Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-08
THE HOME FOR DESTITUTE Chill
DREN.

LINGToN, SEPT. ~, 1873.
To-day occurs the tenth anniversary of
the establishment of the Home for Desti-
tute Children, charity which has already
become most favorably known to many in
our State, as an efficient agent in caring
for a class which is continually increasing
in our midst, and which ns> hitherto been
comparatively unpruvided for, viz. ; the
children who are either wholly destitute,
and therefore dependent upon the public,
or who temporarily have no home, by rea-
son of the misfortune or death Of their nat
ural guardians.
The first decade in The history Of this i'm
portamt institution, has just passed, aud
we can but recognize in its success, thus
far, as manifested in the good which ii has
already accomplished, and the increasing
interest in its prosperity on the part of SO
many of all classes and denominations,
that the work is blessed by Him "Who had
not where to lay ishead."
On the third of October, 1865 through the
persevering charitable efforts Of a confirm
ed invalid, and oftentimes a great sufferer,
a little family of seven destitute children
grls-were gathered in small house in
our city, and thus the great work was COM
menced.
Approaching, from the first, the import
ance of the charity, the extent of its intlu-
ence, and the responsibility Of the under
taking, should ii be properly managed, an
act of incorporation, approved November
LIST, 1865, was obtained of the Legislature,
which constituted Laura Hickok, Harriet
Shedd, Julia Loomis, Eliza Smith, Mary
H. Phelps, and Susan NJ. Edmuuds-a
board in which each denomination of the
Protestant church was represented-a body
corporate and polite, under the name of
the "Home for Destitute Children" the OBJ
ject being, TO provide for this class a
Home" TO 'supply their necessities pro-
mote their intellectual, moral and religious
improvement, and fit them for situations
of usefulness and maintenance"
And conscious as each one of these orig
inal corporators may have been of the i'm
perative need of such a charity, and the
responsive chord of sympathy for it which
would be touched throughout the Slate, we
do not think that even the most sanguine
of them anticipated that in len years the cor
poration would grow TO be one of the best
established and appreciated of The public
institutions of this State.
From the beginning, the project was re-
ceived with favor by those whose expert
ences had impressed upon them the need
Of such an institution.
In every county in the Stale were to be
found homeless waits, whose only shelter
was the poor-house or the Jail, there to
grow up with no, or at best but little, NOR
al training, deprived of the loving interest
of parents and of all the blessed influences
of home. What wonder is it that, in
stead of becoming fitted in any respect to
benefit either themselves or the public,
their Glands should beagainst every mans,
and every mans hand against them" AS
soon, therefore, as the existence of such an
institution became known, applications
came TO the Board of Managers, too num-
merous and appealing in their character TO
be altogether ignored. Fortunately with
the demand came, though in a very limited
degree, the means OF supply. A larger
house was purchased only TO be immedi-
ately crowded. A matron was obtained
and the work systematically begun.
In the summer of 1866, the general gov
eminent ordered the sale of the United
States Marine Hospital, which was situated
in the southern part of the city, and about
half a mile distant from the lake. This
was a fire proof building, two stories in
height and fifty feet square. 1t was built
ten years previous at a cost Of $4,000.
The location was a commanding one in
many respects, embraced ten acres of land
and was well adapted TO the requirements
of an institution of this character.
An opportunity to purchase this valua-
BILE property for $1,000 was considered by
the Board of Managers TO be too favorable
not to be, il possible, improved.
Trusting in the charitable liberality of
friends, they assumed on the 10th of July,
1866, the responsibility OF the purchase, and
on taking possession of the premises, on
the Sth of the following October, they found
that they had sufficient room 10 comforta-
bly, accommodate forty children. The new
building was consecrated Nov. 49, 1866.
Up TO this time only girls had been receiy-
ed by the institution; now the managers
decided TO take children of both sexes All
they wanted was the means 10 provide for
the additional number. The plan which
the managers originally adopted, that of
personal solicitation for annual contribu-
lions 10 defray the current expenses OF the
charity, was continued, and until 1869, the
amount thus raised was their entire reli-
ance.
In October, 1870, five years after The es-
tablishment of the charity, the aggregate
sums varying from twenty-five cents to
500, was $4,000. And the fact that SIS, 600,
or over two-thirds of the entire amount
thus raised, was contributed by residents
of this city, by whom, OF necessity, the
Home was more generally known, is the
best evidence, not merely OF the practical
interest of many OF our citizens in the sue
cess of the Institution, but especially Of
their confidence in its iudicieus manage
ment.
From the annual report, published in
1870, we find that one hundred and twelve
children appear on the "Family Record
OF the Home. During these five years,
however, The sad fact is also reported that
the board OF managers were compelled to
refuse more than tipO hundred applications,
both for want of room and the means 10
provide for larger number.
The average amount of the annual sub
scriptions was only sufficient for their i'm
mediate wants, and the labor and expense
attendant upon full canvass Of the Slate
had deferred them from attempting or ac-
complishing much in this direction. They
therefore proposed in 1867 to raise a per-
manent fund of at least $50, 600, the income,
only, of which should be used for the sup
port of The charity, and the balance of the