Dow Academy, historic school in Franconia, New Hampshire, United States
Dow Academy is a school building in Franconia, New Hampshire, rebuilt in 1903 after a fire destroyed the original structure. The two-story wooden structure displays Colonial Revival style with seven facade sections, a tall brick base, elegant columns at the entrance, and a prominent octagonal clock tower with clock faces on four sides.
The school was founded in 1884 by publisher Moses Arnold Dow, with the first building completed in 1885. After the fire of 1902, the current structure was rebuilt in 1903 by architect Chase R. Whitcher and served as a school until 1958.
The building is named after its founder Moses Dow and stands near the town center where it shapes the local landscape. The clock tower remains a visible reminder of the school's role in community life and is actively maintained by residents as a meaningful landmark.
The building is visible from the street and located near Dow Field park in the town center. Since it now functions as residential condominiums, interior visits are not available, but the exterior architecture and clock tower can be viewed from the surrounding public area.
The clock tower was donated by Charles Greenleaf and the clock mechanism came from the renowned Boston firm E. Howard & Co., making it a rare combination of local generosity and technical craftsmanship. The community funded a clock tower restoration in 2014 and updated the main entrance in 2023.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
