Lawrence Technological University - L Book Yearbook (Southfield, MI)

Page 8 text:

l. George Lawrence, President During those first few years, the college was in bad shape financially which put a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders. A period of abfxut three years passed before the teachers could be paid their full sa aries. In 1937, I originated the building fund, the objective of which was to build our own building sometime in the unforeseen future. In 1941, during World War II, the building fund was used for other expenditures which arose at that time. It became necessary to adopt a war training prograrn in order to retain the instructors and literally keep the college together. After the war a majority of the original students returned to L.I,T. The enrollment increased to about 2500 which was the record until 1956. The college began to prosper again and the building fund was re- organized. L.I.T. purchased two tracts of land over the years. One was the old Packard Rolls Royce plant which was used as the Technnical Institute, and the other was the ninety-four acres on which Northland Shopping Center now stands. Three old maids owned the Northland property. They refused to sell to many real estate firms, but agreed to sell to the college. We originally planned to build a shopping center on the property with a four-story college building next to it. The students were to use the shopping center parking facilities which would have been more than adequate. A large firm from the East heard of the proposed shopping center and put in a bid for the land. When Hudson's heard of this, they began their counter bidding to prevent any further competition in this area. The bidding went so high that we were forced to sell. Because the developing expressways in Detroit were to be routed through the old Packard plant, the city found it necessary to buy the Technical Institute property. Our next move was to buy the Larro Experimental Farms which con- sisted of more than two-hundred acres. The part of the farm which was situated east of Northwestern Highway was sold to the Bendix Aviation Company. The combined profits of these transactions was adequate to begin construction of the new building. Now that we have our new building, we are looking forward to a bright future for L.I.T., for there is much room and need for expansion.

Page 10 text:

Genevieve G. Dooley, Registrar Twenty-five years! To say it seems like only yesterday when the doors opened to our first class at 15100 Woodward would be a cliche. And yet Working daily ever since to establish our present college has not allowed much time for counting years and reminiscing. From the days of three hundred students to the present en- rollment of nearly three thousand opportunities for serving, befriending and guiding-even congratulating-have come countless times. Contributing in some way in each instance has been my privilege and purpose. As I look out over our modern campus, I cannot help but think that there have been greater accomplishments than those which only meet the eye. With the aid of our present staff and our expanded facilities, Lawrence Tech should be able to accomplish its goals more fully now than ever before. But to truly accomplish them, we must preserve the challenging spirit of the first yearsg those times must continue to seem like only yesterday.