In accordance with a special invitation, from the citizens of Faribault, the State officers, members of the Legislature and a number of our citizens took the train on the Pacific road at 8 o’clock yesterday morning and proceeded to St. Anthony, where the party alighted, crossed the bridge to Minneapolis, and got aboard the train on the Central Railroad at 9 o’clock. The weather was magnificent, one of our finest Minnesota days. The entire party were in excellent spirits without the aid of the “ardent.” The train proceeded past Minnehaha, Fort Snelling, across the Minnesota River, through Mendota, and on past Westcott’s to Rosemount. Immense Snow Drifts and Rifts. Here we began to discover the difficulty in running trains on this road for the past month. From Rosemount to Farmington, the country is an expanse of undulating prairie, covered with an average of more than three feet of snow, and over which the wind sweeps without let or hindrance, filling up every hollow, including railroad cuts. As we sped through these cuts, cleared by Shepard’s snow plow, and witnessed the banks of snow, in many cases, 10 and 12 feet high, we began to appreciate the obstacle which the able Superintendent had surmounted by his indefatigable energy. Farmington. Reaching Farmington, we were surprised to notice quite a village, where but one house stood last summer. The Rail Road company are building at this point an elevator with a capacity of 80,000 bushels storage. Northfield. The next station gained was Northfield, which we were happy to learn was thriving, with a prospect of growing rapidly the coming season. We were joined here by a number of the citizens of the place, among whom we were glad to greet our friends Hon. Chas. Taylor, and C. A. Wheaton, Esq. who accompanied us to Faribault, which point we reached about one o’clock. Faribault – Site of the New Asylum. The citizens with their wonted public spirit and liberality, were on hand with a large number of sleighs, sufficient to accommodate the entire party, a portion of whom went direct to the proposed site upon which the Deaf and Dumb Asylum is to be erected. Through the courtesy of R. A. Mott, Esq., one of the Stewards of the Institute, we were conveyed to the ground, which we found was peculiarly suited to the purposes for which it is intended. The site comprises twenty acres, just across the river from the town, located on the elevation contiguous to the Episcopal College grounds, covered with trees, and commanding a complete view of the town nestled partly in the delta which it occupies, and stretching out on the prairie towards the Minn. Central R. R. depot. (The Saint Paul Daily Press, Sunday, February 11, 1866, Page 4)
We learn that the trustees have secured the services of Mr. J. L. Noyes, superintendent of the deaf and dumb asylum at Hartford, Ct., to take charge of the asylum here. Mr. Noyes is expected to assume his new position about the 1st of October. A purchase of twenty acres of ground, adjoining the original tract, making forty acres in all is contemplated, which will prove a very desirable acquisition. A splendid quarry of building stone has been opened in a ravine upon the grounds, which will be used for the erection of the new buildings, effecting thereby a great saving to the State. Faribault Republican. (The Hastings Conserver, Tuesday, July 31, 1866, Page 1)
Prof. J. L. Noyes, lately connected with the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Hartford, Conn., has taken charge of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Faribault, Minn. The Faribault Republican says the new Asylum building is progressing rapidly. (The Mantorville Express, Friday, November 23, 1866, Page 2)
The economy of the progress of the work thus far has been largely due to the excellent quarry of stone developed upon the Asylum grounds, which has served for the foundation walls, while the beautiful limestone of which the superstructure is to be erected is obtained at comparatively a low rate. (The Stillwater Messenger, Wednesday, January 30, 1867, Page 3)
Faribault, Feb. 5, 1867. On this lovely winter morning, the members of both Houses of the Legislature set out on their excursion to this place, to witness the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the building for the education of the deaf and dumb located here. It was our good fortune to accompany the excursionists, and a right pleasant time has been enjoyed, thus far, by us all. The Institution is located on a beautiful eminence on the east side of the river, a location commanding a fine view of the town. The edifice is 45x80 feet, to be built of stone and is to be three stories in height. The walls are already commenced, and when the building is completed it will be an honor to the State and an ornament to the pretty town in which it is located. The ceremonies of laying the corner stone were conducted by Bishop Whipple, assisted by Professor Noyes, of the Institution, and Gov. Marshall. The services, though brief, were highly imposing and appropriate. The address, by the Governor, was interesting and to the point. These ceremonies being concluded, the guests repaired to the two principal hotels, where a sumptuous dinner was served, and to which becoming respect was paid. Dinner over, the members, with other invited guests, met in Fleckenstein’s Hall to witness some school exercises by the deaf and dumb pupils. The train leaves for St. Paul at 4 o’clock, and we have no time for further details. (Rochester Republican, Thursday, February 7, 1867, Page 1)
A contract has been made with Leonard & Sheire, of St. Paul, for building the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Faribault. Their bid for the work was $34,300. (The Rochester Post, April 20, 1867, Page 1)
This building is situated on the brow of the bluffs fronting the town of Faribault, in a park of 52 acres donated by the citizens for the purposes of the Institute. The building is in the French Louvre style, of blue limestone with a roof of slate. Its architecture is characterized as excellent by the directors. The contractor and architect was Mr. Monroe Sheire, of St. Paul, who is said to have performed his contract so well that he lost several thousand dollars by it. St. Paul Press. (The Mantorville Express, Friday, January 3, 1868, Page 2)
The object as the Superintendent explains, is solely to so develop the intellectual and moral facilities of those whom physical disabilities have isolated from the ordinary means of mental communication with the external world as to fit them for the practical duties of life and to make them good and useful citizens. …The learning of some trade he considers an essential part of an education whose object is to fit them for self-support. St. Paul Press. (The Mantorville Express, Friday, January 3, 1868, Page 2)
The new Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Faribault, is nearly finished and will be ready for occupancy the middle of next month. (Wabasha Weekly Herald, Thursday, February 27, 1868, Page 1)
The Faribault Republican, the 18th inst., says that the officers and pupils of the State Asylum for the deaf and dumb and the blind, bade farewell to their old quarters yesterday, and took possession of their new and elegant building just completed for the reception. (The Stillwater Republican, Tuesday, March 24, 1868, Page 1)