Library Collections: Document: Full Text

The third story is nine feet high in the clear, and is divided and subdivided similar to the second story. The access to the upper section of the tower is by an enclosed stairs from this floor. The room on this floor in the tower to be used as a museum. The fourth story is nine feet high in the clear, and is confined to the wings, which contain two dormitories each.

The upper section of the tower is furnished with a gallery from which point an extended view of the surrounding country may be obtained.

The gymnasium will be in a detached building, thirty-five feet by sixty feet, and approached by a covered way from the school rooms.

Buildings for industrial occupations will be added, as circumstances may require.

ARTICLES DEPOSITED IN THE CORNER-STONE.

1st. -- Reports of Dr. Backus to the Senate in 1846 and 1847, upon the education of idiots.

2d.-- The report of the State Lunatic Asylum for 1846, recommending the establishment of an asylum for idiots.

3d.-- Reports of the trustees of the New York Idiot Asylum for 1852, '53, '54.

4th.-- Legislative manual.

5th.-- Syracuse city charter, &c., with a list of the present officers of the city government.

6th.-- Copies of the Syracuse daily papers.

7th.-- The names of the donors for the site of the Institution.

8th.-- The programme of the proceedings of the day.

ORDER OF EXERCISES ON LAYING THE CORNER - STONE OF THE

New York State Asylum for Idiots,

AT Syracuse, September 8, 1854.

1. Music by the band.

2. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Pohlman, of Albany.

3. Hymn.

4. Laying of the Corner-Stone, and Address by Gov. Seymour.

5. Address by Dr. Wilbur, Superintendent.

6. Hymn.

7. Address by Gov. Hunt.

8. Hymn.

9. Addresses by Dr. Seguin, of France, and other gentlemen.

10. Benediction, by Rev. Mr. Canfleld.

LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE.

The following account of this ceremony is substantially taken from the Syracuse Daily Journal, of Sept. 9th, 1854.

A large concourse of citizens and strangers assembled to witness the laying of the corner-stone of the State Idiot Asylum in this city, yesterday at 11 o'clock.

At an early hour carriages might have been seen wending their way in the direction which leads to the institution. The site is located about a mile from the central part of the city, and is situated on a beautiful eminence, about sixty feet above the level of the valley. The trustees of the institution, the mayor and common council of the city in a body, were present, together with several distinguished gentlemen from abroad.

The exercises on the ground were commenced with music by a band provided for the occasion.

In the absence of Dr. Pohlman, of Albany, who was detained by sickness, prayer was offered by Rev. William B. Ashley, of Syracuse.

The following hymn, altered by Rev. Samuel J. May, for the occasion, was then sung:

Far from us suppliants, God of grace,
The unfeeling heart remove;
O! form in our obedient souls,
The image of Thy love.

O, may our sympathizing breasts
The generous pleasure know
Kindly to share in others' joy,
And weep for others' woe.

Where the most helpless sons of grief
In low distress are laid,
Soft be our hearts their pains to feel,
And strong our hands to aid.

O, be the law of love fulfilled
In every act and thought;
Each scornful feeling be removed,
Each selfish view forgot.

His Excellency, Gov. Seymour, who was to have laid the corner stone and made the opening address, being prevented by illness from attendance, that duty devolved upon his honor, the mayor of the city, Allen Monroe, Esq.

A metallic box, containing the articles enumerated on a previous page, was deposited in the cavity prepared for the purpose, and the stone was laid with appropriate remarks and the usual ceremonies.

Dr. Wilbur, superintendent of the institution, then made the following address;

"The history of the New York Asylum for Idiots, for the accommodation of which this building is now to be erected, is contained in the annual reports that have been made to the Legislature by the board of trustees. I have, however, been requested to prepare a concise statement of the main facts in its history, to be read on this occasion.

"The first attempt, in this country, to found a State institution for idiots was made in New York in the year 1846.* Only a week after the meeting of the Legislature, the Hon. Frederick F. Backus, of Rochester, then a member of the Senate, took the first steps to secure legislation in behalf of idiots. He moved that that portion of the last previous State census which related to the number and condition of idiots, be referred to the committee on medical societies.

*See Appendix, No. 2.

"Shortly after, as chairman of that committee, he made a long and able report. It contained a statement of the probable number of idiots in the State. It alluded to the generally prevailing opinion that 'any efforts for their improvement were of a perfectly hopeless character' -- an opinion so prevalent that even benevolent men, in search of objects of commiseration and charity, had passed them by; it described their condition, thus neglected and forsaken, as 'having been almost turned adrift like cattle,' and of their being regarded 'as incapable of instruction as the brutes that perish.' But it then affirmed that these views, so long entertained were mistaken ones; that the idiot could be educated; that those who were now left by neglect under the control of their animal natures could be redeemed and rendered capable of speech, of self-control, of simple school studies, and of labor and various industrial occupations.