Bridgman Centennial

Officials of the College joined with officers of the Perkins Institution for the Blind and with residents of Hanover and Etna on October 20 to unveil a tablet at the Etna homestead of Laura Bridgman, the first blind, deaf mute to be taught the use of language. The ceremony was held upon the tooth anniversary of the enrolling of Laura Bridgman at Perkins. Dr. Gabriel Farrell 'll, director of Perkins Institution, spoke at the Etna centennial and later in the afternoon spoke at Dartmouth on the "Education of the Deaf-Blind." In this issue of the MAGAZINE he has contributed an article on Laura Bridgman, who was famous in early Hanover history.

The tablet in front of the Bridgman homestead was unveiled by two boys totally without sight and hearing. These same boys accompanied Dr. Farrell to Dartmouth and helped him demonstrate how deaf-blind children learn to speak and to understand speech through vibration. Other speakers at the Etna ceremony included Prof. Charles A. Holden '95, chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Hanover, and Robert H. Hallowell, president of the Board of Trustees of Perkins.

The College was represented at the ceremony by Dean Bill, Dean Neidlinger, Dean Strong, Secretary Hayward, Prof. L. B. Richardson 'oo, Harold G. Rugg 'O6 and Charles E. Widmayer '3O.