Terpsichorean Hall

Allegany County was established in 1789, and for some period of time there were several privately operated schools, for girls as well as boys. In 1798 the Allegany County Academy, a college preparatory school was incorporated. In 1849 the Academy constructed a new facility on Washington Street, now the public library. The ladies of Cumberland held a large fair, raising hundreds of dollars for the school and the purchase of “philosophical apparatus”, things such as a color-wheel, microscope, telescope, and artificial eyes for the school’s use.

One can only wonder if this same level of support was shown to the girls' academy, Terpsichorean Hall, which though unrelated to the Allegany Academy was in operation during the 1840s and located just down the street.

It would not be until 1879 that women were admitted to the Allegany County Academy. Depicted here are the six young gentlemen and five young ladies of the Allegany County Academy Class of 1912

...From A History of the Allegany Academy, Cumberland, Maryland: 1798-1929.