Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

Main building, designed by Frank Furness

Williamson College of the Trades is a men's junior trade college located in Middletown Township near Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.^[1][2] It was founded on December 1, 1888 as the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades by Isaiah Vansant Williamson, and opened in 1901. On July 1, 2015 it was officially renamed Williamson College of the Trades.^[3] It is not affiliated with any religious organization, although it does subscribe to a "Judeo-Christian" belief system.^[4]:95

Williamson is the only trade college in the United States of America that gives all students full scholarships to cover tuition, textbooks, and room and board. The college uses their endowment to cover two-thirds of their student costs each year, with the rest coming from private fundraising. The college and its students do not accept federal financial aid. Williamson is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology.

Student experience

External video

Williamson Documentary, 11:14, July 2012

About the Machine Tool Technology Program, 2:47, July 2015, Williamson College of the Trades

The term of study at the college is three years. Programs are offered in carpentry, masonry, horticulture, landscaping, turf management, machine tools, painting, and power plant technology.^[5] Upon graduation, students receive Associate's degrees in their chosen fields, unless they opt for a lesser diploma in carpentry or masonry.

All students are required to live on-campus 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.

Former SEPTA train station

Williamson School
Former train station
The former Williamson School station in January 2013.
Location	Station Drive Media, Pennsylvania
Owned by	SEPTA
Line(s)	Pennsylvania Railroad, SEPTA R3 West Chester Line
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
History
Opened	1888
Closed	1986
Electrified	1928
Services
No services   Former services   Preceding station   SEPTA   Following station Glen Riddle (closed) toward West Chester West Chester Line R3 West Chester Elwyn toward Suburban Station Pennsylvania Railroad Glen Riddle toward West Chester West Chester Branch Elwyn toward Suburban Station

Williamson School is an abandoned train station located on Station Drive near New Middletown Road in Middletown Twp, Pennsylvania. The station was a stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad's West Chester Line. It later became a part of SEPTA's R3 West Chester.

The station, and all of those west of Elwyn, was closed in September 1986, due to deteriorating track conditions and Chester County's desire to expand facilities at Exton Station on SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line. Service was "temporarily suspended" at that time, with substitute bus service provided. Williamson School station still appears in publicly posted tariffs.

The original station is located on the grounds of the Williamson Free School. When the line was open, the station mainly served students and faculty of the facility.

References

1. Holmes, Kristin (18 May 2015). "Changing times at Delco trade school". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
2. "Students at Delco's Williamson College make top 10". Philly.com. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
3. "It’s Official — We are now Williamson College of the Trades!". Retrieved 2015-08-24.
4. Wanamaker, John (1928).  Life of Isaiah V. Williamson. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. Wikisource. 
5. Trade programs

External links

• The full text of Life of Isaiah V. Williamson at Wikisource
• Williamson College of the Trades

Coordinates: 39°54′23″N 75°25′24″W / 39.9065°N 75.4234°W