Clinton Liberal Institute
1879-1900
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From Nelson Greene's Fort Plain-Nelliston History
Clinton Liberal Institute Opened in 1879
In 1878, the Fort Plain Seminary was discontinued after an educational career of 36 years. Clinton Liberal Institute of Clinton, N.Y., a school under the patronage of the Universalist Church, purchased the Seminary property and remodeled and enlarged the five-story brick building. C.L.I., started in 1879, beacame a noteworthy school, reaching its peak under the direction of Principal Charles V. Parsell. It comprised college preparatory, academic, music, art and commercial courses and its cultural influence was great in the Middle Mohawk Valley. In 1890 a military school was added and a good-sized armory was erected. The school was destroyed in a spectacular fire on March 25, 1900. It had many students, who later gained prominence, including Simon Lake, inventor of the modern submarine.
C.L.I. excelled in athletics. Annual field days were held and its baseball and football teams played college freshman and minor college varsity teams and often defeated them.
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