School For The Blind Originated in Lawrenceville

James Wudarczyk updated his previous article on this topic. The new version was entered on this website October 14, 2007.

Photograph donated by Bill Kegg of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind

The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, one of the most noted institutions in Oakland, had its origins in Lawrenceville at the corner of 42nd and Sherrod Streets. In 1885, Miss Jane Holmes, one of Pittsburgh’s greatest philanthropists, bequeathed in her will $40,000 for the care and education of the blind. A provision in the will, however, stipulated that the citizens of Pittsburgh subscribe $25,000 and steps be taken to organize an institution within two years of her death.

After a number of public meetings in 1886, a committee of fifteen prominent men was appointed to organize the institution and form a board of directors. The original chartered members included the following distinguished Pittsburgh names: A. M. Marshall, William A. Herron, John A. Wood, H. K. Porter, Henry Holdship, the Rev. E. R. Donehoo, B. F. Long, John H. Richetson, John W. Chalfont, Dr. J. A. Lipincott, A. M. Brown, William Thaw, George W. McCrory, C. F. Dean, Oliver P. Scaife, Rev. E. P. Cowan, Rev. A. F. McCrory, Tomas Ewing, L. H. Harris, Morris Danziger, John P. McCune, Samuel S. Brown, Charles J. Clark, Dr. W. H. Winslow, and Rev. J. P. Brown. (It should be noted that Rev. Brown was a resident of Lawrenceville. He was also instrumental in founding the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.)

Holmes did not stipulate the type of institution. Hence, the board of directors made haste to raise the necessary money and spend a great deal of time consulting experts. It was decided that the school should be located within the city limits and have easy access to the center of the city by steam or traction cars.

The school was originally chartered on December 13, 1886, under the name of the “Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind.” It was not until August 5, 1922, that the present name was adopted.

The directors made a study of schools for the blind in both the United States and England. After an extensive study, the directors rejected the prevailing 19th century attitude that the blind constituted “an unfortunate class of people likely to be drains on the public largess unless trained to income producing work.” They came to the realization that blind children could be independent, well schooled with a liberal education, and able to take an active part in the world around them.

Wanting to get the project underway as soon as possible, Mrs. Mary Schenley was contacted in London with a request for a portion of her extensive Pittsburgh land holdings. In 1890, she agreed to donate 5 1/10 acres of land at the corner of Bellefield Street in the Oakland section of the city.

While the Oakland school was being built, a temporary facility was organized in Lawrenceville at 333 42nd Street. The Irwin household was valued at $25,000 plus $5,000 for furnishings. This property was secured for the first school for $12,500. The Irwin family included the furnishings in the sale price.

The Irwin property was described as a handsome structure, three stories, with wide halls. The third floor served as a dormitory for the boys. Before school could be opened, the directors added an iron fence, fire escape and ran the plumbing to the third floor.

At one point a home across from the school was rented to house six girls. Some 100 properties were surveyed before the board of directors settled on the Lawrenceville property.

The school was opened on October 15, 1890. It was a private school and had the distinction of being “the only one of its character west of the mountains in this state.” Mr. H. R. Jacobs, who headed a similar institution in Indianapolis, was hired as the first superintendent because the directors were impressed with his progressive methods. The directors wanted the school to reflect the highest standards in the education of the blind.

To illustrate the commitment to quality education, the school ordered $208.35 worth of books from the American Printing House for the Blind. Since the amount of printed materials available to blind people was extremely limited at that period, this was considered to be a sizable order.

The Lawrenceville school was too small from the very start. On the first day of school, classes were conducted for six students. Almost immediately the number of pupils jumped to twenty-one, with thirty applicants on the waiting list. There were four instructors at the facility. Because of the limited facilities and the inability to fully organize an industrial department at the temporary Lawrenceville facility, the school was forced to reject application of blind adults. In 1987 Dr. Janet Simon, Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, noted that when the school started a century before “it was very strong in practical skills, teaching girls to sew. In the mid-1920’s, the school’s curriculum took a turn and became more academically oriented.”

According to the Superintendent’s Report of 1891, “We aim to be thoroughly practical and to direct our pupils along such lines of effort as will prove most profitable.” In the short lived history of the Lawrenceville school, the curriculum included literary studies, instruction in vocal and instrumental music, “moral instruction” and “careful training in the habits of order, neatness, industry, economy and politeness.” The school purchased a sewing machine and taught the girls to sew by hand and machine, to knit, to crochet, and to make “articles of fancy work.” Much of the instruction was oral, especially the teaching of arithmetic. The superintendent, however, noted in his report that one hour each evening was devoted to “reading books of a high grade of fiction and articles on scientific subjects and investigation.”

Jacobs set a part of each school day to be devoted to music, especially piano and voice lessons, because he believed in music’s “moral and elevating influence” and because of the “social advantages” it gave.

In 1891 the school’s first public event was held at the First Presbyterian Church where the children performed choral works, recitations, a piano solo, and a quartet. The handicrafts of the students were also sold. Pittsburgh residents enjoyed the event and were totally amazed at the quality of education the children received.

In April 1894 the first two floors of the much larger Oakland facility were opened, and the students were transferred to the Oakland school. Thus ended a chapter in the life of the Lawrenceville community. Today the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children continues to faithfully serve the needs of the visually impaired and remains one of humanity’s most valuable assets. As for the Irwin house, it fell to the wrecking ball in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Today where the stately mansion once stood is a vacant lot used by local residents to grow vegetables in the summer. Sadly, not even a marker designates the site as the first school for blind children in Western Pennsylvania.