Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-03-22
OUR VISIT TO THE HOME.

OUR VISIT TO THE HOME.
Many things have been said about the
Orphans Home in this city, by many
visitors and examining committees.
So we thought we would take look
for ourselves. Mr.. Abbott, the gentle
manly Superintendent rendered us
every facility for thorough inspection,
and his accomplished lady also lent her
aid. We found everything az fat, and
Were surprised at the systematic
arrangement and good order which had
been set on foot.
Like any well ordered city, this busy
hive is divided into wards" there be-
ing eight of them, and each comprising
thirty or more children. These thirty
occupy the lodgings in one particular
section of the buildings, in connection
with which is ward-room," or gem
eral rendezvous, where they congregate
to sit and read, making it in fact their
living and sitting room. In connection
with each ward-room is a wardrobe, or
very large cupboard, with thirty to
forty divisions, all numbered and
labeled, one for each child. All this,
| the room, the wardrobe, the ward it.
self, and all the children, are under the
care of wardmistress," who acts rs
n mother to her numerous family, liv.
ing there among them, and meeting all
hni ia. N i,,l
to witness the manifold ministrations
OF each of these eight ward-mistresses,
in her responsible sphere. One little
boy has met with some mishap, and
must be soothcd and pettcd. Another
has his clothes torn, and must be seen
to. A third appears to be ailng, and
must be tcnderly cared for. All the
garments of each must be looked after,
and kept in place. One can hardly
realize the continual varied cares and
calls for sympathy, which fill up the
hours OF these motherly guides.
AT 6 L. II. all under , are seen safely
into their beds; the rest remain up till
o. The small children go to their
school rooms from 10 to Il A. ~, and
from 2 Till p. NJ. And these schools
are in very promising condition; also
the higher department for the older
youth. The teachers are well qualified
for their posts, and great improvement
is being made. .0.a
Take your stand now by the dining
hall, and see the grand cava'cado come
marching in for supper. Every thing
goes like clock work here, as Though
out the institution. Each ward come
fling along in turn, from different d.
rections; and each one of the near 800
young. folks is quickly at the allotted
seat. a blessing asked by the chaplain,
and the busy hustle of eating begins.
How little confusion! how perfect the
control over ALL Such great com
pany. thus at home together, with the
tender memories Of hero-fathers con.
nected with them, is enough to awaken
emotion in the stoutest hearts.
The Orphans Home building was
once the American House, some
thirty by 60 it., with another brick
building Of like dimensions united to it
By large frame addition between.
There are two large frame wings ex-
tending back. Twenty long tables oc-
cupy one of these wings, as the dining
hall; the kitchen, pantries, &C., are on
the lower floor of the other. Back of
this bakery has been built for the
establishment, with an oven 10 #. by
IL, holding 20 dozen of bread at time.
1t takes an immense quantity of bread
to supply so many mouths requiring
100 pounds Of butter per week. The
wash-house and laundry are in separ-
ate building in the yard and the whole
premises include four city lots.
There are about twenty employees,
four officers, three teachers, eight ward
mistresses, five in the kitchen, three in
tho wash-house, &c. For all the ex-
pense, the State allows SS4 for each
child per month, or 500 per year.
There is a Hospital department pre-
puiCu WI tstoSspA SIthhCSo, out hdppilJ
it is not very largely occupied. There
is also Sewing department, where we
noticed busy hands at work, aud saw
two Wheeler and Wilson Sewing ma
chimes, besides Grover and Baker,
and a Florence. Little girls were oc-
cupied in sewing rags for carpeting
their ward rooms.
We were quite interested in the mat
ter of the nght-watch. The older boys
are made to alternate as watchmen, pa
trolling all the public rooms once each
hour through all the night. and also
passing through the lodging halls Of
the little children, where dim light
is kept burning,) in order to sec that
they are all covered, and that any little
ailments are attendedto. On the whole,
our survey of the Cedar Falls Orphans
Home, impressed US with the organiz-
ing skill of its superintendent, and the
happy combination of good order aud
home comfort, which make this very
inviting retreat for the children OF our
honored dead. Let us all cherish the
Soldiers Orphans, and the SOLDIERS
ORrHAsa' HONE.