Union Hall

Built in 1816, Union Hall was first established as a grammar school operated by the First Church of Christ of Farmington. Over the years, it has served various community purposes, including as a meeting place for both abolitionist and anti-abolitionist gatherings, a town hall, and a local library. Most recently, it housed the Art Guild of Farmington. Today, it is a private residence.

The Farmington Academy was founded in 1816 when local parents and church members recognized the need for a grammar school in Farmington. The Academy offered courses in math, grammar, geography, Latin, and Greek, educating both boys and girls. Much of the school’s popularity and success is attributed to its headmaster, Simeon Hart, a Yale graduate.

By the late 1820s, the school’s enrollment had nearly doubled from its inaugural year, and students from out of state began boarding with local families to attend. Hart left the school in 1835 to start a boys’ boarding school. Although the Academy remained open for another 15 years, its success and enrollment numbers declined. The school ultimately closed in 1850. During the abolitionist movement, Union Hall was a venue for meetings held by both abolitionists and anti-abolitionists, earning it a place on the Farmington Freedom Trail.

This site is privately owned and not open to the public.