[NFBMV] Fwd: If this is disabled, I want some

Wed Oct 2 14:51:32 UTC 2019

Please read the below story.  I think it's amazing to hear of blind folks
doing the types of things that they did before any of the technology or the
laws we have today.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The Blind History Lady <theblindhistorylady at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 8:29 AM
Subject: If this is disabled, I want some
To: <spangler.robert at gmail.com>

If this is disabled, I want some
Hello Blind History Lady Fans;

October is Disability Awareness Month. As many of you know, I think that
highlighting our disability is not as important as highlighting our
accomplishments. Not in spite of our disability, but because we are made up
of many parts, disability being just one. However, I am thankful there is
attention drawn to us in hopes that someday, a “Disability Awareness Month”
will not be needed

This month we take a thumbnail look at a man who viewed his blindness as
just a part of who he was, who built on his strengths and downplayed his
weaknesses.

James Muirhead born in Ontario, Canada August 14, 1865, was the second
Muirhead of his clan to be born outside of Scotland. Scottish was his
native tongue.

In September 1877, he was playing a game with his older brother. The object
of the game was to flip a knife into the air and attempt to make it stick
point down in the ground. When it was James’s turn, the knife came down
into his eye. The closest hospital was miles away. By the time his family
reached the hospital, the doctor had to remove both eyes to save his life.

The family had moved to Iowa so enrolled James into the Iowa College for
the Blind (ICB) in Vinton Iowa in 1879. He excelled in all his classes both
academically and in the alternative techniques of blindness. Instructors
commented early in his school files that he was a "smart boy". The blind
instructors taught him that he was just as capable of leading a successful
life as any sighted person, if he learned the skills of blindness.

One skill was reading and writing in New York Point (NYP), areading system
comprised of raised dots, similar to braille. He kept his notes, records
and music in NYP all his life. Muirhead's focus was music.  Classes
included Piano, Flute, Choir, Horn, Harmony, Orchestra, Guitar, Violin,
Piano Tuning and Vocal. But to ensure a better chance for employment, the
students at ICB also took Basket Weaving, Beadwork, Chair Caning, Mattress
and Broom-Making. He did not want to go into these professions, yet they
served him later in life when caring and maintaining his home.

Students thought to be destined for teaching music, would teach at least
one hour a day during their last year or two at ICB. It was the equivalent
of a student teaching position if he had been allowed to attend a "Normal
School" (Teachers College).

After graduating ICB, in 1887, James went back to Traer, in Tama County and
lived with his parents for a short time. He and another musician and fellow
student from the ICB went on the road with a traveling musical and comedy
repertoire as well as building a business in piano tuning.

In 1891, James accepted a teaching job at the Arvilla Academy in Arvilla
North Dakota where he taught music, Piano, Violin, Guitar, History and
Literature. The principal of the school gave him much praise in
reports. While still living in North Dakota, he attended the World’s Fair
in 1893 in Chicago. One of his enjoyments at the fair was entering several
piano competitions.

James returned to Traer after about four years to care for his mother. He
began teaching piano and violin music at his home and in the homes of his
students, around Traer and the surrounding area.  Soon he had jobs tuning
piano’s including the piano of the Traer Mayor.  He performed music for
many events including churches.

James did not think of blindness as a handicap. As a Christian man, he
worked with the talents that God gave him. Many remembered him as cheerful,
inquisitive and eager to try any task. In his ads, James did not say he was
blind, nor did he hide his blindness when promoting his services.

He purchased the print copies of the sheet music for his students. Then he
would translate the music into NYP for himself. With the NYP translations,
he could direct his students to the bars on their sheet music that he
wished to explain in depth.   He also wrote and had published, his own
music.

On one nice day, he and his brother John went downtown on several
errands. The brothers walked and talked. James came to a stop and John
asked what was wrong. James said, "You said you needed to go to the
bank". John looked up and sure enough, there they were, at the door of the
bank. Traer was as familiar to James as his own home.

He did not use a cane in the sense of a white cane that a blind person
would use today. Rather a walking stick, fashionable at the time for
gentlemen. One for walking to town and one for church that he carried on
the crook of his arm for show.

On July 26, 1911, James married Margaret Dodd. Margaret was a dressmaker
who worked at his sister’s dress making business. Margaret was also one of
his music students, 15 years his junior. His mother, Jessie, who he lived
with and cared for, had passed away just that April. Margaret and James had
three children. A baby girl born on November 13, 1913, but sadly died on
the day after her birth. Janet was born in 1922 and George Robertson, born
in 1924. (George became a college professor and later Vice President of the
Central Connecticut State University.)

When George was born, there was a film over his eyes. At that time, Silver
Nitrate was dropped in the eyes to clear them. Too much was used, and the
chemical burned his retina's. George was legally blind.

The home he owned in Traer for many years before his marriage. In 1914,
James had an annual income of $600. In 1915, his property was worth
$1,400.  It was considered a very comfortable estate at that time. By 1930,
this same property was worth $3,500. This suggested that he did very well
in his work endeavors as this was the beginning of the depression. He took
up farming on his property, as did many of his neighbors to keep their
families fed. Earlier he purchased two acreages that he rented out to
ensure an income if he could no longer tune piano’s or teach.

His home and large yard required him to do the yard work and home
repairs. James was up to the task. He used a more modern push mower to cut
the grass in his yard than the one he used in his youth. His daughter would
walk beside him and tell him of upcoming obstacles or if he missed a
spot. He had always tended a large garden for his own use, after he
married, the garden grew. Margaret was a great homemaker and cook.  Many of
the produce from the garden were canned for the winter season.

Many people in town had their own chickens. So did the Muirhead’s. Fresh
eggs could always there for breakfast. The chickens also became Sunday
dinner. It was James's job to ring their necks. He used his hands to snap
the necks quickly as he did not feel that he could hit the neck clean with
the ax on the squirming chicken. Their goats provided the milk for the
table, cheese and butter.

During the spring of 1913, he built a summer sleeping porch himself onto
his home. No one in town questioned the ability of James to create and
complete a stable addition.   His grandchildren slept on that porch years
after his death.

He taught his children to read and write NYP so they could communicate
together. This also explains why, unlike so many other blind individuals
who kept diaries, letters and writings, why James’s work still can be
found.

James died on June 7, 1939.  Before his death, he had written a poem in
loving memory of each of his children and his wife. The poems are still
treasured in the family today.

In 1946, at the Traer Opera House, Muirhead was honored. His “National
Hymn” was played and sung by those in the audience in his honor. This was
an all-churches celebration for Veteran’s Day. Although not a veteran,
James was still honored and remembered by his hometown as a valued town
leader.

 If you would like to schedule a presentation contact me at
theblindhistorylady at gmail.com

You can read more of my Books at  https://www.smashwords.com
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-- 
Robert Spangler
Secretary, Miami Valley Chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
spangler.robert at gmail.com
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