MMI Preparatory School - Minamek Yearbook (Freeland, PA)

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OONT o -I -CH EF N GER THE MINAMEK 111 ew Pubhshed by THE SENIOR GLASS of the MINING AND MECHANICAL INSTITUTE FREELAND, PENNSYLVANIA I 32 N I y Y 1 ' I w , EDIT R N I ' E, BUSINESS MA A AD, FACULTY ADVISER

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M. LAWRENCE SPOONT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GENERO LA PORTE, BUSINESS MANAGER LAMBERT E. BRQAD, FACULTY ADVISER

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Hlsronv of scuool. . . d Mechanical Institute of the Anthracite Coal Region was started The Mining H9 ,f Pennsylvania, by Eckley B. Coxe. The school was OH May 7' 1879' ln EIL toillfor Miners and Mechanics, and was supported by the named the IndLilSt5hZ1Cc5xeDOCoal Company interests. The objective of the school was h and ation of boys and young men who had left school at' an early age to extend. t 6 3 uiound the mines. A two-story building was erected in Drifton in in Whichinwil ciassrooms, library, and an auditorium for lectures, meetings, and Coxe family to work entertainments. Professor Oswald Heinrich headed the school at Drifton for seven years from 1879 to 1886 Upon his death, john R. Wagner, M. E., Lehigh 1885, took caver the reins and continued in charge of the educational Pmgfam- In 1888, the School build' ing burned down with a subsequent interruption of classes for a period of five years. On March 16, 1893, the school was revived under the name of the Miners' and Mechanics' Institute. Later the name was changed to the Mining and Mechanical Institute of the Anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Two different buildings housed the school in Freeland from 1893 to 1902. Eckley B. Coxe, who had founded the school and had been the leader in its incorporation in 1893, died in the year of 1895. After his death, his wife, Sophia G. Coxe, became its patroness. In 1902, Mrs. Coxe built the original main building dedi- cated as a memorial to her deceased husband. In 1914 the science laboratory-shop building was added, and on Thanksgiving day, November 25, 1925, she dedicated the excellent gymnasium at her last public appearance. On June 14, 1946, a new addition housing two classrooms, a museum, lavatory, fire-proof stairway, science lecture room, and laboratory was dedicated to seven veterans of World War II who made the supreme sacrifice. This addition was Hnanced through the gifts of many Alumni and friends. From the beginning, the subjects taught in the night school included Mining, English, Mathematics, Science, and Drafting. Now Welding and Machine Shop practice are also given. A short time after the school was opened, a college prepara- tory course was added to the other work of the Institute. To encourage the best boys to ' l ' aspire to co lege, Mr. Coxe offered scholarships to be used by the highest graduates, and this practice is still continued by the school. Between the years 1895 and March 1, 1927 the date of Mrs. Coxe's death, she not only provided the buildings and operating funds, but she also established per- manent endowments wh' h d ' ' ' ic to ay supply approximately one-third of the school's in- come. Several other members of the Coxe family assisted in this philanthrophy. Through the devotion of the Board of Directors over many years in attending to the business of the h l l sc oo, and through the fa-culty's administration of the educa- tional program of the school, an ex t' 11 cep iona y fine reputation has been established. h' Of the last f9ffY-eight years, the school has been headed by W. R, Bray for t 1ftY'tW0 Years and Lambert E Broad for fift , - een years Over thr thousand men extended their education in the ni h h ee was started d b g t sc ool since the Mining and Mechanical Institute I 1 dl an. a out 1,800 men have attended the day school since it was established. ncu ing this years class seven h d . , un red and sevent -HV 'll h d their diplomas About 65 y e wi ave earne - per cent of these have att d d ' ' ' h'1 many others have extended their edu ' ' en 6 Colleges and umversmesl W 16 of the Mining and Me h g I I Cation in other ways. Consequently, graduates c ' . . tions h 39193 f1Sf1fUte are now established in all professions and voca- across t e length and breadth of this country