The National tribune., 1883-12-27
THE BAY STATE B0ME.
How the Veterans Live at a Noble
Refuge.
Special Correspondents National Tribune

Massachusetts was begun in 1876 By General
Horace Binney Sargent, then Department Com
n1ander of the Grand Army, and to him more
than to any other person are we indebted for the
establishment of one of the noblest and best
institutions in cur State.
By the act of incorporation, fifteen of the
eighteen trustees Of the Home must be men,
bers of the Grand Army, but membership of
that Order is not requisite for admission to
the Home.
At the time Of its conception none but pen
stoned soldiers were admitted to the National
Homes. Not enc Of the twenty-six thousand
seamcn furnished by Massachusetts, during the
war could gain admission to a National Home,
for they are strictly what their name implies,
Soldiers Homes; and it was not only to pro-
vide for this class, but to secure home for
large number of sick and disabled soldiers who
could not then gain admission to the National
Homes because of their not being in receipt of
a pension, that the institution at Chelsea was
established.
QUARTERS.
The building occupied as the Home was
formerly the Highland Park Hotel. and was
built in 1878 at cost of $105, 600. This, with
the outbuildings, including a large barn, four
acres of land, and the entire furniture of the
house, was purchased for the Incredibly small
sum of $4,000. The main building IS Of wood,
three stories high on the front and four in the
rear, with piazzas fifteen feet wide, ON the first
and second stories, running completely around
| the building. There are ffty-fve sleeping
rooms ON the second and third stories, each
| furnished with a black walnut dressing case
and wardrobe, iron bedsteads, with hair mat
| tTasses and springs. and such other articles of
furniture as will add to the comfort of the oc-
/ cupants. On the main floor are the suite of
rooms occupied by the superintendent double
parlor or reception room, the Offices Of the
| superintendent and surgeon, and the hospital,
1 Il
the large dining rcom capable of accommoda-
| ting $50 persons; adjoining this is the cook
| room, with o range steam boilers, tea and
coffee kettles washing trays, and all the i'm
| proved machinery for providing for as many as
| the Home will accommodates a large wash
| room with tubs, wringers and steam driers is
| also on this floor, while the boiler room, with
three boilers and two steam pumps furnish
the steam for cooking and heating, and the
| water for the bath rooms and closets. Next, on
the same floor, is the billiard TOom used also as
| library and smoking room this is the place
| most frequented by the men, some to while
away the time playing billiards, others at
dominoes or checkers, while nearly all live
| their army life oyer again by recitIng TO each
other their individual experiences with Sheri-
dan in the Valley OF the Shenandoah, Butler at
New Orleans Farragut at Mobile, Sherman
from Atlanta to the Sea, or Grant at the final
ending at Appomattox.
QUALIFICATIONS.
The method adopted by the trustees for ad-
mission TO the Home and to guard against the
imposition of the unworthy is that every ap-
plicant must either have served in Massachu-
sets regiment during the war of the rebellion
or be resident of the State; be must be recon-
mended by some one of the trustees, and the
application must receive the Endorsement of the
board Of aldermen of the city or selectmen of the
town. as well as the officers of the Post of the
Grand Army, if there be one. The applicant
is then examined by the surgeon and the com
nittee on applications, and il found to be in
need Of such a home, is admitted and cared foI
until such time as he is able to case for him
self; or if old and infrm, he can have all the
comforts of the Home so long as he conforms to
the simple rules which govern it. All who are
admitted are uniformed with the infantry
pants, blouse and cap, and are provided with
everything TO make them eomtOrtabie and
happy, even to the soldiers greatest luxury
pipe and tobacco. Each inmate has bed tC
himself and three good, wholesome meals each
day of the week. To each man is issued every
morning clean towel, and he is required tC
take a bath once week.
Very little labor is required Of the men, In
deed. Thus far most of those who have beer
admitted have either been old and inirm Of
sick and physically unable to work. At time:
since the opening of the Home it has been diff
. cult TO find among the inmates enough mer
TO perform the light and easy work required
of them to keep the various apartments and
grounds neat and tidy.
; The Home is open to visitors every day II
, the week except Sundays, and all who are in
terested or DESTROYS OF examining the Home
: converting with the men, or enjoying the beau
tiful scenery that surrounds it ara cordially
welcomed.
, There is very little danger of the Home be
coming dull or cherries TO those who occupy
it. Posts Of the Grand Army frequently visi
it. bringing with them musical and LITERARY
talent Artists from Boston and adjOinin;
cities have given evening entertainments Z
the men, while the children have several time
given pleasing aud enjoyable afternoon con
| certs Indeed, thus far the Willingness to con
tribute to the comfort and pleasure OF the mel
has been very general and it is pleasing 20 not
this fact, for it is one of the strongest indiea
tons that the services these men rendere'
their country in its hour of need are still re
membeTcd and cherished by a grateful people
How IT IS SUPPORTED.
a Thus far the Home has been rrincipall
supported By voluntary contributions Il
1881, through the efforts of the ladies' and man.
of the Grand Army Posts in the Department
), bazaar was held in Boston by which a fun
of $45 600 was raised for the Home In adj
tion to this quite number Of donations hav
; been made, the first OF which was a legac
from Miss Elizabeth p Seaver, amounting {
$1,000. Captain J. B. Thomas, president OF tn
Standard Sugar Refinery OF Boston, who Ia
been greatly interested in the success Of th
r Home, gave his check for $4,000. Hon. .
r Warren Merrill, of Cambridge, donated s., 00i
: while Mr.. William T. Draper. of -, give
. annually $100. Certainly no worthier objes
. can enlist the sympathy and beuevolence {
those who have the means to give than ou
4 Soldiers Home, and 10 those who are In scare
of medium through which they can contrib
. ute TO the comfort of those deserving and need
. ing assistance, we would respectfully call thei
a attention 70 the Home and the men who are
q it; they are now wholly dependent upon other
for care and protection. Surely such an inst
4 tuition, sheltering those whose suferings hav
y been long and severe because Of their patrioi
! ism and devotion to the old flag and the prir
ciples it represents deserve to be remembers
equally with the religious educational an
foreign mission societies, for it is the refug
the home of those whose courage and vale
preserved to US the great and inestimable bles
ings we are now so fully enjoying in fires
united and happy country. And now tia
these men who sacrificed and endured so niue
are in need, let it not be recorded in histor
that in their declining years they had to
:, supported by their former comrades in arm
q but let those who have the power and th
t. means to fulfill one of the many promises mad
|, during the war give as willingly and as lbel
d ally from their accumulated wealth as di
: these benefciaries give Of their health an
b strength to maintain the integrity OF our Coy