Syracuse State School

The Syracuse State School was a residential facility in Syracuse, New York for mentally disabled children and adults. Founded in 1851 in Albany, New York as the New York State Asylum for Idiots, acting upon a recommendation contained in the 1846 annual report of the New York State Asylum for Lunatics. The first director was Hervey B. Wilbur, a student of Edward Seguin (another of Seguin's students was Maria Montessori).

In 1855 the facility moved to a new building in Syracuse where it was known as the New York Asylum for Idiots or the State Idiot Asylum. Over the next hundred years the institution went through several name changes, including the Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, the Syracuse State School for Mental Defectives, and finally the Syracuse State School in 1927. The school was closed in 1973 and the building was torn down in 1988.

The New York State Asylum for Idiots was authorized by the New York State Legislature in 1851. Hervey B. Wilbur, M.D., was appointed the first superintendent and remained in that position for 32 years until his death in 1883.

When the school first opened it was located in Albany, New York and the first pupils were admitted in 1851.

The rules stated by 1888 that children between the ages of seven and fourteen, who were idiotic, or so deficient in intelligence as to be incapable of being educated at any ordinary school, and who were not epileptic, insane or greatly deformed, were allowed admittance by the superintendent, "with the advice and consent from the executive committee."

The cornerstone for a new facility in Syracuse was laid in 1854 and the new institution opened in 1855 at a total cost of $73,000. Another $13,000 was appropriated for furnishings. Approximately fifty students were present at the institution and applications had been received for another fifty more. The appropriation made, however, would only cover about 75 for the coming year.

On February 11, 1885, and Robert Aberdeen were assigned as Trustees of the Syracuse Idiot Asylum by the New York State Legislature.

Edward Seguin Van Duyn, M.D. (1872–1955) was administrator of the Syracuse State School from 1904 until his death in 1955.

The site selected was about a mile southwest of Syracuse, in the town of Geddes, and was "one of the finest that could have been found in the State of New York." The building was constructed of brick, "plain but substantial, and admirably fitted for the purpose for which it is designed."

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