Some really fine alumni, most notably J.D. Salinger, who seemingly modeled his Pencey Prep in “The Catcher in the Rye” on VFMA.
OT: RIP Valley Forge Military Academy
- Thread starter LionJim
- Start date
If you came home from school in the 70's and there was a Valley Forge Military Academy brochure on the kitchen table, you knew you were in trouble.
TAPS!!!!
Played a JV Football game against them around 1983 or 84 and thought they would be tougher then they were.
Played a JV Football game against them around 1983 or 84 and thought they would be tougher then they were.
Always thought this a like a federally funded by the military shape your arse up kind of school in my youth, however, it is a private school that preps you for ROTC or military that according to the current website cost $50K/yr to attend. So sort of like a St Joe's Prep or LaSalle College High School or Erie Cathedral Prep but without all the military stuff.
One would suppose that unless you come from a military family, “shape your arse up” is a primary goal here. I have some friends who really benefited from this kind of approach. It’s not for everyone but can be very valuable.
My family was too cash poor and my body was too talent poor for that brochure to be any threat at all.
I played basketball at a PSU branch campus in the 90’s and we played Valley Forge. At the time they had a couple kid who were there getting their grades in order to go play D1. The one kid I was guarding was about 6-9 and going to Virginia (I was 6-4 so it was a real fun night). Really nice dude. We were way over matched so the game was a bit of a practice for both of us after the half. The PG got a foul called on him and his coach pulled him. They got into a bit of a shouting match and he kicked a chair and tossed another one. Next thing I knew I saw two MP’s come walking in and take him by the arm and out the gym.
While on the FT line I asked the guy I was guarding what was gonna happen to him and he said “Let’s just say we won’t be seeing him for the next 7 days”.
While on the FT line I asked the guy I was guarding what was gonna happen to him and he said “Let’s just say we won’t be seeing him for the next 7 days”.
Used to pick up 2 of my friends there on Saturdays when they had leave in high school and had to have them back by 6pm sunday night. Their parents sent them there since they were getting into too much trouble at our public high school and needed discipline. Walking across campus everyone saluted you. Students didn't know if you were attending there and if you didn't salute a superior it was big time trouble. Still a great movie Taps and the start of so many young actors careers. George C Scott was excellent as usual. 1 of the most beautiful campuses I have ever walked. All girls school next door my friends loved it as girls always came looking for dates to the dances.
Hmm, I'm trying to think what that was. Possibly Valley Forge Christian College. Or perhaps Cabrini College, which was female only until some point in the 70s.
There are a couple of girls-only private high schools in the general region, but they're not next door.
Cabrini College is next to VFMA. Yes, all girls until I think late 70's early 80's. I'd say 80% female by the early mid-80's. Cabrini closed last year and the campus was purchased by Villanova University, but sign still says Cabrini. My friends and I would go often .... Other good all girls or majority female colleges in the area were Harcum and Rosemont. Bryn Mawr and Haverford were two others that were majority female. There are many private schools in the area. The female private high schools in the area are are Baldwin, Notre Dame, Agnes Irwin, and Sacred Heart. There are a few others but those four are more well known. Those parties were fun as well!!
Did former OSU RB & Heisman winner. Eddie George attend VFMA or was it a prep school in Virginia?
He attended traditional public school through 9th grade, and then attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.
Thanks for clarifying this. It is the the VFM Academy closing (not the VFM College). I wasn't aware the college existed, that's why I was confused when earlier posters said they played them in sports while at a PSU branch campus.