Our History
More than 70 years ago, a group of Lutheran pastors had a vision to establish a high quality education in a loving environment for Deaf children on the East Coast. That vision became a reality when they founded Lutheran Friends of the Deaf, and later pooled their personal finances and resources together to purchase the 86 acre Sefton-Dodge Estate, now known as Mill Neck Manor.
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The Lutheran Friends of the Deaf purchased Sefton Manor and all 86 of its acres from Lillian Sefton Dodge for a mere $216,000, with the intent of opening a school for the Deaf inside the home.
September 23, Approximately 3,500 people attended the Sunday dedication of the Manor House, with the name officially changed to Mill Neck Manor.
September 26, The Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf officially opened serving 19 Deaf boys and girls. Within three years, there would be 40 students enrolled.
The Board of Trustees received the “Absolute Charter” by the New York State Board of Regents for operation as a school for the Deaf.
The farm buildings, originally built in 1929, were converted into new classrooms for the expanding school. Other out buildings on the ground would also become spaces for offices during this period.
September 14, The John of Beverley Chapel was officially dedicated within Mill Neck Manor as a place for the school’s students to have the opportunity for prayer.
The newly constructed library opened on the third floor of Mill Neck Manor, offering a wealth of resources and information to students. The first library card was presented to then New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller.
The Mill Neck Manor School’s new physical education building was dedicated.
The Samuel J. and Evelyn L. Wood Memorial Building was officially dedicated, offering the Mill Neck Manor School more room for classes as the student body continued to grow.
Realizing that Deaf infants and their parents needed assistance as early as possible, the Mill Neck Manor Board of Directors approved the start of the Infant Toddler Program at Mill Neck.
Mill Neck Services officially began operating as an entity within the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, providing vocational services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults.
Mill Neck Audiology Clinic, the beginning of what is now known as the Center for Hearing Health, was established to provide services to Hard of Hearing children and adults across Long Island.
Mill Neck Services officially opened their Day Habilitation Program, providing support to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and non-verbal adults with a range of disabilities.
The Deaf Education Center is completely on Mill Neck’s grounds and would officially open for classes the following year, offering new, state-of-the-art facilities for the Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf.
The First Auditory/Oral Preschool Class opens at the Deaf Education Center.
Empty for a number of years, and serving a number of purposes, Mill Neck Manor opened to the public monthly for tours.
Mill Neck Manor entered into an ongoing process of restoration and preservation for the dual purpose of improving the monthly tours for the public, as well as for the benefit of the various organizations within the Mill Neck Family of Organizations.