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

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wt FACoiry First Row: L. to R. — Mr. F. Beardsworth, Head of Weaving Dept., Mr. E. Cloutier, Head of Knitting Dept., Mr. F. Holden, Head of C. Y. P. Dept., Mr. T. Gourley, Head of Testing and Research Dept., Mr. G. Walker, Principal, Mr. J. Giblin, Head of Designing Dept., Mr. J. Foster, Head of Mechanical Dept., Mr. F. Tripp, Head of Chemistry Dept. Second Row: L. to R. — Mr. L. Pacheco, Mr. J. Barylski, Mr. A. Beyreuther, Mr. W. Kirk. Mr. A. Rodil, Mr. L. Fenaux, Mr. J. Broadmeadow, Mr. E. Dupre. Mr. Fred Birtwistle was absent when picture was taken.

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GEORGE WALKER Principal

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History of The New Bedford Textile Institute In 1895, under a special act of the Massachusetts Legislature, any city in Massachusetts having 450,000 or more spindles in operation was in a position to organize a corporation whose objective would be the establishing and maintaining of a textile school. This act of 1895 led the way to the founding of the New Bed- ford Textile Institute, now commemorating its fiftieth anniversary. On appropriations made by the City of New Bedford and the Commonwealth, construction began in the Fall of 1898, and in the Summer of the following year the building was completed. It may be well to note that it was the first in the country to be designed and created for a textile school. The formal opening of the school was on October the 14th, 1899, followed by instruction two days later. The enrollment consisted of 11 day students and 183 evening students. In 1900, the first class was graduated, for at that time, the regular course was completed in one year. This prevailed for a few years, and later, the course was extended to three years. Owing to an increase in enrollment and a demand for more floor space, addi- tions to the school were made in 1901 and 1905. This furthered the boundary of the school to Maxfield Street. On completion of these additions, a knitting, a dyeing and a mechanical department supplemented the existing ones. As New Bedford itself progressed, so did the school, for again in 1911, another addition was built. The site of this project was north of the original building. To date, this building is being utilized by the Mechanical, Chemistry and Designing- Departments. Through the years as the floor space of the institute was increased, up-to-date and additional equipment was installed, to such an extent that it had been ac- knowledged that no average individual mill was equipped with as many different types of textile machinery as was the school. In the Summer of 1915 dyeing equip- ment valued at $10,000 was installed, and in the same year an electrical laboratory was added. These are but few of the factors which made New Bedford Textile Institute known throughout the world. l S J On July 1, 1918, the school became a state institution, but was still maintained by appropriations made by the state and city together. As a matter of interest and something of which all members and the Alumni can boast, there was mentioned in 1921 that New Bedford Textile Institute was considered the best equipped cotton spinning school in America. This statement was in the official report of a committee of Lancashire Cotton Manufacturers, sent by Lord Leverhulme of England to tour America. Necessity demanded further expansion of the school in 1923. This last ad- dition to date was erected on Maxfield Street, west of the building constructed in 1905. The cotton yarn preparation and weaving departments made use of the first two floors and the third was utilized for a gymnasium.