Blind Department Building and Dow Hall, State School for the Blind
Encyclopedia
Blind Department Building and Dow Hall, State School for the Blind were two buildings that were part of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
, a public school administered by the state in Faribault, Minnesota
, USA
. The two structures, Dow Hall and the Blind Department building were significant components of a system of state-administered special education
for the physically and mentally handicapped segments of the population.
in 1856. In 1874, the home was sold to the state to house the State School for the Blind.
The building was demolished some time after 1996 due to potential safety hazards. The legislation authorizing the demolition specified that a historical marker must be placed at the site with artifacts of the historic building. The stonework of the ground floor of the foundation is visible at the site.
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind is a public school in Faribault, Minnesota. Its mission is the education and life education of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind learners from birth to age 21...
, a public school administered by the state in Faribault, Minnesota
Faribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The two structures, Dow Hall and the Blind Department building were significant components of a system of state-administered special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
for the physically and mentally handicapped segments of the population.
Blind Department building
Alexander Faribault moved into his impressive Second Empire home on the east side of the Straight RiverStraight River (southern Minnesota)
The Straight River is a tributary of the Cannon River, 45 miles long, in southeastern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Cannon River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of approximately 450 square miles in an agricultural region.Its name is a...
in 1856. In 1874, the home was sold to the state to house the State School for the Blind.
Dow Hall
Dow Hall (1883) was built specifically to house the School for the Blind. The building's construction was indicative not only that education was worthwhile for people with disabilities, but also that differing disabilities required programs tailored to the students' specific needs.The building was demolished some time after 1996 due to potential safety hazards. The legislation authorizing the demolition specified that a historical marker must be placed at the site with artifacts of the historic building. The stonework of the ground floor of the foundation is visible at the site.