The last building constructed at the East Greenwich Academy weathered the destruction of the venerable old school and has lived on, a much-used facility as it approaches its second centrury.

When Swift Gymnasium was dedicated in 1907, it was called the finest gymnasium of any preparatory school in New England by Bishop W.F. Mallalieu, the principal speaker at the dedication. East Greenwich's newspaper, the Pendulum, called it "this handsome temple dvoted to the improvement of the physical body."

According to the Academy's 1911/12 catalog, the gym was fully equippped and lacked nothing for the physical development of boys and girls -- "...bowling alleys, 12 hot and cold water showers, padded running track, perfect basketball floor, trophy room, locker rooms, and a location selected for a swimming pool in the rear."

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(The pool was never built.) "Many college men who have visited the Swift Gymnasium have remarked that it is as good a gym as they have ever seen in college or minor school anywhere in the country." It was a busy place during the shool years, with gym classes and exhibitions, basketball games, dances, plays, and many other events.

For many years preceding the gym's dedication, the faculty and students of East Greenwich Academy had hoped for a new gymnasium. It came as a gift from Mrs. Anne (Higgins) Swift in memory of her husband, Gustavus Franklin Swift, the founder of the Chicago meat packing company, Swift & Company. Mrs. Swift donated $10,000 for the gym's construction and another $5000 to equip it.

Ownership of the Swift Gymnasium passed to the Town of East Greenwich when it purchased the Academy in 1943 to use as a Town High School. It continued with uninterrupted usage until 1956 when the town constructed its first high school building on Cedar Avenue.

In 1964 the gymnasium was completly renovated at a cost of $133,000, half of which came from federal funds. An open house was held on September 19 and 20 of that year.

The building is presently used by various groups for a wide variety of activities. It is an official polling place, town meetings too large for the council chambers, and the town recreation board hold aerobic and dancercise classes, concerts, poultry shows, cat shows, quilt exhibits, hobby craft, and antique shows.

Special interest groups like teh Golden Agers and AARP meet in the gym, but probably the longest run is by the Academy Players, presenting interesting and professional dramas in Swift Gymnasium since 1956. They also have the distinction of keeping alive the name "Academy" from the venerable East Greenwich Academy.

This article reprinted with permission from the East Greenwich Packet, the East Greenwich Preservation Society, and Thaire Adamson. [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]