History

2,000 Point Club – Boys Basketball 1,000 Point Club – Boys Basketball 1,000 Point Club – Girls Basketball 100 Goal Club – Soccer

Old black steel fences once stretched from Hawthorne Street down to Walnut Street along Swissvale Avenue, facing the Main Building and extending to just before the First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood. Standing about five feet tall, the fences were made of vertical bars spaced roughly three inches apart and formed a half-circle around the 17-acre…

The Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for athletes with hearing loss, has a rich history: WPSD Alumni in the Deaflympics and U.S. Deaf Team Several alumni from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) have represented the United States in the Deaflympics and other international competitions: These WPSD alumni have proudly represented the U.S.…

When Superintendent Arthur C. Manning took charge of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, there was no flagpole on campus, and the United States flag was not displayed. Wanting to change this, he erected a small flagpole outside the window of his sun porch, personally raising and lowering the flag each day. One day,…

Journey back in time to relive the WPSD Boys’ Basketball team’s inspiring run at the 1998 ESDAA tournament against Deaf schools on February 13-15, 1998.

This article is published on KEYSTONE, Volume 1: Issue 2, Spring 2025. Mr. George Teegarden, printing instructor began the publication of “The Holiday Gazette,” the school’s first school newsletter. The first issue was dated December 25, 1890. Harry Branson was hired as a printing teacher. He was a former foreman and then editor of the…

The Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association (ESDAA) was founded in 1927 to provide student-athletes at member schools with opportunities for competitive tournaments and championships. These events emphasize sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and integrity, in line with the standards set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The organization began with a…

WPSD hosts May Day, one of the most popular and vibrant events of the school year—typically on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Let’s take a closer look at the rich history behind this beloved tradition.

Stephen Rute wrote the 2024 article and David Fulmer created the illustrator of 2025 storyboard. Learn both to get know more about the Primary Building transformation.

Three WPSD alumni collaborated to write an article about the 117-year-old Porterfield Gymnasium. Check out the posts below to explore its rich history.

In honor of Black History Month this February, we are highlighting the stories of Black WPSD graduates. This article features two distinguished alumni: Ida (Gary) Hampton (Class of 1951) and Nathie Marbury (Class of 1962). Ida (Gary) Hampton Ida Wynette Gray, a Pennsylvania native, enrolled at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in…

WPSD’s forgotten buildings over the past 140 years reveal the reasons behind 9 out of 10 demolitions and the significance of these structures.

In 1906, the WPSD woodworking class embarked on a project to build a pavilion for the students and alumni to enjoy. They completed the project in 1907, naming it the Summer Playhouse. For seventy years, the Summer Playhouse, as it was known, served as a gathering place for friends and a venue for various activities.…

Click the decades below, listings the tidbit highlights about history of WPSD. Special thanks to Stephen Rute, WPSD Class of 1974 for collecting the stories from WPAN (Western Pennsylvanian) newsletter and WPSD Annual Report book.

The storyline photos of the transformation of Teegarden Field on the WPSD backyard. Over time, it evolved into a shed tool garden and eventually became an Athletic Field, serving as a recreational space and hosting special events.

The school grew in numbers, the rooms set apart for hospital purposes became inadequate and the need for a special building to the care of the sick demand. The late William and Jane Holmes (sibling) left the money to the foundation of the school with the wise philanthropy to build a commodious hospital. It was…

Explore our collection of past Alumni Reunion Program books.

The story of the school’s name, proudly displayed on the brick sign in front of the main building, reflects WPSD’s singular identity as an institution for the Deaf. The Alumni Association supported WPSD by contributing to the expenses for the brick sign’s installation.