Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 8

It was not easy for Ichabod Washburn to subscribe to a plan that supplanted the one he had originally devised, and which might have perpetuated his interests in the mechanic arts. The morning after the issuance of letters he called on Dr. Sweetser to discuss the subject. At first he hesitated, but the sound reasoning and enthusiasm of the pastor convinced him that it was a project worthy of his aid - to what extent he would decide later.

As Stephen Salisbury explained the dilemma, Mr. Washburn discerned "that Mr. Boynton's plan did not go beyond the province of a good theoretic school, one more academy to struggle for life with the competition of the best free schools. There was no provision for practical training, which was greatly desired to do the work of the old system of apprenticeship, with improving instead of degrading influences. Mr. Washburn's field would be untouched and only aided by the culture that was established by the side of it."

The organization meeting of March 27, 1865, was held at the law office of George F. Hoar. Francis H. Kinnicutt, president of the Citizens Bank, and father of two sons who later were to be intimately connected with the Institute, was elected chairman, and Henry H. Chamberlin, proprietor of Worcester's leading general store, was elected secretary. Emory Washburn stated the purpose for which the meeting was convened, and the Reverend Dr. Sweetser read the portion of the letter of gift that gave details of the plans and objects of the prospective donor, whose name was still withheld. The discussion of the project led to the naming of a committee to solicit subscriptions to the building fund. They were George F. Hoar, Sumner Pratt, Albert Curtis, Abram Firth, J. M. C. Armsby and Stephen Salisbury, 3rd.

As has been customary at such meetings before and since, a subscription paper was started immediately, headed by the elder Salisbury with a pledge of $5,000 and an offer of about two acres of land at the comer of Salisbury and Grove Streets -later occupied by the State Armory. Nine others placed

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