In 2023, maintaining the old Academy building was becoming too challenging for the Congregational Church of Easton as they continued balancing the high costs of operating the Staples Academy and their 18th-century church sanctuary across Center Road. Confronted with prospective developers, the church membership voted not to sell the property as Easton community members rallied to support the Academy’s preservation. Residents recognize this vital community space and appreciate its educational events and supportive programming fighting food insecurity, poverty, and addiction. Through volunteer efforts, donations, and grants, essential upgrades to the building’s electricity are now being addressed; hands-on inspection is documenting infrastructure while the continued study of the school’s surviving archive is shedding new light on the Academy’s importance in Easton history.

This research is in partnership with the Historical Society of Easton with assistance from Connecticut Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Office of Connecticut.  

In 2024, the Staples Academy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was established to help preserve and restore this important historic building so that it can continue to serve Easton. Your donation to the Staples Academy Foundation will ensure that this building continues to be a community support center. Please consider donating what you can today!