Miss-Delectable
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The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.
Although they cannot see the breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains or the 1800s Corinthian-style buildings on their campus, blind students at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind can find the beauty of the place.
They can hear different breeds of birds chirping and the rustling of century-old oaks and maples as they walk among hills and historic buildings on the Staunton campus. And with the advent of a new historical collection, they can learn the history of the place.
Thousands have attended the unique facility, one of the oldest schools for the deaf and blind in the country. Some students became carpenters, others piano tuners, teachers and professors. Staunton's Ray Houser, a 1947 graduate, broadcasts every week, in 51 years never missing a radio show that began while he still was a student at VSDB.
Former teacher, student and coach, JH Cline Jr. has decided to gather information like Houser's and compile the blind school's history into a book. He's enlisted the help of Houser and former teacher, student and author Phyllis Campbell. He hopes to complete the project by the school's 175th anniversary.
"I've done a lot of research," Cline said. "I don't want the history to get lost. I've learned so much about the school."
Cline revels at the fact that VSDB had a farm on premises in the '30s, and because of the cows, chickens and gardens, the school was self-sufficient.
"In 1948 Mr. Bass wrote the history of the deaf department," Cline explained. "The deaf alumni have given me a lot of information."
Cline has painstakingly sifted through documents, including dorm rosters and graduation booklets. He read a 1902 book about the school. And now he hopes others will come through with more information.
"I'll take any help I can get," he said.
Houser plans to meet with Cline soon. His sharp memory for detail is sure to prove useful.
"After we got rid of the cows we got milk from Western State and our school fixed their employees' shoes," Houser reminisced. "I started at age 7, in 1934. The dormitory life was advantageous. You learned a whole lot of independence."
Cline is looking forward to collaborating with fellow students and staff. But, he realizes that though researching and compiling are his strengths; prose is not. Because of this, he has asked Campbell for help. A little more than 10 years ago, Campbell wrote "Friendships in the Dark," an account of growing up blind at VSDB. The well-received book that spoke of animals at the facility was featured on TV and newspapers.
"I've always wanted to do a history of the school with emphasis on the blind department," she said. "JH has collected loads of material."
Campbell said that the only way to do the subject matter justice is to bury herself in the material and stop working. For this, she needs a grant.
"I envision a more personal type of thing, telling how difficult it must have been to enter a totally unchartered territory," she said. Campbell is fascinated about the 1800s blind women, how they survived and how they were disenfranchised from much of the outside world. Having attended school a little more than a century after its historic beginning, Campbell wants to find out what life was like at Main Hall, who the students were and where they came from. With this information, she wants to tell the world, through the eyes of VSDB, what life was and is like for a blind person in the U.S.
"I also want to tell how the school is changing," she said. "When I went there we were given a list of clothes to bring. We were asked to bring a nice dress for Sunday — a royal blue one for winter and a white one for spring and early fall."
Campbell envisions a social and education history. Cline wants to place rosters, pictures and maps in the book. Between the two, with the help of graduates and faculty, they hope to cover all angles and compile a well-researched, compelling history.
"I hate thinking of all that history disappearing," she said. "If I can find a grant, I will write this book."
Although they cannot see the breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains or the 1800s Corinthian-style buildings on their campus, blind students at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind can find the beauty of the place.
They can hear different breeds of birds chirping and the rustling of century-old oaks and maples as they walk among hills and historic buildings on the Staunton campus. And with the advent of a new historical collection, they can learn the history of the place.
Thousands have attended the unique facility, one of the oldest schools for the deaf and blind in the country. Some students became carpenters, others piano tuners, teachers and professors. Staunton's Ray Houser, a 1947 graduate, broadcasts every week, in 51 years never missing a radio show that began while he still was a student at VSDB.
Former teacher, student and coach, JH Cline Jr. has decided to gather information like Houser's and compile the blind school's history into a book. He's enlisted the help of Houser and former teacher, student and author Phyllis Campbell. He hopes to complete the project by the school's 175th anniversary.
"I've done a lot of research," Cline said. "I don't want the history to get lost. I've learned so much about the school."
Cline revels at the fact that VSDB had a farm on premises in the '30s, and because of the cows, chickens and gardens, the school was self-sufficient.
"In 1948 Mr. Bass wrote the history of the deaf department," Cline explained. "The deaf alumni have given me a lot of information."
Cline has painstakingly sifted through documents, including dorm rosters and graduation booklets. He read a 1902 book about the school. And now he hopes others will come through with more information.
"I'll take any help I can get," he said.
Houser plans to meet with Cline soon. His sharp memory for detail is sure to prove useful.
"After we got rid of the cows we got milk from Western State and our school fixed their employees' shoes," Houser reminisced. "I started at age 7, in 1934. The dormitory life was advantageous. You learned a whole lot of independence."
Cline is looking forward to collaborating with fellow students and staff. But, he realizes that though researching and compiling are his strengths; prose is not. Because of this, he has asked Campbell for help. A little more than 10 years ago, Campbell wrote "Friendships in the Dark," an account of growing up blind at VSDB. The well-received book that spoke of animals at the facility was featured on TV and newspapers.
"I've always wanted to do a history of the school with emphasis on the blind department," she said. "JH has collected loads of material."
Campbell said that the only way to do the subject matter justice is to bury herself in the material and stop working. For this, she needs a grant.
"I envision a more personal type of thing, telling how difficult it must have been to enter a totally unchartered territory," she said. Campbell is fascinated about the 1800s blind women, how they survived and how they were disenfranchised from much of the outside world. Having attended school a little more than a century after its historic beginning, Campbell wants to find out what life was like at Main Hall, who the students were and where they came from. With this information, she wants to tell the world, through the eyes of VSDB, what life was and is like for a blind person in the U.S.
"I also want to tell how the school is changing," she said. "When I went there we were given a list of clothes to bring. We were asked to bring a nice dress for Sunday — a royal blue one for winter and a white one for spring and early fall."
Campbell envisions a social and education history. Cline wants to place rosters, pictures and maps in the book. Between the two, with the help of graduates and faculty, they hope to cover all angles and compile a well-researched, compelling history.
"I hate thinking of all that history disappearing," she said. "If I can find a grant, I will write this book."