Did you know that the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is the third-oldest school of its kind in the United States? It started with a man named David G. Seixas. He saw poor deaf children on Philadelphia streets. He wanted to help them.
The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf began in 1819. Seixas brought deaf children into his home. He gave them food and clothes. He taught them at his own expense. As more children came, he needed more space. He rented an office as a school.
In 1821, Philadelphia citizens helped Seixas. They created a charitable society. It was called the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The state also gave money. Episcopal Bishop William White was the school’s president. He served until his death in 1836.
More deaf children needed education. So, a larger school was needed. A stately Greek Revival building was completed in 1826. It stood at Broad and Pine Streets. Three important architects worked on it: John Haviland, William Strickland and Frank Furness.
In 1892-1893, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf moved. It went to a 70-acre campus in Mount Airy. The Broad and Pine building became part of the University of the Arts. It is now known as Dorrance Hamilton Hall. It is the oldest building on Broad Street.
Since 1984, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has been in Germantown. It occupies buildings of the Old Germantown Academy. The school serves students aged 3 to 18. It offers preschool through high school classes.
The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is one of four private state-chartered schools. The state reimburses most of its expenses. Eligible children attend tuition-free. The school also relies on donations. A center for deaf adults operates on campus. It is called the Center for Community and Professional Services.
The former campus on Germantown Avenue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The 1826 Broad Street building is also on the National Register. The current buildings are part of the Old Germantown Academy.
The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a rich history. In 1918, the school faced the Influenza Pandemic. The school went into lockdown. No visitors were allowed. The superintendent reported only a few mild cases. This was due to the early quarantine. However, four students later died from influenza.
In the 1920s, the school grew. Around 1923, it dropped “and Dumb” from its name. It stayed on Germantown Avenue until 1984. Then, it moved to its current location. The old campus became Spring Garden College in 1985.
Notably, artists Albert Newsam and John Carlin attended the school. They began in 1820. The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a long history of educating and empowering deaf individuals. It continues to serve students today. It provides resources for the deaf community. The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf remains a vital institution.