MINOT – The Minot Historical Society met April 19 at the Minot Town Office with 19 in attendance. After a brief meeting, Eleanor Thayer introduced the speaker, David Stonebreaker of Hebron Academy.

Stonebreaker said a land grant was given to the area known as Shepherdsville in 1791. The Baptist church was formed in 1792 and the elders went to Massachusetts to give their town a name. They had chosen Columbia but was told it had already been given to a town in Washington County.

Stonebreaker said they went back to their hotel, ran their fingers down through the Bible and came upon the name of Hebron and chose it for their town.

Hebron Academy was started in 1804 and in 1847 the first dwelling was built. The most famous person graduating from the academy was Hannibal Hamlin.

Stonebreaker said that because the school had connections with the Baptist church and the missionaries there, they probably brought students from other countries, such as Bulgaria, Cuba, Mexico and Burma. Students also came from Minot and other Maine towns.

The school was co-educational and boarding, as it is today, was common. Due to World War II, the school was closed as the young men were drafted into the war.

Stonebreaker mentioned Bailey Block, which, from 1830 to just recently, was a boarding house. He also spoke of the Packard House and had a display of photos of the houses. By 1910, there were 140 beds.

Leslie Cameron of Laconia, N.H., who graduated in 1910, wrote a book of her experiences, and Stonebreaker read excerpts.

From 1921 to 1972 the doors were closed to women, and from 1946 to 1965 the school was exclusively for boarding students, many from the Boston area. The academy presently has a program for one-year students, which patrons abroad sponsor. They have five students in the program now.

Today, there are 220 students in high school and 40 students in the lower grades. Nearly 70 percent are boarders and a third of the students are women. A question-and-answer period followed the presentation.

Members will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at the Minot Town Office when Wilma Irish, will present a talk on “1850 School Days.” Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.