THE HUDSON SELECT ACADEMY

HUDSON,

  COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK

By Captain Franklin Ellis¹⁵³

¹⁸⁷⁸

     The Hudson Select Academy was commenced in the year 1813.  The project was originated by an association of citizens of Hudson, among the most prominent of whom was Seth Jenkins.  He was deeply interested in the enterprise, and was made president of the association.  They erected a frame building for the use of the school, and that building is still standing, used as a dwelling, at the corner of Allen and South Third streets.  During the existence of the school it was better known as the "Shad Academy" than by the name given to it by its projectors.  This arose from the persistent efforts made by Mr. Jenkins to procure the passage by the Legislature of an act granting to the academy association the right to impose a tax on all persons fishing on the fishing-grounds in the vicinity of Hudson, and to apply the income accruing therefrom to the support of the school.  The institution lived for a number of years, but was never very prosperous.