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11/01/2022 03:39 PMGuilford’s connection to the first school to specifically mentor and school deaf students has been rediscovered thanks to the efforts of a local couple intent on ensuring that the town’s past is not forgotten. Nancy and Jonathan Bishop recently alerted town officials not only to this “lost” piece of history, but also to a monument that, until recently, was hidden by overgrown brush on the town’s main thoroughfare.
The newly rediscovered monument is located on Route 1 across from the terminus of Moose Hill Road and is dedicated to former resident Sophia Fowler Gallaudet. Fowler Gallaudet, her husband, Thomas; and their son, Edward are credited as founding Gallaudet College, a private university for deaf and hard of hearing students located in Washington, D.C.
The Bishops said their interest was sparked by their love of history, especially of Guilford’s.
“As we began to do some simple research to learn more about our town for the tour, one piece of information that intrigued us was that Sophia Fowler Gallaudet was born and raised in Guilford. After doing some exploring on the internet, we have learned that Sophia, her husband, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, and their son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, were all instrumental in creating educational opportunities for people who were deaf or hard of hearing in the mid-1800s,” Jonathan said. “Sophia and Edward are credited with founding Gallaudet College and receiving the support of President Lincoln, who signed the original charter in 1864. Fowler Hall, named in honor of Sophia, remains at the university.”
According to research that the Bishops conducted, Sophia Fowler was born deaf near Guilford on March 20, 1798. Sophia was 19 years old when her parents learned that a school for the deaf had been founded in Hartford. She entered the school in 1817 and stayed there until the spring of 1821. While attending, the principal of the school, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet fell in love with Fowler and they married in 1821, according to online sources.
Following Thomas’ death in 1851, Fowler Gallaudet not only kept the institution viable, she and one of her eight children maintained and elevated the school to prominence. Fowler often met with members of Congress in order to gain support for the institution. Through the political and fundraising efforts of Sophia and her son, Edward, in 1864, the school became Gallaudet College, the first American college for the deaf. Sophia remained involved with the school until her death in 1877.
Fowler Gallaudet, recognized as the "Mother of the American Deaf," was honored and memorialized via a bronze memorial tablet, sculpted by Eugene Hannan, that was unveiled in Guilford in 1917, where it still stands today along Route 1. The honor shined light on her critical role in contributing to the America School for the Deaf.
“We believe it is important to honor Guilford native, Sophia Fowler Gallaudet, for her contributions to education,” Nancy said. “I think the big thing is that here in Guilford most of us really aren’t aware that one of our own had such a big impact in education. We had no idea Sophia even existed and to find out she had such a big impact on education is amazing. We were familiar with Gallaudet University, but to realize someone from Guilford was involved really is amazing.”
While researching more about the Gallaudets, the Bishops uncovered the monument on Route 1 and alerted town officials as to its condition, forgotten and obscured by brush. The Town and the State are currently in the process of clearing the brush and bringing back a piece of Guilford history.
“Rediscovering that circle of connections was incredible,” said Jonathan. “We have family that comes every year for holidays, and we often took walks and had the idea of a Guilford history tour for our family. So, the regicide cellar, the witness stones, and other sites got us interested. And when Nancy was doing searching she came across Sophia Fowler’s story. She got excited and went down that internet wormhole and really did a lot of work.”
First Selectman Matt Hoey said that before being alerted by the Bishops about the monument he was unaware of the site and its significance to Guilford history. According to Hoey, he is expecting that the brush will be cleared away from the monument soon, and that it can once again be a source of inspiration and history for residents.
“I’ve been working with our local contacts at the Department of Transportation, because Route 1 is part of their jurisdiction. I checked with them and they said ‘absolutely,’ and we hope that either via that entity or our Public Works Department the brush could be cleared this week,” said Hoey. “I’m excited about the fact that Nancy and Jonathan brought that issue of the monument to my attention. The nature of where it’s positioned and the fact it’s easy for it to be overgrown, it is easy to miss it. That has been there since 1917, so it will be nice to draw some attention to that monument and of Sophia Fowler Gallaudet’s contributions that she made on behalf of so many people’s lives. It's also another one of this town’s great contributions to history.”