Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-31
THE AGED WOMEN'S HOME
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUrIDIHG
AED ITS INhr4TMs.
HOW One of WiimiBgton,s BHess
Deserving Benevolent Ensslfusfoass
is Administered.

One ~ the most interesting Of The beneyo-
lent institutions OF this city Is The Honp for
Aged Women at Giipln avenue and Hnrrl-
son street. II was incorporated january
50th, 1850, and was originally located on
Shipley street between Sixth and Seventh.
being an oflshot of the Society for the
Employment of the Poor. 1t was removed
to the present pleasant location about four
teen years ago. There Is one inmate now
atthe home who was taken before the instl-
tuition was removed from Shipley street.
The institution Is conducted entirely by
ladies, Mrs. Gregg Chandler being the
president. 1t has SO inmates, which il the
full number that can be Accommodated. The
institution has never been so full as II Is
now, and during the year Just closing
several applicatfonBhave had 10 be refused.
There are a number Of applicants for
vacancies as fast as they occur, From the
number of requests that have bean
before long time has elapsed an addition
will have to be made TO the building. In
that event, the addition would probably be
made to join the ediflce on the north, front
ing on Harrison street. No applications
are considered from outside OF New Castle
county. The management does not accept
any old women who are enfeebled from
disease, the Home being in no wise designed
as q hospital, but only as a last resort for
such women as have no near relativessto
support them and who are too feeble from
old age to take care OF themselves. The
result Is that the inmates are nearly all
hardy, though many are tottering under
the weight OF years.
The building is three-stories ia hight and
Is divided by corridor running the full
length of the building from north to south,
and one running of from 1t at right angles
to the east side Of the house. On the first
floor this last corridor runs clear across the
building from east to west, intersecting the
other In the centre of the building. On the
first floor are q reception and sitting ROOM
a parlor, q dinfng-room and several private
chambers. On the seeond'fioor there are two
rows of bedrooms. with a bath room and
closets, and the third floor Is similarly
divided. The floors of the corridors arc
neatly earpeted. There are no buildings
adjoining the home on either side so that o
cheerful light is received from all sides
There is a large, well-shaded yard attached
to the Home on the east and north, and the
institution has a thoroughly bright and airy
look, both inside and out. %
The rooms occupied by the inmates are
OF comfortable size and are provided with
one single bed, q rocking chair and wall
chair, a wash-stand and work table, ward
robe and the other necessities OF bedroom.
They are carpeted with rag carpets, or In q
number of cases with ingram. The
rooms at the corners of the build
ing are larger and are occupied by two
beds, being otherwise furnished In the same
as the others. ALI the inmates who
are not too feeble are expected to attend to
the ordinary cleaning and arranging Of
their own rooms, which they do In q way
that produces q most pleasing effect. Every
bed in the house is occupied.
A GAZETTE Il JOURNAL representative was
kindly shown over the building by the
matron, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Coward. The
visit brought to view an array OF inmates
ranging from 65 years Of age to 90.. Some
were large, some small; many were gray,
others with hair scarcely turned some with
smooth faces, others deeply
wrinkled; here one tall and slim, there an
other short and stout; some tolerably erect,
many bent far over; some very heavy and
some very light; portion had thick heads
of hair, while others wore broad bands OF
false hair to conceal their scanty locks. A
number of the ancient DANES were knitting
or sewing, while some were taking 1t easy,
on the verge VI nap. All
seemed to feel more or less interest in the
visitor, and seemed to enjoy the temporary
ripple which visit at that unusual hour
created. The folks were engaged in sweep
ing some OF the rooms, and performed their
work with housewifely air. +
The Oldest inmate is Aunt Hetty, who is
In her 91st year. She is hard OF hearing
and her voice has become a bass OF consider
able strength. Aunt Hetty does considerable
new white apron which she had just
finished showed that her needle had not
lost its cunning. The work would be a good
sample for some Of the younger patrons OF
needle work. Aunt Hetty has lost the sight
Of one eye, but the other remains good
enough to read and do her needle work.
She was born during the administration Of
Gen. Washington, but does not claim to
have been kissed by the general. She has
lived under every administration from
Washington to Cleveland and is almost as
old as the Republic. She bids fair to live
over the centennial of the founding OF the
government, and who knows but she may
be with us to celebrate the 400tn anniversary
of the discovery of the New World7 1t is a.
study to look at Aunt Hetty and think over
the vicissitudes through which this country
has passed since she was In her cradle. She
holds the ranking commission In this little
company Of inmates. 5isf
The fee required for entrance Into the
Home is 300, and $25 must be paid each
year by the relatives or friends of the In
mate. Some of them are assisted by rela-
tives or friends, and others by the churches
of which they are members. A number Of
them attend church on Sundays. There
are no services held at the Home. There
are regular hours for visiting, which IL
would be agreeable to the managers TO have
more strictly observed. Tho Home is open
for visitors every Thursday afternoon from
2 O'Clock till 5, but many people take 1t for
granted that 1t is open all day, coming IN
the morning as well as the afternoon. No
visitors are allowed on Sundays exceptin
cases where friends of the inmates cannot
make It suit to come on any other day.
There have been no deaths at the institu-
ton for nearly two years. Death usually
claims its victims in groups, and in 1883
three deaths occurred. There have been
but five In the last four years. In case OF
death, when the deceased has no one to
bear the funeral expenses the managers Of
the Home provide for the interment. There
are few inmates now In rather poor health
and one is blind. One of the ladies at the
Home philanthropically suggested to the
reporter that the city should be supplied
with similar institution for INDECENT old