Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-19
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
The Aged womcn's Home.
Its History, System, and a DescFip-
tion of it's New Building.

In 1854, Mrs. Rebecca Gibbons founded the
" Female Society of Wilmington for the Relief
and Employment OF the Poor" The special OBJ
ject of this institution. its name indicates, was
to furnish relief for helpless women by providing
them with food and employment, and it was
maintained by public charity. For the space of
ten years, Or until 1864, its name and purposes
were preserved, at which time it was converted
into the Aged Womens Home" and it's man
agement radically changed, for several reasons,
chief among which was because, under the
former management, it did not fully afford the
relief desired While giving employment to
and providing food for tho helpless
it did not fully measure up to the ex-
gencies of the times in that the home was not
permanent-that is, that after the days work
was completed the women were compelled to
leave their comfortable surroundings and seek a
cold and comfortess home.
The building in which the first society was
organized was conveyed by deed to the " Aged
Women's Home" and in 1866, the year following
the change, ,theadjoining building was purchased.
These buildings located ON Shipley street,
between Fifth and Sixth, and, to this day one is
entirely, the other partially devoted to the
objects of the Home. 1t now contains fourteen
inmates, of whom Elizabeth Kemp was the first
and is still living She is a member of Asbury
Nj d. Church, and is thoroughly consistent
christian woman.
fBennB tnB necessity 1Or an enlargement OF
the sphere of their operations, the managers
(who by the way are all ladies) conceived the
idoa of erecting a new building for this purpose,
and one which would be better adapted to the
proper conduct of the Home SO, in June, 1869,
the lot at the corner of Glpn Avenue and Har-
rison street was purchased of James Bradford
for El.S00. II was not, however, until June, 1871.
that the erection OF the building was actually
begun.
The new Home is now nearing completion, and
will be mr. aarlV i'm March Iha
masons, carpenters and plasterers have finished
their lab0rs upon it, and the painters are far
advanced in their decorations.
The building is handsome and substantial
three story brick, with basement of Brandywine
blue quarIied stone. Its fronts are built with
the best pressed brick and its sides of the best
hard red. 1t has two porticoes, which, with the
outer trimmings Of the building, are painted
dark brown color. The building fronts u feet
inches on Harrison street, and AZ feet inches
on Gilpin avenue. The basement is feet high,
in the clear the first story II feet, and the
second and third stories feet each. In its in-
terror arrangements and divisions it is a model
of comfort, adaptability and design. In the
basement are the kitchen, laundry and coal and
provision cellars, all large and ample. Tne first
floor is divided into parlor, reception dining and
matron's rooms, commodious, well ventilated and
supplied with an abundance Of light. There are
also on this floor two chambers, and wide hail
extending the entire length of the building On
the east side and in front Of the Harrison street
entrance rises tine stairway, OF inc DebJ OdfOllnd
pine, with walnut rall and ash balusters, the
ascent of which is remarkably easy. The second
floor, with the exception of the wide hall and
bath room, is divided into chambers, twelve in
number, about 12xl5 feet in dimensions sim
liar arrangement prevails upon the third floor,
with the exception that ii contains room
less-one room being devoted to the storage of
eomfortables, &C. Perfect ventilation is Afford
ed each of these rooms by means Of tran
som, and patent ventilator in the walls. The
bUil1ipp ia VVlta-nOatel tlFOuQlOut On the
fronts, the windows are supplied with inner
folding shutters, of cherry, while on the
Sides they have other blinds. The
building il heated by two Bartlett furnaces, of
the :" Dog House pattern. Gas ia slfei b4gisip.
each room, and water upon each Isaet
waiter communicates between "A Fsesffing fooiaS
and ktcten The cooking sssdone by one
Of Chilson y ranges, zs{fTela. =
The total cost of the ff8le1t4i0, and
by the time the surround sspl leted
this sum will be augmented to DIG lelnan-
ayers have paid on the building %; lliave
in available subscriptions " 900 besiS B hRYng
$4,000 yet to be provided for.s ForH hey
throw themselves upon a charitable pnblSi5hl
it is earnestly hoped that their plea will NOT R4f
unheeded. II tss
The Home was designed by Geo, H. sellels OF
the Edgemoor Iron Works, and John Hill aYasS
the contractor and builder. The lone work Ngis4'
done by Washington Cox the Ts@k work bg1
Frank Simpson, the plumbing and, gas fitting bys
Gawthrop and Bro, the tin work by Harry E.
GlCkels BIO tile plahteIlnB DN DoWofl0 0 Dpealt-;
man, and the painting by Jas. France. 1tiiB due
these gentlemen to state that the work perform
ed by each, in his department, is triumph of
skill .r-
1t is expected that the Home will be formRIlss.
occupied early in March, by which time it wia Hs.
comfortably and appropriately furnished In tiFsi
meantime donations of furniture will be acceptz
able. Tho Home will admit of about fifty inmates!
We subjoin list of the
Officers and Managers;
First DirectreSs,
Mrs SARAH II MENDENHALL.
Second Directress.
Mrs. GREGG CHANDLER,
Secretary,
Mrs EMILY G. WoLLAsToN,
Treasurer,
Miss ANNA SESPLE
Managers.
Mrs. Levi G.. Clark, Miss A. Phillips,
" NJ. Belts Mrs. M. A. Pusey.
s. II. Mendenhall, L. G. Wollaston,
NJ, L. Chandler, r. Tatuall,
L. L. Grubb " Lea Pusey
Miss NJ. A. Jones, Geo. G. Lobdell.
l.. Webb John Jones,
T.. CLARK, L. Smith.