Vermont HCR 103: House concurrent resolution congratulating the 2023 Vermont Principal of the Year, Christopher Young

Bill Text

R-127 Page 1 of 1
2025

VT LEG #383158 v.1
No. R-127. House concurrent resolution commemorating the establishment of the
Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society
Library in Barre.
(H.C.R.103)
Offered by Representatives Burke of Brattleboro, Goodnow of Brattleboro, and
Kornheiser of Brattleboro
Offered by Senators Harrison and Hashim
Whereas, in the 19th century, Brevet Colonel William Austine of Brattleboro donated
$50,000.00 for the construction of a hospital in the community, and
Whereas, because a hospital already existed in Brattleboro, after the Colonel’s death,
his estate executor arranged for the legal redesignation of the gift for the purpose of
establishing a school for the blind and deaf, and
Whereas, the General Assembly, in 1904 Acts and Resolves No. 276, incorporated
“The Austine Sanitarium,” and it amended the legislation in 1908 Acts and Resolves No.
319 to give the new organization flexibility in designating a name, and
Whereas, finally, in 1910 Acts and Resolves No. 74, the General Assembly
appropriated $50,000.00 “for the purpose of erecting a suitable building or plant for the
use of said corporation, upon the land owned by it in Brattleboro, Vermont” subject to it
being used for a school for the deaf, and
Whereas, the Austine School for the Deaf opened in the fall of 1912 with 16 students
and at the first commencement in 1914, both Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller
were speakers, and
Whereas, operation of the Austine School for the Deaf continued until 2014, and the
school’s historic documentation and artifacts are located at the Winston Prouty Center in
Brattleboro under the curatorial supervision of the Austine School for the Deaf Museum
Board, Donna Marie Auditore-Pyne, President, and
Whereas, in order to afford greater prominence to the history and role of the Austine
School for the Deaf, a select collection of the oldest artifacts has been transferred for
exhibition to the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre, and a dedication
ceremony, at which State officials spoke, occurred on October 26, 2024, now
therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly commemorates the establishment of the Austine School
for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre,
and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the immediate past chair of the Austine School for the Deaf Museum Board and the
Vermont Historical Society.