HARVEY CLARK ................................................................................................................
Superintendent and Steward
MRS. PRUELLA H. CLARK ...............................................................................................................................
Matron
MISS CLARA M. DAVID ......................................................................................................................................
Clerk
This is the first charitable institution established by the
state. A school for the blind had been opened at Janesville,
in the
latter part of 1849, which received its support from the
citizens of that place and vicinity. At the next session of the
legislature it was adopted by the state, by an act approved February
9, 1850. On October 7, 1850, it was opened for the reception
of pupils under the direction of the board of trustees appointed
by the governor. It occupied rented rooms until June 1, 1852,
when it was removed to a building erected for its use at a cost
of about $3,000. The lot of ten acres had been donated by the
owners, and now forms a part of the grounds, forty acres in extent,
belonging to the institution. This building was so arranged as
to admit of becoming the wing of a larger one, which was commenced
in 1854, and fully completed in 1859. In 1864-5 a brick building
was erected for a shop and other purposes. The foundation of
the wing first built proved defective, and in 1867 that portion
of the building had to be taken down. The next year work was
begun on an extension which should replace the demolished portion
and afford room for the growth of the school. This was completed
in 1870, and the value of the buildings, grounds and personal
property belonging to the institution was estimated at $182,000.
On the 13th of April, 1874, the building was destroyed by fire,
and at the ensuing session of the legislature an appropriation
of $50,000 was made for the erection of a wing of a new building
on the old site, but on a somewhat different plan; and in 1876,
a further appropriation of $90,000 was made for rebuilding the
main structure.
The school was not allowed to close on account of the fire.
Suitable accommodations were procured for the pupils by
the board of trustees in the city of Janesville, where at
some disadvantage, the work of the institution was carried on
until January 1, 1876, when the wing of the new building was
ready of occupancy. The main structure has since been completed.
It is designed to accommodate one hundred pupils, the same number
as the building destroyed in 1874. The exterior is planer than
in the former structure, but a considerable sum has been expended
in fire-proofing and in laying solid foundations under the main
building. It is now believed to be practically fire-proof.
The object of the institution as declared by law is "to
qualify, as far as may be," the blind "for the enjoyment
of the
blessings of a free government, obtaining the means of subsistence
and the discharge of those duties, social and political, devolving
upon American citizens." The institution is therefore neither
a hospital nor an asylum, but a school into which blind persons
residing in Wisconsin, "of suitable age and capacity to
receive instruction," are admitted for education. For the
purposes of the institution, those persons are regarded as blind
who are shut out from the benefits of the common schools by deficiency
of sight. Pupils are regularly received who are between the ages
of eight and twenty-one years. In occasional instances other
have been admitted. Tuition and board during the school year
are furnished by the state without charge, but parents and guardians
are expected to provide clothing, traveling expenses, and a home
during the summer vacation. The school year commences on the
second Wednesday in September and continues forty weeks.
The operations of the school fall naturally into three departments.
In one, instruction is given in the subjects usually taught
in the common schools. Some use is made of books printed
in raised letters; but instruction is mostly given orally. In
another department musical training, vocal, instrumental and
theoretical, is imparted to an extent sufficient to furnish to
most an important source of enjoyment, and to some the means
of support. These two departments were opened at the commencement
of the school, and have been ever since maintained. A little
later the third department was opened, in which weaving, seating
cane bottomed chairs, sewing, knitting, and various kinds of
fancy work are systematically taught. The "Kindergarten"
was established in 1883 and proves a most valuable adjunct to
all the departments.
The care exercised over the pupils of this institution, looks
closely to their physical and moral well-being, and the details
of the discipline are only such as are consistent with and
will further this purpose; while the instruction is systematic
and thorough, as the character and scholarship of those who have
completed the prescribed course of study abundantly attest.
There has been paid from the state treasury up to July 1,
1906, for real estate, building, improvements, repairs and
current expenses of the school, in all, the sum of $1,468,919.38.
The whole number of pupils under instruction from the opening
of the school, October 7, 1850, is 897, of whom 93
were in attendance June 30, 1906.
The average number of pupils the past year was 93, as against
84 the previous year; and the current expenses,