Observing National Braille Day

Bill Stewart

Tomorrow, Jan. 4, 2018, is observed as National Braille Day.

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper.

Braille users can read computer screens and other electronic supports owing to the existence of refreshable braille displays.

Braille was invented almost two centuries ago, named after its creator, Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight as a result of a childhood accident. In 1824, at age 15, he developed a code for the French alphabet as an improvement on night writing. He published his system, which subsequently included musical notation, in 1829. The second revision, published in 1837, was the first binary form of writing developed since the Renaissance.

In honor of National Braille Day, this news items all chronicle instances of blindness – whether in the literal sense or a metaphorical sense.

November 26, 1885 — The President of the United States has proclaimed today as our Thanksgiving Day. The grateful heart can always find abundant reasons for returning thanks to the Giver of all good and perfect gifts and, President Arthur continued, perhaps there are none so blind as those who will not see.

February 6, 1922 – One of the most interesting characters to be found in all of North Alabama now is Cecil Hartselle. Hartselle, a boy of 23 who is totally blind, goes about his daily work as freely and independently as any normal young man. Mr. Hartselle is the grandson of the founder of the city of Hartselle.  

It seems that his grandfather had started west from his home in the Carolinas in his early young manhood and upon reaching the place where Hartselle now stands decided to remain there and make it his home. Some other settlers gathered round the place, then a village was started, which has grown into one of the most progressive of our north Alabama towns.    

Jan. 4, 1908, young (Cecil) Hartselle, who had been totally blind since his eyes became infected in early infancy, entered the state school for the blind at Talladega. At the commencement exercise in May 1917, he was valedictorian of his class. In the fall of 1917, he returned to Talladega for a post-graduate course in music and piano tuning.

Oct. 15, 1919, he went to Wilmoore to tune the pianos for Asbury College. During the school session of 1920-21, he taught music in the Ryan High School.

Jan. 2, 1958 – Charles Rowe has resigned his position as vocational agriculture instructor at MCHS and began work today in Decatur as joint service supervisor and counselor for the blind and severely handicapped.

May 11, 2015 – Greg Rowe, 64, a Talladega resident, passed away today in a Birmingham Hospital. Mr. Rowe was preceded in death by his father, Charles Rowe, and mother Bobbie. Mr. Rowe was employed for 30 years as the business enterprises representative for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

Feb. 15, 2017 – One of the individuals who has applied to be chief financial officer for Hartselle City Schools currently holds this position at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega. The Hartselle position opened up a couple of weeks ago when the incumbent resigned following a suspension. Whomever is ultimately offered the job will make between $85,000 and $110,000 annually depending on his or her prior performance for another organization.