Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 19 text:

The school would not hold the place that it does now were it not for the public spirit and generosity of these men—to say nothing of the untir¬ ing efforts of the late Senator Hoar and others—to give the new institution a good start. Our debt to them is great, and a little study devoted to their lives would serve to give us a keener insight into the advantages that are placed before us. To relate in detail of the many gifts that have fol¬ lowed these first would be not only monotonous but uninteresting. These gifts are given in the chronology that follows this article. At the critical time, however, some benefactor has always come forward, and as a result, in addition to the original land and buildings, we now own all of Tech Hill, including the Hill estate, recently purchased, and what was originally Bliss Field, and we have seen built the Salisbury high-potential and mechanics laboratories, foundry, power house, an extension to the shops, and the new electrical laboratory. One thing must not be lost sight of and that is that none of the donors has been in any way helped by the Institute. Therefore it has been on every occasion a case of pure sacrifice on their part. Now let us of the present day, who have been materially helped by this institution, imbibe some of the spirit of our elders, and even if we cannot give financial aid, let us stand up body and soul for what has given most of us, at least, a livelihood. Above all, don’t knock. Tech has no place whatever for the

Page 18 text:

twelve members, one of whom must be the Mayor of Worcester, and another was to be appointed by the State Board of Education from time to time as a vacancy should occur. It could hold real or personal estate to an amount not exceeding 1 $450,000 (afterwards increased). Hardly had the enthusiasm occasioned by this gift subsided when the Hon. Ichabod Washburn offered, under certain conditions, to build a machine shop to cost not over $12,000, and to furnish the same with a 10 H. P. engine and the necessary machines and tools. In addition to this he gave $5,000 as a working cash capital for the first year, and the income of $50,000 during his life to be used for current expenses, the principal to be given to the Institute at his death. A subscription paper headed by Stephen Salisbury for a sum of $22,000 was circulated among the manu¬ facturers in Worcester, and further, among the mechanics working in the shops. To this they subscribed liberally, until the building fund reached the sum of $61,000. As a general fund for the expenses of instruction, Mr. Salisbury gave $10,000, soon after adding $50,000 for the same pur¬ pose. The interest on the original gift of Mr. Boynton, with the addition of several smaller gifts, added a further amount of $31,000 towards pur¬ chasing apparatus. Mr. Salisbury now presented the Institute with the site with which we are so familiar. 12

Page 20 text:

knocker. The more we learn to love, honor, and make sacrifices for onr school and Alma Mater, so much more have we materially helped our¬ selves. Here, at least, is one way in which we can show school spirit. Be able to talk intelligentlv and with interest about your school. The following is a clipping advertising for proposals for building Boynton Hall. Print from “Worcester Daily Spy,” Jan., 1867: P roposals for building.—P ro¬ posals are invited for the erection of a Stone Building in this city, for the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science, ac¬ cording to the plans and specifications prepared by Messrs. Earle ' Fuller. The plans may be seen and a copy of the specifications obtained at the room of the Architects, No. 206 Main st. The proposals should be sealed, directed to the Build¬ ing Committee, and sent in on or before Friday, the 18th of January next. D. WALDO LINCOLN, Chairman. d29 d2w The following are clippings taken from newspapers at that time, giv¬ ing notices of the dedication exercises. From the “Worcester Daily Spy’’ for Nov. 11, 1868: ORCESTER COUNTY Fi ee Institute of Industrial Science. THE SERVICES AT THE DEDICATION OF BOYNTON HALL WILL BE HELD IN THE CHAPEL On WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11, Commencing at 10 o’clock A. m. The following is the ORDER OF EXERCISES. 1— Report of the Building Committee and Deliv¬ ering of the Keys to the Trustees, by the Chair¬ man, D. W. Lincoln. 2— Reply by the President, Hon. Stephen Salis¬ bury. 3— Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Dr. Sweetser. 4— Music by Select Choir. 5— Addresses by Prof. Lyman of Yale College, and Prof. Woodman of Dartmouth. 6— Inauguration Address by Mr. C. O. Thompson, Principal of the Institute. 7— Congratulatory Remarks by Hon. James B. Blake, Mayor of the city. 8— Music. At the close of the exercises a collation will be provided in the adjoining hall, for invited guests and others who may attend. After the collation Short Addresses will be expected from several Distinguished Speakers, explanatory of the ob¬ jects, prospects and wants of the Institution. Contributors to the Building Fund and citizens generally are invited to be present. The whole building will be thrown open for inspection. n5 d6t D. WALDO LINCOLN, Sec’y. 14