Hopkins Academy is one of the oldest secondary schools in the country. It was founded in 1664 through the bequest of Governor Edward Hopkins. Its first classes were held at various sites throughout the town, including West Street, North Hadley, and Hockanum. Its first actual academy building stood on Russell Street by 1717 and was destroyed by fire in 1860. A new building was erected in the center of town in 1865, destroyed by fire in 1893, rebuilt in 1894, moved to this site in 1909, and the present building was occupied in 1954.