Marissa Historical and

Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 245

Marissa, IL 62257-0245

USA

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 Marissa Academy Building built 1891 

Welcome

to the Web Site of the Marissa Historical & Genealogical Society

OUR PLEDGE

We are committed to help make research easy for everyone.

The Marissa Historical and Genealogical Society was founded in 1969 and was incorporated shortly thereafter.  The basic principles of the society are to foster the research of the family roots  and to preserve and maintain historical records and cultural values for educational purposes.

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JUST PUBLISHED!!

ONE NEW BOOK!!

BIBLE RECORDS

From Historical Society's Files

COMING SOON!

Some Burial Records

from

Hull Funeral Home

Marissa/New Athens

and

A Picture Book of Marissa Centennial 1967

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About Our Home, the Marissa Academy Building

Before the Marissa Academy began in the fall of 1886, education in Marissa, IL was limited to the elementary school grades.  The community and church leaders felt that there was a need for a secondary education and thus the Marissa Academy, a tuition school, was organized in 1886.  Upon graduation the students who attended this Academy were admitted to Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL without taking entrance examinations.  Classes were held in various facilities until 1891 when construction of the Marissa Academy Building was started.  Classes began in this facility that fall.

This building is one of only a few left from that time period in Illinois.  It was designed as a multi-purpose two-classroom building with a stage.  As part of the community Bicentennial project in 1975, the Marissa Academy Building was extensively restored.

In 1976 the St. Clair County, Illinois, Historical Society recognized the Academy Building as a unique architectural structure and awarded it their "Landmark" plaque.

The Southern Illinois Tourism Council recognized the Academy Building as a unique tourist attraction because of the Museum and Genealogical Library and in 1979 placed the facility on their tourism brochures for St. Clair County, Illinois.

In 1994 the Marissa Academy Building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in the United States of America.

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Please look through our web site and visit us often, both online and in Marissa, Illinois, at the Academy Building.  We will be delighted to assist you in anyway possible.  If you still have questions, please fill out the following to contact us:

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President: Kay F. Jetton

Secretary: Louise Wagner

Webmaster: K. Jetton

Updated - 1 February 2012 - Authorized by the MHGS Executive Board.

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