Murrell H. Dobbins
Story
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Murrell H. Dobbins Story |
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| Murrell Dobbins (1843-1917), son of Joseph Ridgeway and Mary Ann (Hilyard)
Dobbins, was born at Pemberton, N.J. Coming to Philadelphia after the death
of his father, he served a regular apprenticeship at the bricklaying trade.
This early contact with trade instruction is reflected in his later interests
when, as president of the Master Builders Exchange of Philadelphia, he
was influential in providing an evening trade school within that organization.
From apprenticeship he rose to be a contractor, becoming one of Philadelphia's leading builders. Later, he engaged in brick manufacturing, and in 1901 he founded the Camden Pottery Company. He was elected to the Philadelphia Board of Education in January, 1906 and almost immediately urged the consideration of a plan for a system of mechanical trade schools. His diligence in pressing this point is indicated by the fact that the first school of this kind was opened in September of that year as The Philadelphia Trades School for Boys, at Twelfth and Locust Streets. Mr. Dobbins served three years as an active member of the Board of Education.
He resigned in 1909 to become City Treasurer. He continued his interest
in vocational education during the remainder of his life, and it is most
fitting that this modern vocational school should bear his name.
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