The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine University of Maine Alumni Magazines University of Maine Publications 2-1923 Maine Alumnus, Volume 4, Number 4, February 1923 General Alumni Association, University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/alumni_magazines Recommended Citation General Alumni Association, University of Maine, "Maine Alumnus, Volume 4, Number 4, February 1923" (1923). University of Maine Alumni Magazines. 2. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/alumni_magazines/2 This publication is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Maine Alumni Magazines by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ®M M Alumnus Member of the Alumni Magazines Associated Entered as second-class m atter O ctober 1921, at the post office at Augusta, Maine, under the act of M arch 3, 1879_____________ Vol. 4, No. 4 FEBRUARY, 1923 Fifteen Cents the Copy Oliver Crosby’s Gift $100,000 is the bequest left to the Orono his kit of carpenter tools and winter. In the spring he returned to University by the late Oliver Crosby, jigsaw, and in partnership with his St. Paul and secured a position in a class of 1876, of St. Paul, Minn., for old friend, Francis Bacon, fitted up small machine shop. Later he went the purpose of erecting a building to a shop in one of the college build- to the St. Paul Foundry and Mfg. Co., house a Department of Mechanical ings. and then to the Great Northern Rail- Engineering and to always be known During his college life Mr. Crosby, way Shops. Serving an apprentice- as and bear the name of “ Crosby.” as a pastime, wrote parodies, songs, ship in the master mechanics draft- Mr. Crosby died at the Miller Hospi- etc. for the amusement of the college ing room, and combining this with tal, St. Paul, Friday, December 8, alternate days at firing an engine on after suffering for three years from the road, he laid the foundation of an pernicious anemia. education in locomotive work. At the time of his death he was In the spring o f 1878 he built his managing partner of the American own house, married Miss Elizabeth I. Hoist and Derrick Co., established Wood of Dexter, and tackled life by him in 1888. The life of Mi. anew. Crosby was a remarkable story of In partnership with Frank J. John- advancement, following his gradua- son and William R. Nickel, and with tion in 1876, from a day laborer in a their coats off, a small wooden shop lumber camp to millionaire head of was erected in 1883 which was des- one of the Northwest’s leading manu- tined to become the famous Ameri- can Hoist and Derrick Co. Mr. Cros- facturing concerns. by in this modest establishment was Oliver Crosby was the oldest son the machinist, bookkeeper and finan- of Josiah and Mary B. Crosby and cial man; the others were pattern was bom in Dexter, January 30, makers. Their business did not pros- 1858. At an early age he showed a per at the start, but later by rigid strong inclination for mechanics. He economy and hard labor they pros- instinctively knew the use of car- pered so that in 1886 they removed penter’s tools, in which he was much the plant to its present quarters in encouraged by his father, who from St. Paul. Today the buildings and time to time brought him the common yard occupy several acres, and the tools used in carpentry. With them company has over 700 employees. he built simple pieces of furniture Oliver Crosby '76 At the time of his death Mr. Cros- and articles for amusement. He by’s wealth was estimated at from built dams where there was running students. He was elected the poet ten to fifteen million dollars. water, making water wheels to run of the class and delivered the class He is survived by his wife and pulleys and tin buzz saws, much to poem at the class day exercises at three children; Mrs. Louise S. Payne the delight of the boys in the neigh- graduation. of Ithaca, N. Y., Frederic Crosby, of borhood. Immediately after graduation in St. Paul, and Mrs. Ruth Crosby Van Passing from youth into early 1876 he returned to his home in Dex- Ness, of St. Paul. manhood he decided to enter college. ter to renovate the buildings, fences, Oliver Crosby’s father was a law- In entering the Maine State College etc. Saving seventy-five dollars from yer, a Bowdoin graduate in the class as a student of mechanical engineer- his few months’ work he left home, of 1835. Oliver Crosby was one of ing he exhibited that fixity of purpose attended the Centennial Exposition nine children by his father’s second so characteristic of him in later life. in Philadelphia for a week, and then marriage, four being sisters and four The facilities for teaching engineer- eventually reached St. Paul. Four- brothers. The four sisters and two of ing at the college at that time were teen and one-half dollars was his the brothers also survive him. His crude, and doubtless this inspired capital upon arrival. Mr. Crosby brother Simon P. graduated from Mr. Crosby’s desire to bequeath to the found a home there with a family Maine in 1879, and is now practising institution a gift which could be used friend, Mr. A. B. Stickney. law in St. Paul, and was recently for students in engineering with the His first occupation was with the elected the president of the newly improvements which he felt were North Wisconsin Railroad, scaling organized Twin City Alumni Associa- needed. He carried with him to timber and keeping books for one tion of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 46 THE MAINE ALUMNUS February, 1923 expenses it is expected will be under- Memorial Fund Campaign written by Boston and New York alumni groups. The cost of the Field Solicitation Starts April 2. Perfection Plans Now Occupying campaign will not be taken out of Committee. Newspaper Advertising Campaign Under Way. donations received until the success of the campaign is assured. The basis of payment on contributions The December ALUMNUS an- Commencement in order to be among will be by cash or by pledges payable nounced the decision of the Alumni those who will celebrate the an- quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly Council to prosecute a campaign to nouncement, on June 9th, that the over a five year period. raise a fund among the alumni and Fund has been raised. No definite friends of the University with which statement can as yet be made but it to build the much needed Gymna- is understood that at this same time, sium-Armory. The Memorial Fund Pres. Little will be prepared to an- Dean Colvin Committee has been busily engaged nounce the location of the site on The appointment of Dr. Caroline during the last two months in per- which the building will be erected. Colvin announced by Pres. Little De- fecting the plans of the campaign Should this occur there will be an cember 16, as the first Dean of wo- and has announced that April 2 will impromptu ceremony in which ground men at the University, has met with be the day for the start of the will be broken for the building, and general favor. Prof. Colvin is well soliciting campaign which will last the Committee has already received known to all college generations since until Commencement Day, June 9. 1902 at which time she accepted the chair as Professor of History at the The Committee proposes to furnish institution. Prof. Colvin’s appoint- the alumni before April 1st with full ment became effective at the opening and complete information as to the of the spring semester. reason why this Gymnasium-Armory As Assistant Dean, Miss Teresa is urgently needed, why the Univer- Huesman of New York City, since sity will wait many years if the September at the head of the depart- State furnishes money for such a ment of physical training for women, building, and why the alumni are has been appointed. Miss Huesman called upon to contribute to this is a graduate of the University of project. The Committee desires that Minnesota in the class of 1920 and every alumnus be fully advised in secured her master’s degree from these matters, in order that he may Wellesley in 1922. be prepared when, on April 2, the call comes for his subscription to the fund. To accomplish this end, the Varsity Debate newspapers of the State of Maine The second season of varsity de- are being used and copies are being bating at the University was ushered forwarded to University of Maine in by a debate with a two-man team men residing in other states. From representing the North Dakota Agri- time to time as fast as the data can cultural College in Bangor City Hall be moulded into form, other literature January 10. The visitors, undefeated bearing upon this matter will be WILLIAM McC. SAWYER ’Ol during a long trans-continental trip, sent to the alumni, and when, on Director Memorial Fund Campaign came from behind and triumphed April 2, the actual soliciting of funds Mr. Sawyer brin g s a wealth of suc- over the Maine team by a strong, is started, a weekly bulletin will be cessful business experience to his duties as director of the alumni campaign forceful rebuttal, to the negative side issued so that every University of soon to he launched.