Cheney Tech
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The original Cheney Tech was created in 1912 with the opening of a textile school on Hartford Road in Manchester, Connecticut. The objective of the program at the time was to offer specialized training for prospective employees of the local Cheney Silk Mills.
In 1915 the school was moved to the Franklin Building on Main and School Streets, and the curriculum was expanded with the addition of carpentry, electrical, machine tool, and mechanical drafting. At this time the school was incorporated under the direction of the State Department of Education and renamed as the Manchester Trade School.
In 1943 the name of the school was changed to Howell Cheney Regional Vocational-Technical School in honor of the founder. In 1946, the technical education theory changed majorly, incorporating courses in the fields of related and general education. Cheney Tech teamed up with Manchester High School to offer a full curriculum of Math, Science, Blueprint Reading, English and Social Studies (half were taught at Cheney, half at MHS). Eight years later, the program was discontinued, due to Cheney Tech offering complete academic and trade program of study.
After the war, student enrollment increased, bringing the construction of a new school. In 1962, the farmiliar West Middle Turnpike campus was created. The new program offered new trades such as automotive technology, tool and die making, and industrial electronics. In 1982, the second floor, now known as the academic wing, was added for more classroom space, and an extra wing was added to the shops.
New trades added to curriculum after that were H-VAC, Welding, and Diesel Mechanics. With the birth of the 1990s, Microcomputer Software Technology and Culinary Arts were added to the trade program, while 2006 brought the end to the Electronics Program.
In February 2005 a $45 million expansion/renovation project was begun in February 2005, to include: The new three story shop wing, including a larger expanded art room, and three learning labs; the new culinary arts kitchen, bakery, and public restaurant; new academic classrooms, gymnasium, locker rooms, fitness center administration/guidance/support services and athletic fields. The project will hopefully be completed by Fall 2007.
Recently the Computer Aided Drafting and Design program will soon be making a cooperative program with Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Tool. The program includes potential CWE options for students in Drafting Technology
