Dean College was founded as a co-educational Academy in 1865. Dr. Oliver Dean, the founder of Dean Academy, was an enthusiastic benefactor of the academy and donated approximately nine acres of land for the site of the school and donated $125,000 towards its construction. After the groundbreaking ceremony held earlier in the year, the first class at Dean Academy began on October 1, 1866 with only 44 students attending. The students held class in the local Universalist Church. Dean Hall, the main building of Dean Academy, was not finished until 1868. During the summer of 1872, Dean Hall was completely destroyed by fire, but reconstruction efforts began immediately. On June 7, 1874, the newly rebuilt Dean Hall was rededicated.

Dr. Oliver Dean founded Dean Academy in 1865. He established this private institution with the fortune he made in the textile industry. This building was the original Dean Academy and is now the most prominent of the many beautiful Dean College Buildings today.