Name/Title
START HERE - Bain Academy 1889Description
Historic Bain Restoration, a Mint Hill group that led efforts to save and repurpose Historic Bain Academy for many years, received five Awards of Excellence from the North Carolina Society of Historians at its annual meeting in November of 2023. One award was given to the organization, Awards of Excellence in Journalism to Mary Beth Foster and Carol TImblin, and Multimedia Awards of Excellence to Dave Martinson and Clint Hall, Create A Video.
Maxine McCall, president of the North Carolina Society of Historians, and members of the organization's board commended Historic Bain Restoration for its excellent contribution to the preservation and heritage of the Old North State. Judges for NCSH offered these words of praise for the project:
“As described in Carol Timblin's article (‘The Legacy of Bain Academy’ and in the accompanying video (‘The Legacy of Bain Academy: A Beacon of Education in North Carolina’), the quality of the work on this project to preserve that Legacy was excellent. Much research, resourcefulness, creativity, and perseverance went into each of the various stages of this project.
“The article and video chronicle the history and the enduring legacy of the Bain Academy in Mint Hill, NC. Both deliver a poignant portrait of John Bain, founder of the school in 1889. Bain was passionate about his vision for providing a well-rounded educational experience for students of the Academy. The curriculum was comprehensive and
challenging -- ahead of its time in offering Latin, physics, rhetoric, and oratory, in addition to basic courses in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Later, it became a leader in being one of the first high schools to offer college-level preparation for students.
“What the school meant to its surrounding community became resoundingly clear through their inspiring resilience to rebuild the academy when it was destroyed by fire in 1903. More recently, when heroic efforts of the Historic Bain Restoration Group couldn't save the building from demolition, that group of passionate, resilient, persevering historians salvaged bricks from the Academy to build a striking memorial to honor and preserve the Spirit and Legacy of the school and its founder. Thanks to their untiring efforts, Bain's Educational Vision and the Legacy of his Pioneering School -- which led the way for improvements in educational practices statewide -- will not be forgotten.
"In conclusion, 'The Legacy of Historic Bain Academy' article and video are more than just historical documentaries, but tributes to an institution that has left an indelible mark on North Carolina's history. Meticulous research, compelling narrative, and respectful homage to Bain Academy make this project worthy of recognition from the North Carolina Society of Historians."
Historic Bain Restoration commissioned AIA Architect Stefan Piensky, a member of the Preserve Mecklenburg, Inc., Board, to design the monument, which was built by local companies on Philadelphia Church land and dedicated on May 21, 2023. It features handmade brick and the cornerstone salvaged from the school building after it was demolished in 2020, as well as the original school bell that was housed at the church for many years. It also features a bronze plaque that honors John Bain and another that notes the school’s lasting impact on the community of Mint Hill.