Oneida Stake Academy

The Oneida Stake Academy was a Secondary education in [the United States|secondary school] operated by the Oneida Stake of the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] from 1888 to 1922. The academy building was constructed in Preston, Idaho, in 1895, after the stake headquarters moved from Franklin, Idaho, in 1889.
Among its alumni were Ezra Taft Benson and Harold B. Lee, both of whom later served as President of [the Church (LDS Church)|church presidents]. Medal of Honor recipients Mervyn S. Bennion, Leonard Brostrom, and Junior Van Noy also attended the school.
Following the emergence of the church's seminary program and better-equipped public schools, the LDS Church decided to close its system of secondary academies. In 1922, the Oneida Stake Academy was dissolved, although the public school system continued to use the building until 1990.

Moving the Academy

In 2003, the building was moved using funds raised by the Mormon [Historic Sites Foundation] and the Friends of the Academy to a new site called Benson Park that had been donated by the LDS Church.

Restoration and future use

Restoration on the building has been on-going and includes structural reinforcement, masonry repairs, windows, and mechanical systems.
Future plans for the building include providing a museum/interpretive center, a historical classroom, and a large meeting room. The top floor ballroom is expected to be used for a variety of community events or gatherings.