Carson Long Military Institute

History

Carson Long Military Institute is a preparatory boarding school for boys grades 6-12 located in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. It is a direct descendant of Bloomfield Academy, a Latin grammar school founded in 1836 during the "rough, tough, strenuous days of President Andrew Jackson." Although co-educational for a brief period in its early history, Carson Long accepts only male students. In 1840 the school moved two blocks up the street to its present location atop a hill overlooking the town. For a short time in the early 1850s, the school was purchased and operated by the Perry County Commissioners. In 1914 the school was purchased by Theodore K. Long, a graduate of Bloomfield Academy and Yale University, who became a prominent Chicago lawyer and city councilman. In 1916, he renamed the school Carson Long Institute as a living memorial to his son, William Carson Long, who was killed in a logging accident in the Pacific Northwest at a very early age. A non-profit organization since 1920, Carson Long Institute is the oldest preparatory school in the United States that still requires military training.

Campus

The campus spans over convert|400|acre|km2, separated into two parcels. The main campus covers 57 acres in northern New Bloomfield, nestled among the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains just convert|28|mi|km northwest of Harrisburg, the state capital. Camp Carson consists of convert|350|acre|km2 situated on Sherman’s Creek. There are a total of 9 buildings on the main grounds, five of which provide student housing. The oldest building is known as The Maples, built in 1840. The Maples houses documents and school artifacts as well as a reception hall, and serves as the residence of the President. There are 4 buildings which serve as classrooms and dormitories for the school's teachers and students: Centennial Hall, Willard Hall, Building `49 and a building known as Belfry Hall/Belfry Hall Annex. The library holds well over 10,000 volumes and is located inside a five story colonial-style bell tower. Other surrounding buildings include the infirmary, modern gymnasium, and the Edward L. Holman Memorial Chapel.

Cadet Life

Carson Long is a prep school and prepares students for college or any career they may choose. This is a long tradition with us. Subjects such as advanced placement math, science and foreign language courses are offered. Glee club, debate team, declamation team, piano lessons, “Red & Blue,” (the campus newspaper) and “Carsonian” (yearbook) are just a few of the many extra-curricular activities available to cadets.

The academic day is regimented and leaves little free time outside of holidays and breaks from the academic year. Cadets rise each day at 6:15am (cadet leaders rise earlier) followed by exercises at 7:00am, followed by breakfast and a dormitory inspection. The remainder of the day consists of classes and lunch with a drill period for military instruction followed by a mandatory sports/outdoor recreation period at the end of the day. The school maintains competitive soccer, football, baseball, basketball, tennis, track, rifle, and fencing teams. After dinner cadets enjoy an hour of free time followed by mandatory study hall. Taps (lights out) is at 9:45pm.

Carson Long has a maximum capacity of 215 cadets, all of whom must live on campus. An average school year will find 17 to 20 states and 10 foreign countries represented among the student body. This makes for a well rounded academic environment where the exchange of ideas in a more classical sense is encouraged. The Corps of Cadets has been designated an Honor School with Distinction (the highest award a JROTC school can receive) by the Department of the Army. Carson Long has consistently funneled its brightest students toward appointments to U.S. service academies as well as renowned military universities like Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel.

Presidents

Colonel Carson E. R. Holman retired as president on July 1, 2007. He is a graduate of Carson Long Institute and received his B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He received his M.A. in Education Supervision from Bucknell University and had served as president of the school since 1971. His predecessor and father, Edward L. Holman (also a graduate of Carson Long and West Point) served the longest term as president after returning from World War I and is credited with introducing National Defense Cadet training at the school in 1919. The current president is Col. Matthew J. Brown. A 1979 graduate of West Point, he holds two Master's degrees: one from Indiana University and the other from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He served 28 years on active duty and was a Patriot Missile System Battle Commander whose units deployed to the Middle East, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He also served three tours at the Pentagon, most notably as senior military adviser to the Undersecretary of the Army. Brown is the first president since 1918 who is not a descendant of the school's founder. Carson Long is governed by a 15-member board of trustees and has an active alumni association.

The 2008-09 session marks the 172nd year of character building education at Carson Long Institute.

References

"http://www.carsonlong.org/history.php." http://www.carsonlong.org/. Carson Long Military Academy. 23 Oct 2007 .