Nebraska Vocational Technical School - Technician Yearbook (Milford, NE)

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Auto Mechanics Shop View - 1941 This brings us back to May, 1941, the date the Nebraska Trade School was open for enrollment. In the beginning five programs were offered and five students were enrolled for training. The five programs were Machine Shop, Auto Mechanics, Auto Electricity, Foundry Patternmaking and General Welding. Soon after the school was opened, We became involved in World War II, so the entire facilities of the school were used for national defense training. It Was during this period, 1942-43, that the school won its spurs as an educational institution and had its true beginning. From 1945 to 1952, enrollment at the school was predominantly veterans. Since 1952, the veteran enrollment has gradually decreased and the school is fulfilling its intended purpose of train- ing high school graduates in an area other than that of an academic college. During the past schoolyear the school had a capacity enrollment of 445 stu- dents. Enrollment during the past ten years has been as follows: -4. Auto Mechanics Shop View - 1961 Top: Radio Lab View - 1945 Bottom: Electronics Lab View - 1961

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Although this was the first trade school in Nebraska, the facilities used by the school had a much earlier beginning. The buildings were first used as a sahitarium and later as a soldiers and sailors home. Captain J. H. Culver, who later became the first commander of the soldiers and sailors home, promoted the Sanitarium Park and Springs in the late 1880's. When the project did not prove a financial success, he is accredited with having conceived the idea of getting the state to take it over by making it a branch of the Grand Island Soldiers and Sailors Home. The home was established, under lease from Captain Culyer, by an act of the Legislature on April 19, 1895. By act of the 1899 Legislature, the Milford property was purchased by the State, an appropriation of 913,500 having been made for that purpose. Stanley A. Matzke-Introduce: of the bill in 1941, creating the Nebraska State Trade School In the years that followed and until it was closed in 1939, several other new buildings were constructed for use by the Home. These included, in addition to the already existing building, two buildings for use as living quarters, an administration building, a laundry building and a hospital. The administration building, which is still being used for this purpose but which will be razed within the next year, had a very distinguished beginning. William Jennings Bryan, two time United States presidential candidate, was present when the corner stone was laid and gave the dedicatory address. In 1939, the military tradition so evident on the grounds was silenced by an act of the State Legislature, as the facilities were combined with the home in Grand Island. From 1939 to 1941, the only occupants of the buildings were Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Langdale as caretakers. ' V-fi The three buildings shown on this by the Soldiers and Sailors Home. page were built for use .-1 w - Qi ' S1312 2515512 ' . 7?f7 1 9' . 'v3,i'.1ges1-..:,'ff1,', :'125'15,.5ifl, -,,--rriifife. iw Top left: Hospital built in 1923. A, . w-ei-1' Haj -jpg-A'-'f,',ijFe3L 11 ,-ug-1 -553:21-N ' - b V I ' t Now used as a dormitory for Ne- ' o fs:1.1. l .ig.1 ,lb , braska Tech students. 1: '-i -,.fffs'vssf-mffsflg'nf5n..j'Tn:.5f..M1,1.f,, 'K' '- .' I f,,,.?, L-HH' ' , A-M., ,,, k - . 1 fig.-7:15217 'fig '-. M B . . 1 l ift' 13 .ei ottom left: Apartment building fl constructed in 1904. Now used as , ,i 7 fff .T-T 1-. - . -f is ' K ' fs: 7:1-me Electrical and Electronics Technol- 1 g c, ,, , , rw . . . . . .ef 1 I ' ' in ,L,g,g ogy training facilities at Nebraska if V .1 Tech f- if f- rg sew? - ' 'gzmsgne--2 47'i?f'3' '-ff- -- ' - - f---as f- fr-e-fre. . Q-'94 mi jw' - -fin Qs' 5: 1 Right: Administration building con- ' T- :Lf my structed in 1910. It is still being used , ,, , ' for this purpose. 3, -W , , ...V N RIP, - 'ff as - 1 ,.-K., -1-W.,--1 vt 'lf if' Y . fi 1 Q 355, W,-Q,

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Temporary shops moved in from Harvard Air Base in 1947. Part of this building is still being used by Building Construction Technology Department. 1951-52 ...... ........ 1 66 1952-53 ...... ........ 1 69 1953-54 .,,,,, ........ 2 54 1954-55 ...... ........ 3 22 1955-56 ...... ........ 3 60 1956-57 ...... ........ 3 89 1957-58 .,.... ........ 4 04 1958-59 ...... ........ 4 19 1959-60 ...... ........ 3 89 1960-61 ...... ...,,... 4 45 Since the beginning, the buildings, though ad- equate, left much to be desired as ideal facili- ties for vocational technical training. The build- ings used as homes for soldiers and sailors were converted to shops for training purposes. In 1946 and 1947, additional temporary facilities were provided through federal aid. This in- cluded temporary housing for married students and some used buildings moved in from evac- uated air bases Within a short distance of the school. These latter buildings are being used by the Building Construction Technology De- partment, Welding Technology Department, Metals'Technology Department, Basic Mechan- ics Department and a gymnasium. While these facilities served their purpose Well at the time, because of their frame structure they have become obsolete and hazardous. Buildings moved in from Harvard Air Base in 1947. At left is the current Metals Technology Department building. At right is the gymasium. - 1 rw:--In yvffgrf .-----1' snr- , L-. - -- -, wwf- r , --sr . V- .av-'-' - - , F ea W in N'-.Q.3'...iu HQ ' qv'f l f fl? FJ-f-if: ,J ,llh H' ,jr in ' 11212 f- l Ui, . , -5-