City Directories and History: The Spartanburg Male academy was in existence in 1837 but the date of its origin is unknown. It was located in a small brick building at what is now the intersection of Henry and Union streets. Among the early teachers were Erastus Rowley, Elias Hall, John A. Leland, Z.D. Cottrell, William Irwin and Jonathan Hadden.
Major A.H. Kirby, who came to Spartanburg when he was eight years old in 1837. wrote that the Male academy was being taught that year by Jonathan Hadden, and that he learned the school had been taught a few years before that date by E.C. Leitner and others.
In 1848, the building was used by the Episcopal denomination as a place of worship, and this denomination continued to use the building at intervals until the completion of St. John’s college on the present site of Converse College. The Male academy was then closed, but the building was used by various organizations for several years. It was finally abandoned and later torn down. (RRF – 2021)
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