History of Rogers

Rogers Gymnasium was born out of a vision by Headmaster Vincent D. Rogers. Fundraising began in 1949 with a goal of raising $250,000. A gift from the estate of Marion B. Cowan gave an early boost to fundraising efforts. Robert and Shirley Richardson wrote in The Brewster Story: "Never before had the school ventured into a large financial campaign, and the trustees had questions. Would it be possible to raise $250,000 for a new gym when alumni giving had been traditionally low and focused on an annual Boston banquet? Could an accurate listing of current alums be generated quickly for such an undertaking? Could the local townspeople realistically provide enough funding to augment the needs of the school? Should the school focus the giving campaign in one area, when it was obvious there were many other needs that required attention -- a school library, manual arts area, more classroom space, modernized and properly equipped science laboratories? Should all of those needs be put before that for one gymnasium?" 

Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees took charge of the campaign, mapping out a timeline for fundraising to be completed by 1951, despite additional economic challenges posed by the emergence of The Korean War. 

Architects worked on the design for the new facility, emphasizing the need to keep the building low and to utilize the natural grade of the site to preserve the view corridors to the lake. Fundraising continued, with booklets called For a Better Brewster, and A Sound Mind in a Sound Body created to support the effort. 

Students joined the fundraising efforts. According to The Brewster Story: "All of the classes seemed to consider the fund drive a measure of class competition. Freshmen took on the project of selling trays that were decorated with a painted and colored picture of the main school building. In addition, they held an auction which earned the fund $200. Sophomores earned $200 by canvassing the town in search of scrap metal that was dragged to the back of the Estabrook where it awaited the scrap dealer to arrive and pay his rate. The junior class placed containeers in all the local shops and stores to gather pennies to make a 'Thousand Miles of Pennies' for the fund, and seniors presented a Senior Carnival, selling tickets and earning $250."

Regional alumni chapters also got involved, with Massachusetts alumni charged with raising at least $10,000 for the effort. 

In April 1953, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at last, on the hillside just south of the Academic Building. Arthur P. Gale, President of the Board of Trustees, is pictured with fellow Board members at the groundbreaking. By the end of 1954, just in time for graduation (much to the dismay of the Class of 1954 who wished to graduate outdoors), the building was complete. 

The building was eventually named in honor of Vincent Rogers. The new facility played a significant role in the further development of Brewster's athletic offerings. For further details about this project, please read Chapter 10 of The Brewster Story, "Rogers Gets His Gym."