the project. (1845-1850)
The mid-1800s was a time of growth for America, for witch, wizard, and Muggle alike. Cauldwell was founded on the mere fact that the Wizarding world was expanding at an alarming rate, and more schools would be needed to educate their youth. Baran Cauldwell was, at the time, a famous astronomer, and was well-known for his acclaimed teachings at the Salem Witches' Institute in Massachusettes. Although Salem was growing quickly, the Wizarding population was growing even faster, so it was evident to the instructor that another school would be needed, and soon.

It was June 15th, 1849, that Cauldwell presented his plan to the Council. Months passed. Permission to build the school was finally granted in September, but with one condition: the government would not be responsible for supplying all the necessary funds. This wasn't a problem for long, however. Once word about the school had been passed around a vast array of witches and wizards lined up to contribute to the so-called "Cauldwell project", and soon enough construction went underway. It was in early February, 1850, when the school was officially announced as finished. The school was named in Cauldwell's honor, who became the first headmaster.

beginnings. (Mid 1800s)
Cauldwell was, in the beginning, a rather small sized school, housing less than a hundred students during its first few years. There was only one building, with two floors: the main floor contained all the classrooms, the dining hall, and other needed areas while the underground floor, or the basement as they later called it, held nothing but the dormitories. Although the education wasn't what you would call prestigious, most witches and wizards living in the southeast would send their children to Cauldwell instead of Salem, thus making the school more popular by the year. In it's fifth school year a Quodpot stadium was built, and teams were formed among the houses: Aquila, Vulpecula, Delphinus, and Columba. It was this sport that caused competition and prejudice between the four houses, and although they are not as strong these unfair feelings and attitudes still exist to this day.

growth and expansion. (Early/Mid 1900s)
As Wizarding America prospered, so did Cauldwell. By the early 1900s, the student body had far more than tripled in size. Two other floors had been added, each smaller than the original two, and an entirely new building had been built to house all its students and staff. The grounds had grown significantly. Most notable was the garden, which had been started beside the greenhouses and extended back towards the residence hall. The first section of the garden was planted in memory of Baran Cauldwell's death, which started the tradition of expanding the garden each time a student or staff member passed away.

In the early 1900s there were five other North American schools, located in Massachusetts, Lake Michigan, Kansas, California, and Ontario. It was then that an idea was born, one that would affect the Wizarding World for many years to come: Inter-school Quodpot tournaments. The idea finally brought the six headmasters together at the headquarters of the Wizards Council in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, where they discussed the matter. Finally, with the approval of the Council, they agreed that school teams would be formed and a countrywide competition would ensue. At Cauldwell, the news bid well with the students, all until they realized that their team would be comprised of members from every house. The only students who protested this fact were the current house team members. The first few years of the competition were rough for the Cauldwell team, but once old faces were replaced with new a form of peace returned to the school.

today. (2007)
Today, Cauldwell has grown even larger in size. So large, in fact, that it had been split into two different schools: one that teaches first through third years, and the other fourth through seventh. A new building was opened farther down the mountain, where the first, second, and third years attend. The older students attend the original school which, as many freshmen have discovered, is much more impressive.

There are many things going on at the school these days -- Quodpot, the two formal balls, the club and choir meetings, and the Stanhope visits, just to name a few. Since the Christmas of 2005, though, there have been major changes. Four of the eight North American schools have closed due to the various chaos and uprisings in their areas, and Cauldwell was forced to host two: Beaumont Academy of California, and Midlands Academy of Kansas. Although Midlands was reopened the summer of 2007, tension still runs high at the academy. Beaumont's still there, and with the Aurors continually patrolling about the grounds, no one seems to be able to relax. Inter-school tournaments have been cancelled, as has camp -- a subject of many complaints among the students of all North American schools. And finally, a new headmaster, who may have to do more with the revolution than anyone might think. Times are rough, and things are tense, but despite recent harships, life goes on at the beloved academy.