After visiting Kuliang, Fuzhou, to trace the legacy of his missionary great-grandaunt Lydia Trimble, American educator Gordon Trimble of Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College and his wife, Sonia, visited Putian No. 2 Middle School on October 31 to follow in the footsteps of their granduncle, Fred Trimble, a former educator in Fujian.
The couple's journey was inspired by the Trimble family legacy, shaped by Mrs. Lydia Trimble, an American missionary who served in China for more than fifty years beginning in 1889. Professor Gordon Trimble later learned that his granduncle, Mr. Fred Trimble, had also worked in education in the Putian region. Historical records show that in 1907, he was appointed to oversee local primary and secondary schools, including those founded by the Xianyou Church. From 1909 to 1910, he served as principal of the predecessor of Putian No. 2 Middle School, laying an important foundation for modern education in the area, said Bond with Kuliang.
Trained in architecture and civil engineering, Fred Trimble also contributed to the construction of Foochow Women's College at the request of his aunt, Lydia Trimble. Working alongside architect Wilford W. Beach, he arrived in Foochow in September 1911 to assist with site preparation and the laying of the college's foundation.
During their meeting with representatives of Putian No. 2 Middle School, the Trimble couple shared their family's connection to Fujian's educational development and learned more about Fred Trimble's teaching experience and school-running efforts. They later interacted with students, encouraging them to remain confident and seize new opportunities. The couple noted that they could sense the school's rich educational heritage through the students' vitality and the school's environment.
The Trimbles also visited a remaining building of the former school where Mr. Fred Trimble had once lived and worked. They listened as school representatives recounted its history and his contributions to local education. The couple expressed their hope to continue sharing the insights gained from this journey so that this century-old educational legacy may be passed on.
