School History
Denver Academy was founded in 1972, and occupied a schoolhouse in the Washington Park area of Denver until relocating to a 22-acre (8.9 ha) historic property in southeast Denver in 2001. It started out as a schoolhouse with only 36 students and 5 teachers. The headmaster, headmaster Knott, oversaw the school for 20 years, before Jim Loan took over in 1992. In 1984, Denver Academy purchased an elementary school near Washington Park, being the first time a private school purchased a DPS facility. The school saw a steady growth in enrollment, reaching 300 in 1996. In 2000, the school purchased Bethesda campus and transitioned the school to the new campus in 2001. In 2004, Richardson Hall was built, and in 2008, Kevin Smith became headmaster, serving only 5 years until Mark Twarogowski became headmaster in 2013. In 2018, the James E. Loan Athletic Center was built, and in 2023, the Louise McCabe Performing Arts Center was built.
Campus History
The campus upon which Denver Academy resides has been both a mental and Tuberculosis hospital. The first building, the Administration Building, was built in 1910, making it over a hundred years old. It started as a Tuberculosis hospital, originally named Bethesda. In 1925, the Chapel for which the school is renowned for, was constructed. a little under $20,000 was provided to build the Chapel. According to Landmark Ordinance, the Chapel and Gateway Structures (which were built in the 1930's) has prominent Dutch architecture, as seen in its stair-step design and red tile roofs. The Chapel was recognised as a landmark in 2000. Over the years, more buildings were added, and in 1948, the hospital transitioned from treating tuberculosis to aiding mental health. Denver Academy then took over the campus in 2000/2001. Since then some new buildings have been added, most recently being the new Theatre that finished construction in 2023. due to a long history with being a sanitorium, many of the school's buildings are rumored to be haunted with ghosts. the majority of them have been spotted in the Chapel and Middle School Upstairs. All in all, the school's campus has a rich history full of all kinds of secrets.
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