Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 263

tion by the Class of '94 in 1914, to be presented each year to the class having the largest percentage of its membership present at the dinner. After '74 had won it three years in a row, the class proposed the establishment of a rule making any class ineligible to hold it for more than three successive years.

After the jubilee was all over, and well-earned rest had come to the committee and to a host of others who had helped to make it an outstanding achievement, there arose the question of what it had cost and who paid the bills. Mr. Rockwood answered it in two sentences. He had solicited individual members of the Trustees for $300 apiece. The total cost had been about $5,000. He failed to disclose how generous his own part of the financing had been. His executive efforts, the work of Mr. Baker, and the vast amount of detail handled by Professor Coombs brought official thanks from the Trustees as well as enthusiastic praise from the alumni and the public.

This celebration was so gratifying that the Institute looked forward with eagerness to the following June when the gymnasium should be ready for occupancy. Plans for this event were more simple and the attendance was smaller. Dedication exercises were combined with the alumni dinner program in the gymnasium, June 8, 1916. There was cause for gratification in the attractive structure, then nearly complete, which had been erected so well under the supervision of Professors French and Knight, and which represented the financial cooperation of so many alumni. The ceremonies were opened by John C. Miller, '86, representing the class that originated the campaign. The architect, Mr. Brown, the builder, Mr. Gibson, and Professor French each contributed his opinion of the finished product. Professor Carpenter, newly chosen head of the department of Physical Education was introduced, and representatives of the reunion classes made their bows. Inconspicuous in this array of speakers was the representative of Massachusetts, its Lieutenant Governor, Calvin Coolidge, who contributed a brief word of congratulation on the excellence of the building.

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Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999