Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-25
A FRIEND OF MITES.
Rev. DR.. Brown Resigns as Principal
of the Famous Institute
FOR DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN.
He Was Pioneer in the Great Educational
Work,
STARTING WITH ONE COLORED PUPIL

At the termination OF the closing exercises
of the Western Pennsylvania Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb at Edgewood to-day,
Rev. John G. Brown, d. D., who has been
the Principal of theschool for the last four
years. and who Is also the founder of the in
stitution, will sever his active connection
with it, and retire to the rest and seclusion
which the arduous labors of the last q
years call for.
In DIR. Brown the history Of the institu-
tion for the deaf and dumb in Western
Pennsylvania is personifed. 1t was he who
hrst commenced to take an interest in the
sadly af1icted and through his energy Western
Pennsylvania has been enriched by fountain
of learning which is fast spreading its knowl-
edge all over the country. Rev. DR.. Brown
was formerly pastor of the Third q. P, Church
in Pittsburg. In connection with that church
there was also a Sabbath school and in the
Sabbath school the pastor found a colored boy
who was deaf and dumb. From his natural
love for children and his desire to help them,
the pastor took at once great interest in the
little mute. and tried to get somebody who
could teach deaf and dumb children. After q
while a deaf and dumb Sabbath school was
started, and the late Mr.. Joel Kerr became
Superintendent thereof
HOW IT GREW.
But as soon as it became known that an op-
portunity of that kind could be had in Pitts
burg the number of scholars grew until there
were Il of them.
Then DR.. Brown conceived the idea of start
ing day school. 1t was established at last in
1859 in the First ward schoolhouse, and was the
first institution of its kind in America But
almost daily new interests were awakened for
the benefit of the mute children. DR.. Brown
received subscriptions from the ladies in bis
church and others contributed to fund, with
which the ardent doctor at last started
home for deaf and dumb on Wylie avenue
As the pupils increased, however, the demand
Tor an institution became more and more ap-
parent The legislature was asked to grant
them an appropriation But the request was
made In vain for five years, until in 1876 DR..
Brown succeeded in obtaining sufficient
amount from the State to maintain and educate
90 deaf and dumb children.
Then the school moved to Turtle Creek,
where building was secured, which had
formerly been q hotel and then a schoolhouse
Here DR.. Brown had three teachers and so
pupils, and thcy remained there until 1884 In
the meantime Mr.. James Kelly, the father of
Williamsburg. had donated 10 acres of land TO
the deaf and dumb school This land was
situated IN Edgewood and when soon after the
pennsylvania railroad wanted to buy the, Turtle
Sreek Se property the Board of Trustees, which
cnmo interests, sold the property for $1,000
AT THE PRESENT.
Then general subscription was started by
the citizens of Pittsburg and Allegheny, and
$4,000 were collected. To this amount the
State added another $4,000, and with that sum
the present magnificent building was erected
and l6 acres of ground were bought for the
purpose. In 1885 the new institution was
started and DR.. Brown then became principal.
Ever since the institution has increased in the |
number of students, until there are to-day l70
pupils belonging to it
Since DR.. Brown commenced his work, 2l
years ago, with the little colored lad he has had
400 deaf mutes under his charge and he is
thoroughly acquainted with all the different
methods of instrueting the deaf and dumb. He |
says that the methods have somewhat changed |
since he first commenced to take any interest |
IN instruction of the mute but on the whole |
the system is just the same as ever.
When DR.. Brown was asked why he desired |
TO resign from the institution, he stated:
THE place is getting too large the duties are /
too exacting, and am getting too old to ill all
the requirements of the position with necessa-
~ justice"