The Two Towers: Main

of the responsibility in this, the first public drive for funds in Worcester. Two days later a notice appeared in the Worcester Palladium.

A gentleman, who for the present withholds his name from the public, offers a fund of $100,000 for establishment of a scientific school in Worcester, upon condition that the necessary land and buildings shall be furnished by our citizens.

Not even April's cataclysmic events disturbed the proceedings. On May 6 the bill was signed by Alexander H. Bullock, Speaker of the House and a citizen of Worcester; by May 9 the bill was passed by the Senate and approved by the Governor, John A. Andrew. The following day the Secretary of the Commonwealth accepted and recorded the Institute as a legal corporation.

On June 3 the corporators invited a few associates to meet with them to accept the Charter, to organize the board, and to thank Mr. Boynton for his proferred gift. Naturally, every one except Stephen Salisbury voted for Mr. Salisbury for president.

Mr. Boynton had requested that the first board be selected by himself, with the exception of the Mayor of the City of Worcester and one member to be appointed by the State Board of Education. There were to be three pastors of Worcester churches of different denominations, and other laymen of good reputation. Alpheus Harding, cashier of Miller's River National Bank of which Mr. Boynton had been the first president, was one of the initial choices. Mr. Harding had served in the Legislature and was active in State and national politics. David Whitcomb automatically was named a member, as was Stephen Salisbury, and Ichabod Washburn. Phinehas Ball, Mayor of the City, was elected clerk. Dr. Alonzo Hill, who had been pastor of the Unitarian Church for forty years, and Dr. Hiram Pervear, who had just been installed at the First Baptist Church, made up the ministerial appointees along with Seth Sweetser. Emory Washburn was appointed to represent the State Department of Education.

The election of David Whitcomb as treasurer was inevitable. He was the intermediary between the unknown benefactor and the benefaction, and much was dependent on his keeping Mr. Boynton's patience intact. During 1865 Mr. Boynton had been living with the Whitcombs in Worcester. He had been persuaded to extend the time originally set for the campaign, but there were rumors that the City was in jeopardy of losing his hundred thousand dollars if the school was not soon built.

Little by little Mr. Boynton had disposed of his fortune, giving his eight nephews and a niece what he thought they should have. He had given David Whitcomb a personal gift of United States