1873 - 1928 The Beginning Years

In 1873 the first seeds for Lutheran Special Education Ministries were planted when an orphanage was established in Detroit, Michigan. This founding marked the birth of a proud heritage: bringing the joy of Jesus to children in need.

Shortly after the Civil War, an epidemic took the lives of many Michigan parents, leaving their children orphans. Moved by Christian compassion, a group of dedicated Lutherans from several Detroit congregations met at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (now Historic Trinity) on February 17, 1873 to discuss establishing an orphanage. Under the chairmanship of Trinity’s pastor, Rev. J.A. Huegli, the group formed “The German Evangelical Lutheran Orphan’s Assistance Society.”

One month later, the group elected Rev. Huegli as the first president of the first board of directors. Having formed an association of congregations, a mere two weeks later these Christians signed the first articles of incorporation for the society, on March 31, 1873.

They began building and called Rev. G. Speckhardt of Sebewaing, Michigan as the first superintendent. Rev. G. Speckhardt did accept the call to serve as superintendent; however, he brought with him two deaf pupils, Margaretha Graaf and Margaretha Frisch, from Frankenmuth, Michigan. His reputation as a teacher of the deaf grew and soon more deaf children came under his care.

It became apparent to Synodical President Rev. Dr. C. F.W. Walther and other Synodical leaders that God had another plan. So at the 1874 Synodical Conference Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the delegates unanimously resolved to suggest that the Detroit orphan ’s society serve the 17 deaf children exclusively and that the remaining 10 hearing orphans be moved to the LCMS orphanage in Addison, Illinois. The society agreed and ministry to the deaf began.