The Marmaduke Military Academy was located on our spring grounds, situated between the two northernmost entrances to our present-day park. It was bounded on the east by Columbia Street or Avenue and its row of west-facing cottages, and on the west by the Blackwater River.
During the 1870’s and 1880’s, Sweet Springs “spring grounds” were famous not only nationally, but internationally, largely due to the efforts of a group of well-known entrepreneurs of the day (the Sweet Springs Company investors) who had erected a grand three story 400-room hotel on the property, The Sweet Springs Hotel. In 1891, authorized by the United States Government, the Sweet Springs Company converted this hotel into a military academy and barracks.
Enrollment expense per student per term was $350 ($175 due at opening of term), and the average expenditure per Cadet was estimated to be $437 for the entire school year. Courses of instruction were English, Mathematics, Latin, Greek, Modern Languages (German and French), History and Civics, Geography, Sciences, Business, and Education and Reading. The charge for enrollment and tuition covered use of textbooks, instruction in shorthand and typewriting, use of instruments, instruction in infantry, artillery and cavalry drills, use of arms and accoutrements, board, and room completely furnished: lights, heating, washing eighteen pieces per week, ordinary mending and baths. Cavalry drill was offered as an optional exercise for a special charge. The required Marmaduke Military Academy uniform was of Cadet gray cloth of West Point pattern and included dress and fatigue suits and blue caps with gold ornaments. These were to be procured from the Academy tailor at the following expense: fatigue suit, $20.50; cap, $3; dress suit, $21.50. Preferably each Cadets also provided himself with a uniform overcoat of dark blue cloth with cape, which could be procured from the Academy tailor at an expense not to exceed $21.
A “Surgeon’s fee” of $5 was charged to each Cadet upon entering, which covered physical examination and medical attendance for the entire term by the resident Surgeon, Dr. C.L. Lackey. Dr. Lackey also served on Sweet Springs’ very own “Board of Health” at this time, during which Henry Chastain served as Mayor of Sweet Springs. Chastain, after serving as mayor, moved to Independence and became a judge in the courts there.
Cadets had the opportunity to join any of the three M.M.A. clubs: The Academy Christian Association, The Hawthorne Literacy Society, and the Alumni Association. All Cadets were required to attend service every Sunday morning at one of the churches in Sweet Springs. They went in companies in charge of Cadet Officers under the immediate direction of an instructor. It might also be noted here that prayers were offered daily, morning and evening. Class instruction in ethics was given to Cadets on Sundays.
The Academy’s Library and Reading Room was in the main building (the former Sweet Springs Hotel) and was very well furnished with the “standard” encyclopedias and other works of reference. The library included books in the categories of travel, adventure, biography, “approved stories,” and history. United States government publications, historical, commercial, and military documents, topographical and geographical maps and charts were provided through the influence of Senator Francis M. Cockerell, Senator George Graham Vest and Hon. John. T. Heard, M.C. The Reading Room contained all current issues of various periodicals: Youth’s Companion, Outing, Century Magazine, Harper’s Monthly, Frank Leslie’s Weekly, Public Opinion, Puck, Judge, St. Louis Christian Advocate, The St. Louis Presbyterian, The Central Baptist, and the Independent.
The Academy closed in March 1896, when the barracks and armory were destroyed by fire. Major Sanford Sellers of Wentworth Military Academy purchased from Leslie Marmaduke of the Marmaduke Military Academy, its good will, patronage, and equipment. Captain Levi P. Hunt, then the Marmaduke Military Academy Commandant, was transferred by the United States War Department to Wentworth Military Academy to serve as their military instructor.
