135:"Major" George Hurte and his wife Marie Hurte, who were graduates of John Brown University, worked as teachers and administrators, and later headmasters at SCMA for almost 40 years. In 1980, the Hurte family bought SCMA for less than $ 2 million (equivalent to $ 8 million in 2024), and continued to run it as a private, Christian-based military academy. Although enrollment peaked at about 400 cadets, the
30:. Many of these schools, including SCMA, were well-respected and desirable with rigorous curricula and a path to future leadership positions within the US military. While the US military took over many of these academies during World War II and then sold the campuses after that war, SCMA remained as a school until 1987.
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In 2011, alumni donated funds and negotiated with the school district to be allowed to place a bronze plaque on the school's southeast corner to commemorate the site's historical importance and to memorialize the people who attended the academy. The plaque reads:
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The Signal Hill community fought having the academy building demolished but the Long Beach school district razed it to build
Alvarado Elementary. Included in the demolition was a memorial sidewalk with student medals and messages from alumni as they left for
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By 1958, SCMA had 170 boarding students with tuition and board costing $ 115 per month (equivalent to $ 1,242 in 2024), 316 day students with tuition of $ 60-$ 65 per month (equivalent to $ 648-$ 702 in 2024), and 51 faculty and staff members.
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In 1953, JBU reorganized the military schools, closing the coeducational one in
Arkansas, and establishing SCMA as a feeder school for students who could attend through 9th grade, then transfer to Brown Military Academy to finish high school.
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students, ages 6 to 18 years old. By 1931, it had 103 boarding students with tuition and board costing $ 725 (equivalent to $ 13,813 in 2024), 40 day students with tuition of $ 300 (equivalent to $ 5,715 in 2024), and 16 faculty members.
218:- American painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist. He is best known for his 2.5 Dimensional wall sculptures that depict humorous subject matter. He has been working in Laguna Beach, California, for over thirty years.
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S.C.M.A. distinguished itself as a flagship of the local community whose alumni and cadre have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and
Afghanistan as well as throughout the civilian community.
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presented SCMA with a
Bicentennial marker, recognizing it as the 'oldest and largest military academy on the West Coast' and one that 'contributes to the morale and the military strength of this nation'.
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This plaque commemorates the memory of the cadets, cadre and staff of the
Southern California Military Academy which stood on this site from 1924 until it closed its doors in 1987.
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In 1925, they sold it to Major and Mrs. Wilbur J. Watkins, who renamed it
Southern California Military Academy (SCMA). It was a private military school that accepted
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The
Watkins became acquainted with John Elward Brown during the 1940s, and sold SCMA to him in 1947. Brown was a well-known educator and evangelist, and founder of
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The local hallmark of SCMA was its World War I field artillery pieces displayed on Cherry Avenue, overlooking the Port of Long Beach.
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South
Western Military Academy was founded in 1924 by local businessmen at 2065 Cherry Avenue, in the newly-incorporated
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History of
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535:"Historic Military Academy to Get Plaque at Southern California Military Academy's Reunion"
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236:- One of the Original Mouseketeers and long featured dancer on the Lawrence Welk show.
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In the summer of 1985, SCMA cadets were extras in the
Sylvester Stallone movie,
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206:- Oregon state senator and independent candidate for Oregon governor in 2006.
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A Handbook of Private Schools for American Boys and Girls: An Annual Survey
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A Handbook of Private Schools for American Boys and Girls: An Annual Survey
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439:"All-class reunion being held for former Signal Hill military academy"
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Two private airports used to teach people to fly during WWII (one in
470:"Alumni Grieve, Neighbors Worry as Parade Ends for Military School"
230:- Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Davis
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Two military academies in California (Brown School for Girls in
212:- Businessman and former American professional football player.
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Army & Navy Academy: History of the West Point of the West
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John Brown University: Its Founder and Its Founding 1919-1957
176:. No effort was made to preserve the historical sidewalk.
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for $ 4.6 million (equivalent to $ 12.7 million in 2024).
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Defunct military academy in California, United States
501:"Signal Hill Plan for School Near Plant Assailed"
406:"George and Marie Hurte: Character Before Career"
263:. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.
65:Part of John Brown University schools (1947‒1980)
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139:lowered this number and it never recovered.
26:established between the World Wars along the
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422:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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655:Private elementary schools in California
650:Defunct United States military academies
597:"The King of the Streets Moves Indoors"
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151:In 1987, the Hurte family sold SCMA to
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630:Brown Military Academy Alumni website
330:(EdD thesis). University of Arkansas.
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665:Private middle schools in California
595:McLaughlin, Katy (15 January 2010).
124:Daughters of the American Revolution
20:Southern California Military Academy
645:Education in Long Beach, California
499:Kopetman, Roxana (March 24, 1988).
159:Demolition and later commemoration
153:Long Beach Unified School District
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670:1924 establishments in California
404:Brown, John E., III (Fall 2015).
564:Jaquiss, Nigel (26 April 2006).
380:Mettlach, Mrs. Frank R. (1981).
98:(Military Academy of the Ozarks)
81:, and Brown Military Academy in
28:West Coast of the United States
468:Haldane, David (14 May 1987).
224:- Chef of Kogi Truck Eateries.
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660:Defunct schools in California
109:West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma
412:. John Brown University: 10.
566:"Cover Story: Ben Westlund"
533:Jergler, Don (6 May 2011).
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326:Williams, Earl R. (1971).
347:(39 ed.). Boston, MA
290:(15 ed.). Boston, MA
190:CHARACTER BEFORE CAREER,
341:Sargent, Porter (1958).
284:Sargent, Porter (1931).
105:Siloam Springs, Arkansas
601:The Wall Street Journal
259:Mui, Alexander (2017).
131:Later years (1980‒1987)
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47:Long Beach, California
37:Beginnings (1924‒1947)
71:John Brown University
437:Hale-Burns, Pamela.
94:military academy in
607:on 30 December 2014
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24:military academies
505:Los Angeles Times
474:Los Angeles Times
270:978-1-43966-047-8
228:Robert W, Hillman
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241:References
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170:Korean War
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83:San Diego
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