Based on the original account by William B. Swett (1874)
From the HHS edition:
The Adventures of a Deaf-Mute in the White Mountains was originally published for the Boston Deaf-Mute Mission.
William B. Swett, 1824-1885, was a deaf-mute born in Henniker of deaf-mute parents. After his marriage to Margaret Harrington, a deaf-mute from Ireland, he moved to Marblehead, Massachusetts. Two of their five children were deaf. Mr. Swett was a founding member of the New England Gallaudet Association in 1854 and was its first secretary. He co-published The Deaf-Mute’s Friend, was a director of the Deaf-Mute Library Association, and was business manager of the Boston Deaf-Mute Mission. He founded a school of industrial arts for deaf adults, which soon added an educational program for deaf children and is now known as the Beverly School for the Deaf. Mr. Swett also had careers as an explorer, showman, mechanic, writer, and artist.
Click to read any of the following selections:
ADVENTURES of a DEAF-MUTE… (Cover & Intro Links) – Let’s kick off this series with a pin-up image of Mr. Swett in the Flume…
Swett 1: Adventures of a Deaf-Mute in the White Mountains – 1865: Deaf-mute Henniker native William B. Swett begins his journey to the White Mountains…
Swett 2: Concord Train Station – 1865: In which we meet a colorful local character…
Swett 3: Train to the Lakes – 1865: See? Travel really was more fun for everyone back then …
Swett 4: Wheel Trouble – 1865: Swett’s train ride to the mountains goes smoothly … until the wheels come off!
Swett 5: Spring Blizzard – 1865: A late-spring snow storm surprises Swett in his seat on the roof of the stage… 
Swett 6: Profile House – 1865: Swett approaches his destination …
Swett 7: Signs & Gestures – 1865: Guests mix and meet in the Profile House dining room …
Swett 8: The Old Man of the Mountain – 1865: Swett gets his first glimpse of a rocky NH icon …
Swett 10: Snow-balling in June – 1865: The restorative powers of the White Mountains during the closing months of the Civil War…
“Almost an Accident” – Unsafe cannonades almost end in tragedy for guests at the Profile House…
ADVENTURES of a DEAF-MUTE… (Cover & Intro Links) – Let’s kick off this series with a pin-up image of Mr. Swett in the Flume… Swett 1: Adventures of a Deaf-Mute in the White Mountains – 1865: Deaf-mute Henniker native William B. Swett begins his journey to the White Mountains… Swett 2: Concord Train Station – 1865: In which we meet a colorful local character…
Swett 3: Train to the Lakes – 1865: See? Travel really was more fun for everyone back then … Swett 4: Wheel Trouble – 1865: Swett’s train ride to the mountains goes smoothly … until the wheels come off! Swett 5: Spring Blizzard – 1865: A late-spring snow storm surprises Swett in his seat on the roof of the stage… Swett 6: Profile House – 1865: Swett approaches his destination … Swett 7: Signs & Gestures – 1865: Guests mix and meet in the Profile House dining room … Swett 8: The Old Man of the Mountain – 1865: Swett gets his first glimpse of a rocky NH icon … Swett 10: Snow-balling in June – 1865: The restorative powers of the White Mountains during the closing months of the Civil War… “Almost an Accident” – Unsafe cannonades almost end in tragedy for guests at the Profile House…~ More to come… ~
SEE ALSO:
FOR MORE INFO: The Henniker Historical Society publishes a pamphlet edition of Swett’s book:
You can also read it online here:
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