Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 28

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