1939 Attempted Closing of the State Teachers College of North Adams

The Governor of Massachusetts, beginning in the early 1930s, threatened to close the State Teachers College of North Adams in hopes of saving the state one and a half million dollars. Word spread about the idea of abandoning the college back in 1933 to the West Pittsfield Shakers, who sent out a plea in hopes of them to stay open. The discussion of closing the college gained traction again in 1936, though it was ultimately rejected in 1939 due to the strong presence at a Boston hearing by Northern Berkshire citizens.

On April 4, 1939, Grover C. Bowman discussed the impact of the college at a Kiwanis club’s weekly luncheon meeting address. He felt that if the college were to close, the learning opportunities of the less fortunate boys and girls in Western Massachusetts would disappear as they would not have anywhere else to go for a good education. Considering most of the students at the time were low income yet highly ambitious, Bowman had the right to speak out on their behalf. Not long afterwards, the state commissioner Walter F. Downey, took a visit to the college. He enjoyed his trip to the extent that he proclaimed to be very interested in keeping it open like he was the owner.

North Adams had politically powerful figures on its side to win the fight to keep the college open. Politician Arthur M. Robinson and newspaperman John W. Haigis were among the biggest defenders, as they unified both the Berkshire and Franklin counties to gain support. On April 12, 1939, the parent-teacher association at C.T. Plunkett Junior High held a meeting to read the opposition letters that would be sent to the governor to reverse his decision. The next day, plans were in place for residents of Adams to get involved in a formal protest against the closing of State Teachers College of North Adams in Boston. Students from Adams were always included during the college enrollment period, and most of the teaching force of the schools in the area consisted of graduates from the college.

On April 18, 1939, a motorized march on Boston was held to present the facts-and-figures argument to keep the college open. Representatives from Berkshire and Franklin counties, as well as the cities of North Adams, Adams, and Williamstown, rallied together to send out copies of the resolution. Judge Israel Ruby of Williamstown cited the colleges high placement record as conclusive proof for it to remain open. All copies reached the Governor as well as thirty-two crucial members of the state legislature. Due to the unanimous local support and statewide agreement, the governor ultimately made the decision to no longer pursue the closure of the State Teachers College of North Adams.