History

Ricker College began as Houlton Academy in 1848. Reverend Joseph Ricker, the State Secretary of the Maine Baptist Convention, re-established the school after its closure in 1873; it was renamed Ricker Classical Institute in 1887. Originally a secondary school, Ricker had an enrollment of 130 by 1926, when it added a fifth year to the curriculum to meet local demands for further training.   By 1934 it had added a sixth year and had become Ricker Junior College, effectively serving as the community college for its region.  In 1949 Ricker became a four-year liberal arts college and was accredited in 1966.  Still, as late as the 1970’s, advertisements for Ricker emphasized that it was a “co-ed boarding college preparatory school for grades 9-12.”

Enrollment in 1958 was around 180—many were students in the commercial program.  School activities included four different musical groups, a commercial club, chapters of Future Homemakers of America and the National Honor Society.  Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y were available for high school students.  The major social event of the school year was the Sno-Ball.  The 1903-04 catalogue shows an athletic association as well as chapters of the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., and Philomusian Society.

At an earlier time in Ricker history, the drama and music students combined to perform Pirates of Penzance.

In 1966, just as Ricker gained accreditation, the Maine legislature dealt the school a  death stroke.  By passing the Sinclair Act, it established School Administrative Districts across the state.  These created public colleges, which siphoned off many Ricker students.  As a result Riker began to experience falling numbers and consequent financial hardships. Finally in May 1978, Riker College closed its doors.