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A Century of Leadership and Counting

Founded in 1905 by Winifred and Edith Holt, the Lighthouse quickly became a pioneer in the field of Vision Rehabilitation. Today it is a leading worldwide resource in helping people overcome the challenges of vision loss.

Envisioning the Possibilities

1903- 1905
A trip to Florence, Italy, for the two young Holt sisters provided the inspiration for their mission to serve those without sight. During a concert there, Winifred noticed a group of blind school children in the audience who were enthralled by the music. She discovered that a free ticket program provided the children with access to the concert. Winifred was inspired to do the same back home in New York City and the Holt sisters established the Lighthouse Free Ticket Bureau in 1903.

As Winifred and Edith gathered information on blind school children for their ticket program, they became increasingly aware of the world of adults who were blind -- its numbers, its hardships, its wants and its needs.

With a borrowed $400 and only their dress allowances, Winifred and Edith Holt lit the Lighthouse lamp. They founded "Lighthouse No. 1" to help people without sight help themselves. The visionary sisters broke down many barriers--and opened their family brownstone at 44 East 78th Street to all those in need.

The Holts were the very first Lighthouse volunteers. Their contributions, and those of all who followed, have been invaluable.

Launching a century-old commitment to research, the Lighthouse organized the first census of people who were blind in New York State, totaling 9,585 cases.

The Early Years

1906
The Lighthouse was officially incorporated as The New York Association for the Blind, Inc. A home teaching program of counseling and instruction began, marking our first community-based direct service--the forerunner of today's professional vision rehabilitation services. This program was often staffed by teachers who were blind.

1907
An original Lighthouse goal was the prevention of blindness. Winifred Holt undertook this mission personally when she traveled to Albany to draft a bill making the use of a medical measure at birth mandatory to prevent "ophthalmia neonatorum." In addition, Winifred was responsible for establishing the first lay committee to address blindness prevention. She also participated in founding the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped.

1909
The Lighthouse was instrumental in persuading the New York City Board of Education to admit children with impaired vision to public schools for the first time.

1912
Almost from the first day the Holts founded the Lighthouse in their parlor, they were inundated with requests from people who were blind to find gainful employment. They met the need by establishing a workshop on East 42nd Street for men to make marketable products, and by opening their home to women to create handcraft items. Teachers provided all-important training in workshop, clerical, sales and business skills to thousands of New Yorkers. "Light Through Work" became the Lighthouse motto.

When the need for expanded space arose, the first Bourne Workshop was opened on East 35th Street, thanks to a donation by Emily Bourne. The workshop grew over time to accommodate more employees and, in 1951, moved to Long Island City and became known as Lighthouse Industries.

1912 also saw the first of several Lighthouse camps for children with impaired vision. Called the River Lighthouse, the camp opened in Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, NY. The success of this summer program led to expansion and the launch of Camp Munger in Bear Mountain, NY in 1923.

1913
Music was the inspiration for Winifred's life-long work. From the earliest days, music classes were offered at The Lighthouse and in 1913, our music school was officially founded.

1915
Winifred's mission took her around the world twice. She organized "Le Phare de Bordeaux," the first Lighthouse on the Continent to help soldiers blinded in World War I, followed by others in Paris, Rome, Warsaw, Canton and several in Japan. Winifred's reach extended to the Middle East, India, South America and numerous destinations en route, where "Lighthouse work" was launched.

1925
A small kindergarten group was formed at The Lighthouse in 1925 followed by the founding of the Lighthouse Nursery School in 1933 -- the first non-residential nursery school for children who were blind in the US, enabling them to stay at home with their families.

By 1967, the Lighthouse opened a child development center, later named the Jean Stralem Child Development Center in 1994.

Expanding Horizons

1945 Our Bourne Workshop contribution to the war effort garnered the impressive Army and Navy "E" Award for Merit. Winifred accepted the award at Carnegie Hall, while Eleanor Roosevelt looked on. This was to be Winifred's proudest moment--and her last public address.

The "indomitable" Winifred Holt died shortly thereafter, but her extraordinary legacy and limitless "vision" for people without sight continued to live on.

1952
The Lighthouse forged an affiliation with the Ophthalmological Foundation, which became the research arm of the Lighthouse at that time. The Foundation was the first to devote its resources to the research of blindness.

1953
During the post-war era, the field of rehabilitation services expanded rapidly. In recognition of the growing need to serve people with partial sight, in addition to blindness, the Lighthouse Low Vision Service was founded. This trailblazing service--the nation's largest low vision clinic at the time--was dedicated as the Eleanor E. Faye Low Vision Service in 1994. Dr. Faye, a leader in low vision care, pioneered the Lighthouse low vision service model.

Forging Partnerships

1962
The Lighthouse merged with the Blind Service Agency of Westchester, enhancing the delivery of services to residents of Westchester County.

Quote:

Ledge Lighthouse, also known as the New London Lighthouse,

is one of the most unusual-looking lighthouses in the United States.

It looks like an old colonial-style house, floating on the sea.

Ledge Lighthouse became famous when a

Japanese video appeared on the Internet showing

students being attacked by a ghost.

It also has a haunting history and a ghost named “Ernie”.

A video is supposed to exist showing a group of Japanese students who were investigating Ledge Lighthouse. They went into a room and were suddenly attacked by a whirlwind of flying objects. The video is said to show them huddled in a corner, scared out of their wits, as objects fly around them. Apparently the Japanese guys were so scared, they couldn’t move and had to wait until someone came to rescue them. The room they were in was “Ernie’s Room”. According to legend, in the 1920s, a man named Ernie was the keeper at Ledge Lighthouse. His wife lived with him but she became very unhappy with her dismal confinement on the hunk of concrete. Bored and lonely, she began flirting with the sailors and fishermen who passed by. When Ernie learned that his wife had run off with the captain of the Block Island Ferry, he went out of his mind and committed suicide by jumping to his death from the roof of the lighthouse. His body was never found. When workmen were renovating Ledge Lighthouse, they found a log book. The final entry read: “Rock of slow torture. Ernie’s domain. Hell on earth – may New London Ledge’s light shine on forever because I’m through. I will watch it from afar while drinking a brew.” The ghost of Ernie is said to be condemned to watch over the light for all eternity. Coast Guard crews frequently report hearing strange noises and mysterious knocks on their bedroom doors in the middle of the night. Many experience doors opening and closing on their own, TVs being turned on and off, and bedclothes being pulled off the end of their bed. This information Keith Broas put here!