In 1866 the Village of Batavia was selected by New York State as a site for a new school. The school was established in part as a response to the needs of soldiers blinded during the Civil War. Fifty acres of land, costing $10,000 was donated to the State by the citizens of Batavia for this project. The cornerstone for the first building was laid on September 6, 1868. The original campus included four buildings that accommodated over 150 students.
The campus has been completely rebuilt to meet increased safety regulations, demands for enlarged programming and over-crowed conditions. The center building facing Richmond Avenue is Severne Hall, which was named in honor of the school’s “oldest” living alumnus. Built in 1949, this architectural style was considered Modern. Because of financial limitations, it was built using simpler and more rapid methods of construction.
The two buildings on either side were built during the 1930’s as dormitories, Hamilton Hall on the west side, and Park Lewis Hall on the east side. Both of these buildings have been slated for demolition since 1987, however as long as the State needs these structures they will be used. Currently Hamilton Hall is being used as a depository for books for the blind and visually impaired.
The mission of the school is to do everything possible for blind children who have additional handicaps. Since 1976 the state began “mainstreaming” blind students into local public schools. Today the school teaches children ages 5 to 21 who are blind, and physically or mentally handicapped.
Under the first superintendent, Dr. Asa Lord, the park was landscaped and shade trees were planted. A lithographic view from the 1876 atlas shows a carriage drive, gazebo and a small pond. During 1917 a nine-hole golf course was established, however problems developed as golfers began to ruin the grassy lawns. The pond, which was used for both a children’s swimming-hole and a golfer’s water hazard, was filled in as it became a mosquito breeding ground. Here on the night of October 13, 1923 the Ku Klux Klan set alight a huge cross to publicize their presence in the area.
During the Christmas season a miniature village was placed on the front lawn of the school. The small buildings were created in 1932 to aid the blind children with understanding proportions and shapes. They were designed by Robert J. Mulligan, who was blind himself, a former student from the school, and the woodworking instructor. The tiny village was enjoyed by all until 1960 when Mr. Mulligan died and the project faded away.
In 1969 the State gave the park land back to Batavia. A State marker commemorating one hundred years of educating blind students is located on Richmond Avenue. The park is used annually by the Council of the Arts for a 4th of July picnic and exhibits. Concerts have been played in the park since the late 1880’s and children still take advantage of the gentle sloping surface for winter sledding. Centennial Park is the oldest park in the City of Batavia.
The cache is a small sample tube.