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LEWIS INSTITUTE |
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By Agness Joslyn Kaufman |
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| The opening paragraph in the section
of the Lewis will that pertains to the founding of the Institute says
"It has long been my desire to, in some manner, provide for and
assist those in need of an education, and who are so circumstanced in life
as to be unable without aid and assistance to obtain the instruction and
gain access to books and papers of art and science that their future
advancement in life requires". At the time the Institute opened it
was not possible to comply with this desire, because so few of "those
so circumstanced" cared to have more formal education than was
offered in the grade schools, and inasmuch as Lewis was built in the heart
of what was then one of the fashionable and well-to-do districts in the
city, it started its career with the easily acquired title of a
"fashionable preschool". This situation existed until as late as
1908, when another general shift in population took place, and was unable
financially to attend one of the larger universities. Then, at last, the
fundamental desire of the founder came to be realized. In 1909, through the generosity of LaVerne Noyes, one of our trustees, a co-operative course was inaugurated for boys of high school age who also served as apprentices in industry. The tuition of the boys was paid by Mr. Noyes when they were not working, and splendid co-operation was given to the course by many firms in the city. The decrease in the attendance of boys of high school age and the requirements of industry during the early years of World War I made it necessary to close the co-operative course. In 1913 a contract was signed with the Portland Cement Association to establish the Structural Materials Laboratory at the Institute for purposes of research and for the training of men competent to assist in concrete construction. This laboratory was maintained until 1926 when the Association moved into its own building. During World War I, Lewis was the headquarters of the educational work of the Sixth Corps Area. A most successful training school for ground mechanics was maintained there, and rehabilitation work for veterans was carried on for about six years after the war. Letters in our files that came to Director Carman from the War Department in Washington indicate that the plan inaugurated at Lewis served as a model in many colleges throughout the country. |
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| Page last updated on May 17, 2000. |
