Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-14
DELIVERED THE DEED
Mrs. Schenley Sends Documents Con.
frming Her Gift of the
SITE FOB A BLIND INSTITUTION.
The Property Is Valued at One Hundred
thousand Dollars.
ALL CONTROVERSY NOW SET AT RESI-

The deed for the site upon which the new
institute for the education Of the blind is 10
| be located, and which was donated BY Mrs,
Schenley, has been received by the Board
| of Directors of that concern, and is now in
| the hands of ColonelW. A. Heron. Through
its receipt all controversy is settled and the
managers can get down to business with no
fears of the rumored threat on Mrs,
Schenley's part to withdraw the gift being
| carried into effect
Mrs. Schenley not only intended all along
to make her offer good, but gave the board
of managers the privilege of selecting the
site. She simply carried out the wishes Of
the people at the head of the enterprise
when she selected the valuable piece Of
property located at the corner of Bayard
and st. Pierre streets, and her generous gift
ma&es possible the growth and successful
progress OF the enterprise. TIE preamble to
the deed, written by Mrs. Schenley herself,
is carefully worded document, and shows
in what high regard she holds the people Of
Pittsburg, among whom she spent the early
years of her life. 1t reads as follows:
Advantages of Such Institutions.
WHEREAS, 1t has been demonstrated by full
trial and successful experiment. in the insti-
tutions established for the education and main.
tenance of the blind, which, in the United
States of America are generally carried on and
conducted under corporate management, that
the blind are not only capable Of acquir-
ing by means of manual training, aided by
suitable machinery, tools, implements and
other needful appliances and accessories such
skill as TO enable them to exercise proftably
nnd al
also of attaining great proficiency in the arts
and sciences by oral instruction with such aids
and accessories, by which means many de-
prived OF the sense of sight have been enabled
by their own efforts to secure an independent
livelihood, and humanity and Christian charity,
as well as the best interests of society, mpera-
lively call for the eSta abishment of proper insti-
tutions for the education, instruction, training
In the various trades and maintenance of the
blind, and,
Whereas, Certain good people of the city of
Pittsburg. State of Pennsylvania, aforesaid, a
city in which the earlier part of my life was
passed, have recently associated themselves
together and become incorporated under the
name and style OF the Western Pennsylvania
Institution for the Blind. the purpose of the
institution being to provide for the education
and maintenance Of the blind, which is, IN my
Judgment, most comnendable charity, in the
furtherance of which, prompted by the consid-
erations above stated and my own personal de-
sire to promote the welfare of the people of Pitts
burg and vicinity, wish to aid and assist, 1nd
Whereas, it is represented to me that the
laud hereinafter described would be suitable
both in locality and extent for the buildings
and other requirements of the said institution,
I do hereby grant, bequeath, release, convey
and confirm, etc.
The Deed Acknowledged in France
The deed is acknowledged before the
United States Consul at Cannes, France.
The Board of Directors have prepared q
minute expressing their gratefulness for the
munifcent gift, which will be prepared in "a
suitable manner in few days and seEt to
Mrs. Schenley. 1t is as follows:
The Board of Directors of the Western Penn
| sylyania Institution for the Blind desire 20
place on record their appreciation Of the gener-
Gus gift made by Mrs. Scbenley of lilo acres
of land fronting on Bayard street, Belleheld.
They feel that they cannot adequately express
in words their sense of how great and how use
full gift this will be. They are profoundly
grateful that Mrs. Schenley has so kindly CON.
sidered the recommendation Of this board as to
location, and has acceded to their request to
give the piece of land she has now designated,
for otherwise SO eligible and advantageous a site
could hardly have been secured by us. even
had we had money to buy. as public opinion
would not haye justified the school in its in
fancy in making such a purchase. But this
gift makes a large growth possible, and much
more than this, makes it probable. Mrs.
Schenley by this generous gift. has nobly sec
onded Miss Jane Holmes in her generous
foundation, and her act will encourage every
one who is interested in the institution.
The Board recognize their increased obliga'
ton, by reason of this gift, to use their utmost
endeavor wisely and firmly to plant this school
and provide for it's growth. They make ac-
acknowledgement of this gift with gratitude,
direct this minute TO be placed on their records
and instruct their President and Secretary to
have the same engrossed and sent, with the re-
spects and thanks of the Board, to Mrs. Schen.
ley.
How the Gift Was Made.
Secretary P. F. Smith was seen Yesterday
afternoon ID regard TO the receipt of the
deed and he said: 1.-TWO years ago Mrs.
Schenley agreed to make us this gift, but
she was told that it was too valuable a piece
of property to give away. Her next move
was to present 10 acres that the city authori-
ties had their eyes on for park entrance.
A member of our own board wrote to Mrs.
SchenIey and told her he thought she ought
to sell the property for that purpose. She
never gave up the idea OF making the dona-
tion.
"Mr. A. NJ. Marshall and myself went to
Indianapolis and Columbus and inspected
the institutions at those places. We found
them within five minutes walk of the CEN
ter of the city and also learned that il was
necessary to have level ground, near the street
cars and with all the conveniences possible,
owing to the care required by the children.
We laid our information before Mrs. Schen-
ley and it was indorsed by DR.. Campbell,
of Norwood, Eng, who is acknowl-
edged to be the most proficient
blind educator in Great Britain. In
the meantime Colonel Heron was made
the agent for the Schenley estate, and
through him Mrs. Schenley, after express
ing confidence IN the board, directed US to
select our own site. Accordingly we took
the Belle6eld property, for whichswe have
Just received the deed"
Mr.. Smith laid particular stress on the
fact that, Notwithstanding all the contro-
versy over the donation, Mrs. Schenley
never intimated an intention Of Withdraw
ing the gift. From another source it was
learned that the gift is valued at 500, 900.