After World War II ended, there was a serious shortage of housing for returning veterans across the United States. In the Atlanta area, solutions included families living in military tents on rented land or in trailer parks set up for the purpose of housing veterans with families.
Another part of this issue was the tremendous number of soldiers returning to or beginning college. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI bill into law on June 22, 1944. The bill provided funds to veterans for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing.
Georgia Tech wanted to expand during this time, but there was a shortage of building materials during and following WWII. In February of 1946, Blake Ragsdale Van Leer, president of Georgia Tech, announced a unique solution to the problem. He arranged to take over Lawson General Hospital to house veterans registered to attend Georgia Tech. (Atlanta Constitution, February 3, 1946, Use of Lawson Brightens Tech Housing Outlook)
Lawson General Hospital was a military hospital built adjacent to Naval Air Station Atlanta in Chamblee to treat injured soldiers of World War II. It was known for treating patients who lost limbs, fitting them with prosthesis, and helping them learn how to accomplish their daily tasks. The doctors and nurses of Lawson also helped the soldiers enjoy activities such as golf and dancing.
The buildings were scheduled to become available in June of 1946, when the U. S. Army would declare Lawson General Hospital as surplus property. They would be remodeled and ready for students by Fall that year. “The importance to Tech of the facilities at Lawson General Hospital is very great,” said Van Leer. He also reached out to citizens of Atlanta to open their homes to students.
Bus service was set up between Lawson and Georgia Tech, which were thirteen miles apart. The students living there were primarily freshmen and sophomores.
The shortage of housing applied not only to single soldiers, but married ones, and families with children. Georgia Tech made use of former military housing in Marietta for married students.
Van Leer was excited about finding housing options as it meant they could accept more students and set the school on track towards becoming a larger institution. The Lawson buildings were expected to house between six hundred and eight hundred veterans.
Van Leer stated that the priority for accepted students at that time was Georgia veterans who attended Georgia Tech before the war, Georgia veterans in general, graduates of Georgia high schools, veterans not from Georgia, and finally, out of state students. According to a July 30, 1946 article in The Atlanta Constitution, Georgia Tech had enrollment of 2,600 before the war and 4,361 after the war.
If you have more information about the use of Lawson General Hospital as Georgia Tech housing following WWII, please email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com.