DOVER-FOXCROFT – For a few minutes on Friday, the front-end loaders, graders and dump trucks in the rear of Foxcroft Academy’s parking lot were silenced.

That silence lasted just long enough for school officials to herald a new chapter in Foxcroft Academy’s history and celebrate construction of a new dormitory that will house 48 students from around the world.

It is the academy’s first dormitory, and the project is being funded entirely through the tuition of boarding students and the philanthropy of alumni and friends, according to headmaster Dr. Ray Webb.

“With the breaking of ground on this project today, we are ensuring that our students who will reside in these dorms will have a safe and high-quality place to live during their time at the academy,” Webb said before an assembled group of trustees, town officials and representatives of the contractor and architect. “In addition, this dorm project will allow the academy to grow its boarding program, and as such, not only will the academy benefit, but the local community will benefit as these students and their families who visit them do business here in Dover-Foxcroft.”

Beth Postlewaite, assistant headmaster, gave participants on Friday a brief history lesson of the academy. She said James Holmes started teaching students in 1823 and the first school was erected in 1825 next to the Congregational church. In 1904, a new three-story building was added to the old school, she said.

In 1952, students moved into the current academy building constructed on land donated by Louis Oakes, an alumnus of the Class of 1892. Since then, a new gymnasium, an industrial arts building and several other additions have been made.

“While we remain committed to serving those students and families we have historically served, we are also making a new commitment today to serve students from around the world and around our nation,” Webb said.

“We believe deeply this building project will help make Foxcroft Academy a strong school academically, socially and financially,” he said. “The construction of these dorms allows all of our student body to connect itself globally and provide a multitude of learning opportunities for local students as well as students from abroad.”

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