Old Academy Players

On July 9th, 1816, William Moore Smith and Ann, his wife, donated land of “56 square perches” to be held in trust, “and the said Trustees shall erect a building to be used as a school house and occasional place of worship”. A subscription was circulated for the purpose of raising funds for the school house from private contributors, and construction began. The building, the ‘Old Academy’, was completed in 1819, and over the years served not only as a school house, but was a meeting hall, the starting place for just about every church in the area, and the public library, until they eventually had permanent homes. In 1932, the building being in disuse and terrible condition, was offered to the Moment Musical Club. They then changed the club’s name to the ‘Old Academy Players’. Old Academy Players was formed in 1923 as the Moment Musical Club by 19 members of the Falls Methodist Church. Their first production was a musical called The Minister’s Wife’s New Bonnet. It was a rousing success. The club decided to do more shows under their own independent auspices, and gave theatrical productions; did charitable work and provided social fellowship for its members. However, the group had no permanent home. It rehearsed in local homes and barns and rented facilities for its performances. It staged plays at Palestine Hall, The YWCA of Germantown, the Germantown Women’s Club and any other rental space that was available and affordable.