New Bedford Institute of Technology - Fabricator Yearbook (New Bedford, MA)

Page 11 text:

HIM O ICY OF THE SCHOOL IDEALIZING the need of a school to train men for the ever-widening field of textiles, the Massachusetts Legislature, under the Acts of 1895, Chapter 475, created a board of fifteen members, whose duties were to incorporate and establish the New Bedford Textile School. The City of New Bedford and the State of Massachusetts each appropriated $25,000 to be used in the establishment of the school, and finally, on October 14, 1899, the school was dedicated. Soon after this event, the school opened and instruction was given to day and special evening classes. The school at that time was but a modest three story building. The rooms consisted of carding, spinning, and weaving rooms, a slashing room, and a photographic dark room. There were also several recitation rooms, a director ' s room, and a room for spooling, winding, and hand looms. The first enrollment consisted of eleven day students and 183 night students. Each year saw a substantial increase in the enrollment. The curriculum was augmented to include knitting and chemistry. This made expansion imperative. The building was extended to the end line on Maxfield Street, and the increased space was used for a chemistry labora- tory, class rooms, and a knitting room. On April 15, 1904, Mr. William E. Hatch was appointed President of the school. Under his able leadership, the school was expanded still further to accommodate the increased enrollment. Much new equipment was added. The school is considered the best in this section of the country. The present buildings contain over 100,000 square feet of floor space and equipment valued at over $275,000. The Chemistry Department, under the direction of Mr. Fred E. Busby, has two fine laboratories fully equipped for any work along the textile line. Many striking and unusual specimens of dyeing are produced here in this department. The designing Department under Mr. Samuel Holt offers full instruc- tion in dobby and jaquard designing. The cloths designed here may be produced in the C. Y. P. and Weaving Departments which are headed respectively by Mr. Thomas H. Gourley and Mr. Fred Beardsworth. The Rayon and Testing Department directed by Mr. John Fawcett is a com- paratively recent addition to our school, but it is already making a name for itself. Students interested in mechanics may receive a fine groundwork in the mechanical course. This department is ably handled by Mr. Morris H. Crompton. There is also a Knitting Department which is equipped to per- form almost every type of knitting done by commercial firms today. The description of these departments has necessarily been brief, but we who have studied here realize that it is the training which is received in these departments that causes N. B. T. S. graduates to be in demand everywhere.

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OUR FOUNDATION HPHROUGHOUT the passing ages, man ' s life has been one of continued progress. Although many changes have taken place during this time, the primal wants of man still prevail. Among these is the desire for shelter from the ele- ments and it is to this purpose that the New Bedford Textile School has been founded. Indeed it is a far cry to the crude methods of textile manufacture of the past centuries. Continued progress demands skilled technicians. New Bedford Textile School has rightly been noted for the fine calibre of its graduates, and, fulfilling the ideals which prompted its foundation, still leads the field in the production of future leaders in the textile industry.

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WILLIAM ACOMB July 28, 1873 — January 31, 1937 Dedicated to the Memory of Mr. William Acomb, Instructor and Friend Music, when soft voices die, Vibrates in the memory — Odours, when sweet violets sicken, Live within the sense they quicken. And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone, Love itself shall slumber on. — Shelley IN MEMOItlAM