Midwest Military Academy

Midwest Military Academy (MMA) was an elementary, middle school and high school in Wheaton, Illinois. The school was demolished in 1988[1] creating the Academy Highlands subdivision.[2]

Midwest Military Academy
Location
Wheaton, Illinois
,
Illinois

United States
Information
TypePrivate, Boarding]
Established1931
Enrollment95
CampusWheaton, IL

Located among 16 1/2 acres at Academy Lane and Orchard Road, the school was established in 1931. The last owner was Jerry Williams. Upon closure of the school, the Chicago area had one remaining military school, located in Aurora, IL, the Marmion Military Academy.

Hostility toward military schools is cited as a reason for the closure by 1973 of five schools in the Chicago area, namely the Western Military Academy near Alton, Park Ridge Military Academy, Cole Junior Military Academy in Chicago, Onarga Military School and Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo.

Tuition for the year was $4,800 at the time of closing. About a dozen Midwest students transferred to St. John`s Military Academy near Lake Geneva.[3]

History

Jerry Williams' father, Paul Williams, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army,[4] founded MMA in 1931 in Homewood, Illiois. The school was moved to the north part of Wheaton in 1938 followed five years by the last campus on the south part of Wheaton, which included a Victorian home once owned by industrialist Alfred Plamondon.

Student Life

Students typically lived in a dormitory during the week and went home on weekends.

Cadets lived under a strict merit system that rewarded grades, sports participation and tidy rooms.

The MMA motto was The making of a cadet is the making of a man, . The head cooks were Mr. and Mrs. V.

Sports

Baseball, swimming (swimming pool existed)


Notable Alumni


References
  1. "Midwest Military Academy". www.midwestmilitaryacademy.com.
  2. Giewald, Sherry (October 21, 2011). "Neighborhood profile: Academy Highlands". Daily Herald.
  3. Bagnato, Andrew. "IT`S TAPS FOR A MILITARY ACADEMY AS SUBURBIA`S BUILDERS MARCH". chicagotribune.com.
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