Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-24
MAC0N'S MANY CHARITIES |
BEAUTIFUL HOMES GIVEN THE
HOMELESS.
HOW the Church Home of Macon was
rounded and FOstered - Orphans of
Confederate Soldiers its Care-The
''South Georgia Conference Orphans
Home" and It's Great Work.

lnTOu8D
which our better natures are appealed
to and aroused to action. There is
nothing which awakens our svm-
pathies more readily than helpless child
hood. All history and observation demon
strate that all charitable institutions are
the outgrowth of human sympathy, and
not untrequently the thought which de-
VelOpes into action and effort is pain in
the midst of great misfortune. Such is
the history of the
CHURCH HOME OF MACON"
War and desolation had done their
worst. We were prostrate people, ruled
by the meFciless hand of military dis
clpllne, and many of the purest and best
were detected and weeping over the Lost
Cause" In the spring of 1865 there were
hundreds of orphans in this community.
whose natural protectors had fallen upon
the battlefield in defense Of our homes.
and the returning heroes who had stood
untlinchingly in the face of the deadly
cannon and amid the showers of shot and
shell, found more relentless enemy at
h0me-Want, gaunt and grim, stood in
their dOOrways, and helpless wives and
little ones appealed for bread.
The public authorities did what they
could. They established a soup house
and bread depot on Cherry street, where
those VINO were unable to procure the ne
cessitles of life were supplied with scanty
ratlOns. The Inferior Court of that day
will always be gratefully remembered.
1t consisted of the following gentlemen:
Judges q. G. Sparks, j. T. Nesbitt, VIM.
Riley, and j. Calhoun. They were heart
lily seconded in their noble work by Hon.
stephen Collins, Mayor of the city. While
these gentlemen were doing what they
could to appease hunger and relieve bod
lily wants, two generous hearted gentle
men decided to provide some
thing tor the mental improvement
for the destitute orphans of Confederate
soldiers. MessrS. j. ii. Anderson and J.
W. Fears, both now of Atlanta, after con-
sldering the matter fully to open school
III a room on Magnolia street, where now
the residence of the late Professor Whitney
stands. Quite number of children were
gathered together, and in October, 1860,
the school opened with Mrs. Hughes as
preceptor. Under her energetic superin-
tendence the school pr0spored wonder
fully. 1t was sustained by public cOntri-
buttons, sometimes coming from the most
unexpected sources. AS the necessities
OF the day arose there always were means
to meet the demand. They needed more
school furniture, and while t3ey were de-
hberating about it, Mr.. r. w. Cubbedge
purchased the residence of Prof. ). Bates
on College street, and in that purchase
was the school furniture of the Bates
Academy. Mr.. Cubbedge promptly sent
1t to the Church Home, and this great
want was supplied, and in way no one
had ever dreamed.
IN THE WINTER OF 1866
it became evident that more room was
required for the proper development of
hic oh,
accommodated was comparatively few,
and especially in the home feature of it.
Providence, whose watchful eye is ever
over the interests of helpless Orphanage,
brought light out of darkness to this be-
neYolent institution, and in most sin
gular way.
Many of the citizens of Macon
remember with sadness the fearful
epidemic of smallpox which visited
the city i'll 1865. The city authorities
provided hospital or pest-hOuse. where
all the smallpox patients were taken
care OF. 1t was under the direction of
DIR. A. p. Collins. Bibb county instead
OF establishing one of their own, sent all
the county smallpox patients to the city
hospital. After the scOurge had passed
away the city presented claim for the
medical treatment OF patients, amounting
to $4,000. The Inferior Court declined to
1866 compromise was effected, Just as
the ''Church Home" was pleading for
more commodiOus quarters, and upon the
speclhed conditions that the amount paid
was to be invested for the benefit of the
Orphans Home. Immediately board
OF trustees was selected, consisting
of G. 5. ObeaT, A. l.. Maxwell, II. l.. jew
EFT, John. Il. BOifeuillet and James L.
Nesbitt. A charter was obtained from the
superior Court of Bibb county, for the
BIBB COUNTY ORPHANS HOME,
by which the institution was hereafter to
be known.
After due consultation and investiga-
tiOn, tract of land containing ninety
four acres and good ten-room house,
Just two miles from the court house, and
just beyond Vineville, was secured. 1t
was purchased from Prof. +. IL. Link for
the sum of $4,000, Mr.. Link taking the
county script referred to as part pay
ment, the remainder of the purchase
money being raised by festivals and
musical entertainments. The school
was moved to this point early
in 1866 with Mrs. Hughes in
charge, who was ably seconded by the
Board of Trustees, who eXerted them
selves to enlarge the number of scholars,
and to give it wider scope for usefulness.
In the spring of 1867 the cares of the in
stitution had grown so large, that Mrs.
Hughes was compelled to ask for more
help. Her time was needed almost entire
ly for the comfort of the children in the
domestic department. The board reliev-
ed her from the school room, and elected
as teacher Miss Flora A. Smith, the
daughter of the gallant Col. George A.
Smith, who fell at the head of the First
Georgia Regiment during the war. She
remained during that year, giving
the utmost satisfaction. Her retire
ment was deeply regretted by the board.
In 1899 Mrs. Hughes was superseded in
the management of the Home by Mrs.
Mary Gillen, of East Macon, who con-
tinued to preside over it's fortunes until
1878, when the Home was turned over to
the South Georgia Conference of the NJ.
E. Church, South.
This school, like all other institutions
supported by voluntary contributions.
had its ebbs and flOws-its days of de-
preston and gloom as well as its seasons |
Of prosperity. Public opinion is tickle, !
and will not always do to depend upon.
and public sympathy soon eXpends |
itself, leaving its highest ideals shOrn of |
their glory, fOrsaken and alone.
The object of the school thus far was |
confined to the education and care OF the |
orphans of Confederate soldiers. A large |
number were received into this institu- |
ton; some of them staying but a short |
time, others remaining longer, and re- |
ceiyed substantial benefits. The Board |
Of Trustees eXerted every effort to keep !
-he interest alive in the public mind, and |
much praise is due to all the members, |
and especially to President Maxwell and |
Judge j. L. Nesbitt, who never relaxed |
their energies in behalf Of the Home. |
Among the many friends of the |
Home, was Mr.. George II. Barker. |
,he grocer, who became the COM |
nissary of the institution, and con- |
,inued the supplies even when there was |
40 money in the Treasury. There were |
others whose generosity abOunded towards /
his noble charity, and none among them |
we're more liberal than the late Iamented |
ieorge Payne, Esq, the well known drug !
gist.
The records of the institution for the |
asst two or three years are not within nv /
each, and l have depended on personal |
Information, gathered from various |
sources, and may not be able to do Justice |
o many whose names ought to be recorded |
lere.
SOUTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE ORPHANS |
HOME, NEAR MACON, GA.
'HOme, Sweet Home" is the embOdi- |
nent Of all that is tender, affectIonate |
md good. ''HOmeIess'' embraces all that /
S dark, dreary and discouraging. To Sc
.ure a home for the homeless was the /
hought that awakened to action the VEN
.rable DIR. Jesse Boring, of the North
Georgia Conference in the year 1869,
and prompted a series of articles
which crystallized at last into
'roject to establish an orphans
lome for the helpless and destitute. 1t
vas not to be an asylum merely. but
lome in all of IFS attractiYeness and sur
permanent abode, where
haca haInIacc xuaifc oould aniOV that af |