hampden academy was established in 1803 and constructed its first building on this site in 1806. that building was destroyed by fire in february 1842, and the present building was built soon thereafter. it is one of a handful of brick greek revival academy buildings, resembling the bloomfield academy in skowhegan (1840) and the somerset academy in athens. it was damaged by fire in 1854, and briefly closed due to low enrollment in the 1880s. it has been used since then as a classroom facility by the hampden academy and the local school district.