members of the community who possessed ample means, the process of
securing gifts from them required some persistence.
Highest credit for the success achieved in providing funds for the
first Institute building belongs to Abram Firth, vigorous Worcester
agent of the Boston & Albany R. R. Shortly after completing this work
he was transferred to Boston as assistant superintendent of the
company, but he retained his interest in the school for which he had
worked so hard. He interviewed many of the prospects and stimulated
the other solicitors, reporting every few days to Dr. Sweetser the
contributions that had been pledged.
In a number of cases, Mr. Firth induced previous contributors to
increase their gifts. Stephen Salisbury's final donation was $22,000
instead of the $5,000 set against his name on the original
subscription list. James White, a man of moderate means, revised his
pledge from $500 to $1,700, and about fifteen others doubled their
first pledges. So much interest was shown in the project by workmen in
the shops that the committee placed subscription papers in twenty of
the larger factories. From this source over $1,500 was received.
July 25 was the date set for the closing of subscription papers. On
that date, Firth reported that "$50,369 has been obtained, and so the
goal is won!" No public announcement was made, for there was still
hope of securing gifts from others who had been approached. The
eventual amount pledged was $63,491. All but four of the original
pledges were collected, one of $2,000 made at the initial meeting in
March and three smaller ones totalling $380. Not including the shop
workmen, there were 236 givers, 110 of whom contributed $100 or
more. The result of this campaign showed clearly that the people of
Worcester County had faith in the education of young men for service
in the industrial field, and they were eager to have such a school
available to their sons. To provide education had been one of the
tenets in the creed of the first settlers that had never been
relinquished.
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