Historic Native American academy's last building in danger

The Choctaw tribe paid for a protective cover for the building. (Image from WKYT-TV)

When Dr. William 'Chip' Richardson bought some land near Georgetown, Ky., he discovered it had the last standing building of Choctaw Academy, a Native American school founded by Richard M. Johnson, later vice president of the U.S. Richardson "found a mostly undiscovered piece of American history. Now, he’s working to save the building and share its story, but the clock is ticking," reports Samantha Valentino of Lexington's WKYT-TV.

Opened in 1825, The Academy was an inter-tribal learning center for Native American boys. "It was unlike other missionary schools. It was secular and was built on request of and largely funded by Native Americans," Valentino says. The school taught English and writing skills so that young men could serve their tribes.

“This is a story that I think people have largely forgotten,” Richardson told Valentino. “You know, you always hear about conflict, right? It’s about the conflict with the Indians. But this is so different, because this was not; this was a place where we were embracing unity."

Johnson was a U.S. senator from Kentucky who became vice-president of the United States in 1837 under President Martin Van Buren. Dr. Richardson told Valentino, “Something I believe that Richard Mentor Johnson really truly believed, that people’s abilities weren’t based on the color of their skin." Johnson lived with an African American woman and their children.

Richardson's goal is to fully restore the building before its bicentennial in three years. "We have a very limited amount of time to do something to save that and I can’t do it by myself," he told Valentino. "I mean, it’s a daunting task. I know that a community can come together and find a way to save it." For more information on how you can help save Choctaw Academy, click here.