50 cents per week

These are dorm photos from an early catalog. 

Hanscom , Andrews, Crosby & House No. 5 

Mentor Ave. House, Seeyle House, Kirtland House, Elijah Ward House 

1929 - Ralph O. Hibschman

Ralph O. Hibschman was appointed Director; Miss Eugenia Overturf was appointed Dean of Girls.

1931 - The Andrews School for Girls

The School's charter was amended to make the Board of Trustees self-perpetuating and to change the name to the Andrews School for Girls.

1935

The dairy on the Andrews property was abandoned and the facilities were used for fattening steers for the School.

1936 - Miss Roberta M. Lee

1936 - Miss Roberta M. Lee was appointed Dean of Girls.

1939 - The Administration Building

1939 - The Administration Building was dedicated.

Administration Building 

1956

The Van Gorder family presented their residence to the School, and their home was used as the School's Infirmary.

1958

The Recreation Room in the Margaret St. John Building was refurbished.Mr. Ralph O. Hibschman retired. Miss Roberta M. Lee was appointed Directory; Miss Harriet M. Gray was appointed Dean of Girls.

1964

The Board of Trustees received permission from the court to charge tuition due to the effects of inflation.

1970

The Roberta M. Lee Building (library and science facilities) was dedicated.

Roberta M. Lee Building 

1972

The [Willoughby] School of Fine Arts building was completed on the northeast corner of the School's campus.

1974

The last February Baccalaureate and commencement was held, Sunday, February 10. The first spring Baccalaureate and Commencement was held Sunday, May 19.

1980

Kathryn Lupold, Dean of Girls.

1980 - 1981

The Van Gorder Health Center was completed. Miss Lee and Miss Gray retired; Charles D. Marsee was appointed Headmaster. The Office of Student Affairs was formed with Barbara Beesley as Assistant Head.

1987

The indoor Riding Area complex was completed and dedicated.

1996

Lynn Russell White was appointed as Head of School.

1997

Middle School Ribbon Cutting. The Middle School consists of grades 5-8. The Andrews Osborne middle school curriculum is interdisciplinary and is designed with the expectation that students will advance toward a college preparatory curriculum.

1998

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Field House and Equestrian Center

1999

Grand Opening of the Equestrian Center Barbara K. Beesley appointed Head of School

2000

Opening ceremonies for the Field House. First Interscholastic Equestrian Invitational is held. Eight schools participate with a total of 60 riders. High point champion was the Madeira School. The Andrews School was reserve champion. Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Thomas W. Mastin Observatory on the Andrews Campus.

2001

Ray Nelson was appointed as head of the school. With the creative talents of a middle school art teacher, Andrews raised 130,000.00 through the sale of t-shirts, to help the Red Cross and September 11th funds.

2003

David Rath appointed as head of the school.

July 1, 2007 - The Andrews School and Phillips-Osborne School Merge

The Andrews School and Phillips-Osborne School merge to become The Andrews Osborne Academy.

Mentor businessman and Phillips-Osborne Trustee President Jerome T. Osborne Sr. has pledged $12 million over a four-year period.

Andrews Osborne Campus Today 

2007 Andrews Osborne Academy Dedicates Library

Andrews Osborne Academy hosted a dedication ceremony for their newly named and renovated Susan A. Dickinson, '74 Memorial Library on Sunday, September 16, 2007. The completion of the $550,000 project that began in March, was made possible through a generous donation of $300,000 from an anonymous donor via the Thomas W. Murphy and Florence T. Murphy Fund in the New York Community Trust. Additional gifts of $25,000 were also made by The Andrews Alumnae Association and the Andrews Osborne Friends of the Library.

2007 - Charles J. Roman named as head of Andrews Osborne Academy

Andrews Osborne Academy names Charles J. Roman as the new Head of the School for the 2008-2009 school year.

2010

Celebrating 100 years of education is an achievement.

Andrews Osbornen Academy Centennial
As we celebrate 100 years of educating women, and now young men, our mission has remained steadfast - to prepare students for college and empower them to succeed. An essential element of our success is a dedicated community willing to provide opportunities for young men and women to attend Andrews Osborne Academy.

Andrews Osborne Academy

Andrews Osborne Academy has a proud past and a bright future. As we approach our centennial in 2010, we are committed to being an example for excellence in our community. Our graduates are leaders locally as well as in communities across the nation and around the world. We encourage you to visit AOA, so you can discover why we are so proud of what we have to offer your family.

The Andrews School Alumnae Association

This information was compiled by The Andrews Alumnae Association. The purpose of our site is to provide alumnae with up-to-date information about news and events, allow you to update your contact information and pay your dues and make donations online.

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  • Reply
    jpsk8er220 Mar 6, 2009 @ 11:04 am | delete
    i am a new student at aoa. my sister has been going there for 4 years. I love this school though i liked how the floral arrangments were back in the time. it was such a pretty school. and those images will always be in my heart. there is only one boy in my grade i am in 7th grade and it roxs though there is alot of drama
    bye
  • Reply
    stephluff98 Sep 30, 2008 @ 2:48 pm | delete
    As a proud Alumna of The Andrews School, I always enjoy seeing these old photos. The alumna of this wonderful school are a unique group of women from all corners of the world. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to attend this institution and be part of its colorful history.
  • Reply
    Frankster Jul 23, 2008 @ 2:02 am | delete
    Excellent lens. What a history.
  • Reply
    Christopher_Scott Jul 22, 2008 @ 11:08 am | delete
    Great lens. I really like the pictures of the old buildings.
  • Reply
    chefkeem Jul 21, 2008 @ 9:52 pm | delete
    It must be nice to have good connections with your old school. My high school in Munich was newly built, and I was one of the first students there. Now I'm history, literally.
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