The History of Maytown Academy
Maytown (population 25) is located in the north central area of Illinois in south central
Lee County. The hamlet sits in a true country setting about 10 miles west-northwest from Mendota (or 20 miles southeast
of Dixon). Maytown Road is the main roadway to and from the area, as the town is situated between Morgan Road and Van
Orin Road. There appears to be a populated subdivision about a mile or two northeast of Maytown as well. The actual
hamlet of Maytown consists of a small former school building (now a storage facitlity, pictured below), a building which
was possibly a school at one time (pictured above), and a beautiful brick church. There, three to four houses on Maytown
road are near the location.
A nice history of Maytown and its former Academy can be viewed at:
The area was first settled in the 1830s. By 1843 the township of May had been established, and by 1845
land deeds were being sold. A post office was established and named May Hill. The town was named May after
Captain May, an American officer who died in the battle of Palo Alto.
By 1860 about 120 men lived in the township. A point of pride for the township of May was that of the 75th
Infantry's Company "F" during the CIvil War, 47 of the men came from May Township.
Patrick Reilly of May Township had become a somewhat wealthy man, left 120 acres of land so that an
educational academy might be established. Mr. Reilly died in 1868; however, the residents of the area carried out his dream. The
following description of the school building is copied from the aforementioned article:
"The main building was 30x48. The L was 16x18 feet and the entire structure was 20 feet in height. The
school was divided into several compartments. On the first floor were the school rooms, music room, parlor, sitting room,
dining room and kitchen. On the second floor was the chapel, beautifully finished with a vaulted roof. The rest of the upper
floor was divided into sleeping rooms, occupied by pupils who boarded at the academy. The building was surmounted by an observatory,
from which a splendid view of the surrounding country was had. Young ladies alone were received as boarders, but boys wer
received as day scholars. Six sisters of the Benedictine order taught the various grades in the common branches and in addition
taught music, drawing, French and German."
The Academy was opened in September of 1880. At first it enjoyed great success; however, this soon
wained. Enrollment dropped and after 15 years of operation, Maytown Academy was closed, and the original buildings torn
down. A very interesting note was written about this closing by the author of the article:
"The advantages to the township were immeasurable and May township as an educational center ranked very
high. It seems to bad that so useful and institution should decline, but then in earthly affairs we must accept the inevitable.
Like Lee Center, rivals attracted the children. As boys and girls read about the larger schools, like children the world
over, they felt that the little school was not big enough for them and like the old Lee Center school it dropped out of existence
peacefully and quietly, though leaving behind memories never to be effaced by the most vigorous workings of time. The
teachers were of the very highest class. It does seem too bad that idealism cannot fight its way against the practical institutions
of today."
It is also duly noted that when the academy was abandoned in 1890 that St. Michael's Church was also left
vacant. The academy was turned into living quarters for a Catholic priest on the first floor, while the second
floor became an amusement hall. The building was later torn down after 1905, as was the church (in 1923).
Maytown Academy Quick Facts
Year opened:
1880
Year closed: 1895
Athletics not offered
