FAI - About Us ::

About Us :: History

	The Start :: Fletcher Academy, Inc.’s (FAI) story began in 1910 when Ellen G. White, Professor Sydney Brownsberger, A. W. Spaulding and Mrs. Martha Rumbough joined visions, abilities and resources to start “a medical and educational work in the vicinity of Asheville.” top
	The Church :: The Brownsberger family, Spaulding and Mrs. Rumbough were brought together through their membership in the Asheville Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. This new endeavor brought about the formation of the Fletcher SDA Church, which is now the largest church in the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. top
	The Corporation :: Originally called the Asheville Agricultural School and Mountain Sanitarium, FAI started with one small classroom and a one-room treatment clinic. The institution was self-sustaining and, therefore, also had a large farm, dairy and lumbermill. top
	The Vocational Education Program :: In order to operate such an endeavor, the students joined the teachers in carrying the workload; this provided the young people with an opportunity to gain marketable skills beyond their academic education. This became a standard on the campus and is continued today by the high school. top
	The Schools :: The school grew and is now Captain Gilmer School, serving children as young as three years of age thru 8th grade, and Fletcher Academy, serving students in grades 9-12. top
	The School of Nursing :: Through the hospital’s School of Nursing, which operated from 1933 until 1985, students who were interested in the medical field had the opportunity to be trained as nurses upon the completion of their high school education. Their training was conducted between the classroom environment at Fletcher Academy and the hands-on environment at the Sanitarium. This trained workforce also aided in the growth and services of the Sanitarium, which is now a separate entity: Park Ridge Hospital. top
	Today :: The institution, as it approaches its 100th anniversary, is proud to continue providing education and wellness services to the community through its various service-oriented entities, including Captain Gilmer School, Fletcher Academy, Lelia Patterson Fitness and Convention Center, Fletcher Park Inn Retirement Community, Fletcher Valley Natural Foods and Bakery, Fletcher Valley Farms, Fletcher Valley Landscaping, and Academy Industrial Laundry Service.

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