FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO (PART 8) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by LeaAnn Rich leaann1@bellsouth.net January 14, 1999 *************************************************************************** HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO An Encyclopedia of the State By HENRY HOWE LL. D. Published by the State of Ohio C.J. Krehbiel & Co., Printers and Binders Cincinnati, Ohio copyright 1888 by Henry Howe 1904 THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Columbus, was a man of great force in Ohio, shown by his successful efforts at an early date in influencing its legislature to found beneficent institutions. Largely through him it was that an institution for the education of the deaf and dumb was founded during the legislative session of 1826-27. Gov. Morrow in his annual message recommended the measure, and the result was the passage of an act in accordance with the recommendation. The school was opened October 16, 1829, in a small building on the corner of High and Broad streets. Only three pupils were present, but the number steadily increased and larger quarters became necessary. In February, 1829, ten acres of land, lying half a mile east of the state house, were purchased, at a cost of $300. On this site the first building for the use of the school was erected, and ready for occupancy at the opening of the fall term of 1834. A wing was added in 1845-46 to the south end of the original building. The continued increase of applicants in time rendered a larger building necessary, and in pursuance of an act of the Legislature passed March, 1864, in October of the same year the corner-stone for the present large and commodious structure was laid with appropriate exercises. The Original Ideas of The Mute-- When we compare the average graduate from such an institution properly conducted with the candidate for admission its great usefulness is apparent. The mute presents himself before his teacher as nature formed and left him: his mental faculties undeveloped, and with vague and undefined notions of what is going to be done for him The world is to him a blank; his pleasures are mere animal pleasures, nor does hope, as it does for others, hold up a brilliant future for him. He looks at the stars as mere openings in the azure canopy of night, or as a few moons broken up and in disorder upon its surface. He supposes the sun a small ball of fire at a little distance from the earth, and a new one formed for daily use, or the old one by stealth finds its way to the east while people are asleep, ready on each successive morning to commence again on its daily course. These and similar ideas are the struggling efforts of an imprisoned mind unaided and thrown back upon it’s own native resources attempting to account for some of the usual phenomena of nature. He finds himself a foreigner at home, a stranger at his fathers fireside; though in the midst of society, he is isolated from his fellow-men, entirely ignorant of the past history of the world, of the rise and fall of nations, of the wars which have deluged the earth in blood, or of the great principles of the world; nor has he the least conception of the crimes and virtues of men, or knows that he is a social and intellectual being; and does not dream of the immortality of the soul, or of the existence of a supreme being, until the effects of education begin to show upon his darkened intellect. The object of the institution is to educate the mute, and fit him to occupy a position in the world where he will be of use to himself and his fellow-men; give him the benefit of education and moral cultivation, and as nearly as possible place him on terms of equality with others more favored by providential circumstances. There have been cases where the deaf and dumb were entirely cured, but they are extremely rare, and only where the cause of the infirmity has been some obstructions in the outer ear, and which are removable, that there is much probability of a cure. In the method of instruction great use is made of the countenance; in fact, the mutes could not be taught without it, as it is needed to modify and accentuate the sign-language. The happy results obtained in the five years' course of study are astonishing, from the first dawn of knowledge obtained from the study of the manuel alphabet down through a course of instruction including those studies that are taught to advanced pupils in our high schools and colleges, as well as in teaching various trades. A very strong attachment springs up between the teacher and deaf and dumb scholar. An instance of this is now a matter of history: In France, during the reign of terror, the Abbe Sicard, the celebrated teacher, while engaged in his benevolent avocation of maturing his system of educating the deaf and dumb, was arrested in his school room, and hurried from among his mute pupils to prison. A mock trial, a mere prelude to the guillotine, had been held, when his pupils in a body, of their own accord, it is believed, appeared at the prison gates, and besought the release of their more than father. So powerful a demonstration of grief did they make, that the populace was moved in their behalf and Sicard liberated. These people were small deaf and dumb children, collected by Sicard, and for whose moral and intellectual salvation he had consecrated his days. The industrial department of this institution is one of its most important features, and gives employment to the inmates outside of the school-rooms. This department includes a carpenter-shop, shoe-shops, printing-office, where a weekly paper is printed, and a large bookbindery, where regular contract-work gives employment to many of the mutes. The females are also taught to sew, and make many necessary articles of wearing apparel, as well as do all of the mending of the clothes of the inmates. The institution, which now has accommodations for 425 pupils, is located in the midst of spacious grounds, handsomely laid out with walks, shrubbery, and flowers, to give the inmates the benefit of pleasant surroundings. Trustees.-- J.M. Kirby, Upper Sandusky; Rufus R. Dawes. Marietta; James Scott, Lebanon; Jacob Cherryholmes, Millersburg; Frederick W. Herbst, Columbus: Superintendent, Amasa Pratt; Steward, J. S. Ellis