[Nfbwv-talk] Third Article

[Jack Yahnke]

Wow! What a beautiful story, Charlene.  Thanks for sharing,

Jack

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Smyth, Charlene R" <Charlene.R.Smyth at wv.gov>
To: "NFB of West Virginia Discussion List" <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 8:55 AM
Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] Third Article


> Subject: Article from Hampshire Review Section B 2013 02 06
> Date:
> Wed, 6 Feb 2013 17:01:25 -0500 (EST)
>
> Nora Kimble A Weekly Chat To be or not to be Not only this newspaper,
> but
> others in West Virginia and the state of Maryland have been running
> articles on the future of the state schools for the deaf and the blind
> to
> renovate the existing ones or build new ones in another location. I
> realize
> news people have to report the news, even debatable issues, but before
> everyone gets in an uproar, let's hope those in decision-making
> positions
> use sound judgment. Most people would agree that it is only reasonable
> that
> it would take a lot more money to relocate and rebuild than to renovate
> the
> existing schools. And then, there's the cost of purchasing property that
> hasn't even been figured in the equation. I hope the schools remain here
> for many reasons and I'm not going to elaborate on them. But, I have
> some
> fond memories of the schools, having had a cousin who attended the blind
> school, but also of my years of growing up on the farm on Jersey
> Mountain.
> In those days, the two schools were often referred to as institutions,
> but
> it was certainly a gracious move on the part of the state when it was
> renamed the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. To be
> labeled
> a student in an institution is demoralizing. Beginning with my school
> years, the state schools had a whistle that blew at set times each day.
> Those whistles actually became a part of our daily lives, although we
> lived
> five miles from Romney. My parents never needed an alarm clock to get up
> by
> at 6:15 a.m. the first whistle of the day could be heard clearly. It
> just
> happened to be the wake up call for the students at the schools as well
> as
> staff members. The next whistle to blow was at 11:45 when their classes
> dismissed for lunch. Many times when Dad and I were out in the big
> patches
> plowing with the horses, we knew it was about time for us to take our
> own
> break. And in the afternoon, after sitting astride Fred to keep him off
> the
> rows for three or four hours, the dismissal class for the evening was a
> welcome sound. Not that I got to get off the horse just then, but I knew
> within an hour I could ride him to the barn and quit for the day. Not
> only
> did the evening whistle alert the students and staff, but in those
> years,
> the schools also grew their own vegetables and raised beef and pork. The
> field workers knew when it was time to quit. The last whistle of the day
> was at 9 p.m., reminding everyone that it was bedtime and soon-to-be
> lights
> out. It was our bedtime signal as well. The two schools have a lot of
> history. Originally, the schools used gaslights with their manufacturing
> being done in the school's main house located on what is known as Antigo
> Place. About 1910-11, this source of energy or power was replaced with a
> new central heating system that called for the construction of a
> coal-fired
> boiler room and dynamo for electricity. A steam whistle was placed in
> the
> high tower connected to the boiler room. It was the height of this tower
> and the strength of the whistle that we heard it blow five miles from
> town.
> Sometime between 1975-76, when the schools converted from steam to
> electricity, the boiler room was obsolete and the whistle was no longer
> available. Seldon Brannon told me that to his knowledge, the whistle
> blew
> for the last time at 10:30 a.m. on June 13, 1975, signaling the end of a
> part of the school's history. It was a solemn end to an old friend and
> an
> invaluable timepiece for many of us. Long may the West Virginia Schools
> for
> the Deaf and Blind remain right where they are with a face-lifting and
> renovations.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbwv-talk mailing list
> Nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwv-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbwv-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwv-talk_nfbnet.org/jack%40seeinghandassociation.com
>