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This is a story about the gift of an Easton family that made a difference in the lives of the hearing impaired. In 1867 the Clarke School for the Deaf was founded in Northampton, Massachusetts by Gardiner Greene Hubbard and John Clarke. It was the first school for the deaf that focused on lipreading and speaking as opposed to signing. This was a progressive philosophy in the 1860’s. It was a residential school, forward thinking for the time, and the school attracted much attention. Alexander Graham Bell, whose mother was deaf, taught at the school in 1871 and served as its president from 1917-1922. At about the same time, Edwin William Gilmore (1828-1904) of North Easton, was a machinist and manufacturer in Easton. In 1854, a partnership had begun between Edwin W. Gilmore and the Ames family to manufacture various articles of hardware, such as washers, hinges, and ship scrapers. Later, in 1871, Gilmore purchased the interests in the E.W. Hinge Factory from Oliver Ames, Jr. and Oakes Ames. A new factory was constructed that year, and Gilmore also built a large home on the corner of Elm Street and Main Street. He was a very successful businessman.   E.W. Gilmore had a deaf grandchild, Wallace Schouler Gilmore. In 1899 Gilmore and his second wife donated money to be used for a gymnasium for the school. The cost of the construction of the building and all the equipment was paid for by the Gilmores. Included were two bowling alleys, showers and lavatories, a children’s gym with a running track and gallery. In 1899, 150 pupils were enrolled at the school, which was very successful. Many of the students went on to some type of further education. In 1900 Wallace Gilmore was enrolled at the Clarke School.  Times have changed and so has the school. The Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech are located on five different campuses, including Northampton; the school is no longer residential. It still serves the deaf community in many ways. Today the emphasis is on the early mainstreaming of deaf children and the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Speech is still the goal.
E.W. Gilmore used his wealth to support a cause dear to his heart and in doing so helped many in the hearing-impaired community. Anne Wooster Drury Sources/Links: Clarkeschool.org Wikipedia - Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech The Boston Globe - March 20, 1899 Easton Historical Society and Museum Comments are closed.
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