Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 283

the formal flag-raising ceremony which marked the turning over of the college to the War Department. There were brief talks, including one by Charles G. Washburn, relative to the momentous significance of the day in the history of the Institute, and a challenging message from Dr. Hollis. Lieut. Paul T. Rothwell, U. S. A., accepted the responsibility in the name of the Government, and the Institute became a war college, under full military discipline. Ten days later Lieutenant Rothwell was replaced by Capt. Thomas H. Smith.

Uniforms and equipment were issued to all students of military age. Fraternity houses were converted into barracks, each receiving its quota of men. The still uncompleted swimming pool in the basement of the gymnasium was floored over and converted into a mess hall, with Fred Margerum, diminutive campus electrician, as mess sergeant and head cook. The faculty room was converted into headquarters for military officers.

The war college enrollment was 431, first-year men numbering 213, largest group ever to be admitted to the Institute. Over half of the students were enrolled in the Army section, about a quarter of them in the Navy section, and the others were either under age or aliens. These potential replacements for the American Expeditionary Forces spent two full months under the domination of a bugle. They stood reveille, formed for mess, drilled, passed in review, and experienced the novelty of supervised evening studies, as well as attending such classes as were retained in the military scheme. The faculty likewise adapted itself to the new regime with surprising docility and efficiency. Everything was moving "with commendable regularity," and everyone was swelling with patriotism. Then came November 11 and the Armistice. America and much of the rest of the world momentarily went mad when the tension of its emotions was released.

What to do with the S. A. T. C.? The War Department asked the Trustees if they were willing to continue on the same basis until June 30, 1919. They were not. So, the order came

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