1957– After most of the shop buildings are destroyed by fire, four new shop buildings are constructed and named "The John Wanamaker Free School of Artisans" and funded by the Rodman Wanamaker estate.
1961– Williamson School becomes a post-secondary institution.
March, 2008- Henry and Lee Rowan and H. FitzGerald and Marguerite Lenfest donate $45 million to the school's endowment.
July 1, 2015– "Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades" is officially renamed "Williamson College of the Trades"
Planning and founding
After contemplating the idea since the 1850s, Isaiah Williamson spent the final decade of his life formulating and developing the concept for a new trade school for underprivileged boys to be located in a suburb of Philadelphia. Williamson personally drafted the Foundation of Deed which he presented to the board of trustees on December 1, 1888. The charter members of the board of trustees were all accomplished in their own right, consisting of mostly tradesmen, who were colleagues and friends of Williamson. The seven charter trustees included: John Baird, James C. Brooks, Lemuel Coffin, Edward Longstreth, William C. Ludwig, Henry C. Townsend, and Williamson's close friend and protege, John Wanamaker. Baird was chosen as president of the trustees, and Brooks and Helmbold were selected as treasurer and secretary, respectively. John M. Shrigley was also appointed secretary and President of the school. He took the lead in developing the campus and implementing the curriculum.
Campus
On March 6, 1889 the day before he died, Isaiah Williamson approved the purchase of 220 acres of land to be used for the school's campus in Middletown Township, near Elwyn, Pennsylvania. The site was selected from over 200 prospective locations, and the trustees acted quickly to secure the property and carry out Williamson's vision for the institution. The campus was later described by John Wanamaker as "... gently rolling country with its springs and water courses, its broad pastures, its woodland acres of old oaks and chestnuts, its distant views of fertile farms, thriving towns—natural beauties enhanced by wise and not overdone landscape gardening, winding macadamized drives, and an artistic as well as convenient grouping of the various school buildings". Renowned Philadelphia architect, Frank Furness won the design competition for the original campus buildings. His design was selected from among the other invited submissions for its understated details and simplicity. Ground was broken for the administration building in 1890 and the campus opened for classes in September, 1891. The original campus buildings consisted of: the Administration Building, the boiler house, a shop building, the Superintendent's residence and 3 cottages. Most of the original buildings are still functioning as they were originally purposed. Over the decades, Williamson has maintained a rustic feel to its campus by keeping the majority of its land undeveloped. The current facilities on the campus include:
Rowan Hall – administrative offices, student lounge, dining room, and the chapel.
The John Wanamaker Free School of Artisans – includes modern carpentry, machine, paint, and masonry shops.
Walter M. Strine, Sr. 2W9 Learning Center – library, placement office, faculty and administrative offices, and classrooms.
Lipp Educational Center – classrooms, faculty offices, a computer laboratory, a resource room with a technical library, and three separate laboratories.
Dorrance H. Hamilton Horticultural Center – complex of facilities supporting the horticulture program, named for the philanthropist Mrs. Dorrance Hill Hamilton.
William L. McLean, Jr. Technical Center – technical center named in honor of newspaper executive, William L. McLean, Jr.
The Restall Sports Center – completed in 1988, includes a basketball court, indoor running track, weight room, locker rooms, offices, lounge, and laundry facilities.
Student housing – twelve dormitories, including Byers Hall I & II, C Cottage, Derrickson, Eyre, George, Jenks, Longstreth, Smith, Stell, Townsend, and Watson.
Faculty homes – on-campus housing for faculty members.
Athletic fields – baseball, football, lacrosse, and soccer fields, and tennis courts.
"Williamson School" Station – train station located on campus, constructed shortly after the school was founded in 1889. The station ended service in 1986.
Alumni Hall – houses the Clarence W. Schrenk Program in Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management, which maintains two greenhouses and many gardens, including the Sabia Garden adjacent to the McLean Technical Center.
In 2013, a historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission was placed near the campus' main entrance in commemoration of the school's 125th anniversary and its noteworthy architecture. The historical marker reads:
Founded in 1888 by philanthropist Isaiah V. Williamson to teach underprivileged young men "some trade, free of expense" via a character ~ based curriculum. With trade apprenticeships disappearing in the US in the late 19th century, it was a model in vocational education. It is the only trade school in the nation providing full scholarships to all students. The campus contains the largest existing collection of buildings designed by Frank Furness.
Student life
Although the vocational school subscribes to a "Judeo-Christian" belief system, and enforces a highly disciplined lifestyle, it is not affiliated with any religious organization. Williamson is the only trade college in the country that gives all students full scholarships, covering tuition, textbooks, and room and board. The college uses its endowment to cover two-thirds of student costs each year, with the balance coming from private donations and fundraising. Neither the college nor its students accept any form of federal financial aid. Williamson College of the Trades is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. All students are required to live on-campus throughout their three years of study. Students live in supervised dormitories, attend a daily chapel service, and follow a dress code. Students must also participate in at least one official student activity each year. Choices include: team sports, the student newspaper, and student government. Courses are offered in the following trades:
