1960: Founded by Thomas Foster in 1890, the International Correspondence School set out to “teach the world” through a series of mail-order courses teaching the basics of mine engineering. As the school grew, the course offerings expanded to include history, literature, architecture and mechanical and electrical engineering. Originally housed in the Finch Building on Wyoming Avenue, the school moved into a large, modern headquarters at 911 Oak St. in February 1958. Designed by Scranton architect George M.D. Lewis, the building housed offices and classrooms, a dining hall, medical facilities, and reference library. It also featured a U.S. Post Office (and its own zip code) due to the heavy volume of mail processed daily.
2019: Increased opportunities for higher education caused a dip in the student body and finances at ICS. The company changed hands numerous times after it was sold to Harcourt Learning Direct in 1996. Today, the school continues to provide college-level and lifelong learning courses online as Penn Foster.
— RESEARCH COURTESY OF LACKAWANNA HISTORICAL SOCIETY