Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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Hon. Charles G. Washburn, ’75 Page fourteen

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this offer from an unknown donor would forestall and possibly eclipse his own project, for which he had hoped to enlist enthusiasm among wealthy Worcester manu¬ facturers. Yet all concerned saw that it was exceedingly desirable that his co-operation be secured. Professor George I. Alden—I think of him still as Professor— said he had it direct from Doctor Sweetser that “it proved no easy task to induce Mr. Washburn to be only a partner in this enter¬ prise in which he expected to be sole proprietor.” But how well he succeeded! Mr. Washburn gave to the new institution the Washburn Shops, an endowment fund of $50,000 for their support, and a generous amount for their equipment. At the dedication of the “Wor¬ cester County Free Institute of Industrial Science,” November 11, 1868, Dr. Sweetser said: “Two industrious and prosperous mech¬ anics, having independently of each other, cherished the purpose of being the benefactors of this community in future years, were, in the Providence of God, brought to combine their means and to co¬ operate together in laying the foundation of a school of practi¬ cal science, which, we trust, will prove not only an ornament to the city, but a long-continued source of substantial benefit to the country and the commonwealth.” In this case, it is clear that “The Providence of God” spoke with the voice and wrote with the pen of sage Seth Sweetser. The two benefactions, either of which would have been too weak to stand alone, were united in strength, and made to supplement each other; the Washburn plan was broadened, while the Boyn¬ ton project was given greater definiteness of focus. And so—after all these years —The Worcester Idea in educa¬ tion crystallized and took shape. It was a big idea in education then. It has still greater signifi¬ cance now. Robert S. Parks, ’93. Page thirteen

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January 28, 1857—May 25, 1928 C HARLES GRENFILL WASH¬ BURN was born in Wor¬ cester, the son of Charles Francis and Mary Elizabeth (Whi- ton) Washburn. He attended the public schools and prepared for the Worcester Polytechnic Insti¬ tute at the Worcester High School. Graduated from Tech in 1875, with the degree of bachelor of science, he finished his college education at Harvard from which he received his degree of bachelor of arts in 1880. He then took up the study of law, and was ad¬ mitted to the bar of Suffolk County in 1886. It was character¬ istic of the man that for several years he devoted the only time his business left to him, his evenings, to the study of law. Trained both as engineer and lawyer he naturally chose to specialize in patent law. But he also entered the manufacturing field. It was in his blood that he should do so, and that wire should be the chosen line. As a manufacturer he estab¬ lished the Wire Goods Company, now the Washburn Company, and had a large share in the develop¬ ment of what is now the Wor¬ cester works of the American Steel and Wire Company. Mr. Washburn’s political career began in 1897. He served for two terms in each branch of the Massa¬ chusetts legislature and for five years represented his district in the National House of Representa¬ tives. In the years since his active re¬ tirement from politics, Mr. Wash¬ burn has devoted a great deal of energy to biographical and his¬ torical research. His “Theodore Roosevelt: The Logic of His Career” is one of the most dis¬ criminating studies of his life¬ long friend. His memoir of an¬ other friend, Henry Cabot Lodge, is a notable characterization. Jt was while attending the an¬ nual convention of the Episcopal diocese of Western Massachusetts at Lenox, that he was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage and on May 25, 1928, he passed away. To the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Mr. Washburn’s relations were unique, and his services manifold. Graduated as a mere boy, he was active in the early days of the Alumni Association, and later became its president. Many years ago he became a trustee of the Institute, and served long both as treasurer and as president of the Corporation. During those years he was a bearer of heavy burdens. He was a frequent contributor to meet special needs. It was his effective presentation of the Institute ' s claims which had most weight in securing from the Commonwealth grants which increased to $50,000 a year. When these subsidies were ended by the “Anti-Aid Amendment” of 1917, he was active in the drive for the new endowment fund, to which he made generous contribution. Page fifteen