Smith Voke

Smith's Vocational and Agricultural High School was founded as the result of a bequest made by Oliver Smith (1766-1845) of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Smith, a farmer who made his fortune in stock raising in Hatfield, and land speculation, cheifly in Ohio, amassed a considerable fortune, some of which he left to fund an agricultural school. Although the will was contested, Smith's wishes were supported by the Court and prevailed, and Smith's Charities, a benevolent instituion was established to oversee his intended philanthropic interests.

Smith made a proviso in his will that the money be set aside, and should not be used for 60 years, thus ensuring that the original amount given for the school an other philanthropic purposes would grow, and be allowed to accumulate. By 1905, $50,000 was released to begin building the school. The total fund had increased to nearly $400,000 for all philanthropic intentions, the most significant of which was Northampton's state-of-the-art agricultural-vocational school which was opened in 1908.

Today, almost 170 years after his death, Oliver Smith's vision continues to thrive, and Smith's Vocational and Agricultural School is nationally and internally recognized as exemplary.

These photographs were given to Forbes Library in 2003.