Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30
CARING FOR THE ORPHANS.
The Record OF One Of the Oldest Insti
tu.ionS in the City.

The Record OF One Of the Oldest Insti.
| tu.ionS in the City.
HOW THE WASHINGTON CITY ORPHAN ASYLUM
| CAME INTO ExIsTENCE-ITS EARLY SrRUG-
| Giles AND ITS BENEFACToRS
| AT the memorial exercises Of the late DR.. John
C.Hall, which was held last Tuesday at the W ash
ington City Orphan asylum, of which be was q
generous benefactor, Mr.. John c. Hardness,
| who Is one of the directors of the institution,
read the following interesting historical sketch
| of the institution, which he had prepared at the
| request of the ladies:
The sad results of the war Of 1919 were not con-
fined to the destruction of the public buildings,
but left to the care and sympathy Of the citi-
| zens a full share of the orphana2e resulting
largely therefrom. The proclamation Of peace
sent a thrill of Joy through every household,
and elected the warrnest sympathy for the
fatherless children brought to public notice.
Mrs. Gen. John P. Van Ness moved by the fre-
With Mrs. Rev obadiah brown. Of the First
lief Gould be assured for the help
As result Of this Interview, public meeting
was called through the press for 1.-THE ladies OF
| Washington and neighborhood to be held tn
| Der 10th, 1915, to consider the propriety Of in
shutting an asylum for the relief and mainte-
number of ladies responded to the call. After
prayer by Rev. DR.. Caldwell, Mrs. Hunter was
to act as seere st draft Of Constitution
| was presented to the meeting for consideration,
which after being amended, was adopted and
| Orphan Asylum" The following officers We're
elected, viz First directress, Mrs. James Madi-
Mrs. Josiah Caldwell; lady managers, Mrs
McGowan Mrs. Roger Wefghtman, Mrs. An
drew Ramsey, Mrs Chalmers, Mrs. Obadiah
Mrs DR.. breckenridge and Mrs. Dudley Diggs,
of "Green HILL"
THE FIRST BUILDING.
The institution being duly differed, a small
| frame house, fronting on 10th street west, near
pennsylvania avenue, was rented, and In this
unpretentious structure the first organized
effort on behalf Of destitute orphans, it is be-
iieved, was IN AIDE in the capital city, under the
presidency of Mrs. James Madison and her
sociates in office. The lady managers were for
many years dependent upon voluntary contri-
buttons and church collections to meet the ex-
penses of their growing family. More than once
tthey were incompetent to see the outcome: but
hoping still, they persevered with their Christ
tt6e scheme with persistence and courage
born OF an unquestioning faith in the Divine
promise: "L0' an. 1CiM you altCays."
ON the retirement OF Mr.. Madison to his Vir-
glnla nome. the resignation of Mrs. Madison as
Ifst directress to the great regret of her nuiner
ons friends. became necessary. Mrs. James
Monroe was elected to the position; but she
declined the prottered honor, and presen ted the
infant organization with a valuable COW and
fifty dollars! Mrs Monroe, having declined to
serve Mrs. John p. Van Ness was elected to fill
the vacancy, and, for fifteen years, met the
onerous duties pertaining to the office of first
directress with highly appreciated ability and
untassing zeal. Near the close of her admins
with great fatality. Mrs Van Ness, with a
courage and selt-denial worthy of the proudest
chapiet ever bestowed upon human merit re-
manned at her post OF duty. and sought, to the
utmost of her ability to alleviate the sufferings
OF the poor and needy, and TO staunch the
wounds of helpless orphanage. The task was
too much for her delicate frame-exhausted,
mind and heart, she, too, fell victim to the
piague-the battle was brief, and in September,
1857, she, toOell asleep in Jesus. Her Heavenly
Father released her from the tolls and sorrows
OF earth TO share in the endearing rewards of
Heaven.
MORE ROOM DEMANDED.
During the fifteen years of Mrs Van Ness i'd
mInistration the number of claimants upon
the beneiactions OF the institution had so in
creased as to demand more ample accomm oda
tions. To this end n much larger brick build
ing, fronting on 9TH street west, between H and
I streets north, was rented and to give sreater
efficiency to the institution Congress May "a
1923, Incorporated it, with VIM. Hawley John
I. Van Ness Nathan Towson, Obadiah Brown
ana James Larned trustees Closely following
this act OF incorporation. Congress donated to it
number of city lots, estimated by the commits
the gilt of Gen. John p. Van Ness and wife ofan
eligible lot fronting on H street north, between
9th and 10th streets west, on which to build u
permanent home for orphans. With these &p-
preciated gifts, supplemented by others Of less
amounts, the trustees were encouraged to build
under the direction of Architect Bulfinch q
convenient and substantial asylum building
the corner stone of which was, in the presence
Of a large number of citizens, laid by the Ma
sonic fraternity August IL, 1928. The SUPER
structure was erected in due time. and In the
summer of 1929 the Institution was Installed
agers-representing most of the churches of the
cfty-within this home, sheltered, fed clothed
and sctooted large number of orphans Not
only SO, but they bestowed upon their parent
less wards much of maternal sOlicitude for their
moral training and preparation to meet the
conflicts oil coming life
AFTER THE LATE WAR.
The vast addition to the population of the
capital city and District, following the conclu-
sion of the late civil war, added largely to the
number of helpless orphans, whose claims
could not be ignored, and, therefore, required
additional accommodations. While debating
the question:: How Can These Be Provided?
MI " IN. Gait made an offer for the II street
home, and Mr.. CorcOran, having long before en-
tertaned the idea that the future wants OF the
city would demand change in the location of
the home and greater Accommodations and
having disclosed purpose to favor the institu-
ton with the present site, the trustees, the
lady managers, concurTing with these encourag.
ing facts before them sold the building to Mr.
Gait for $4,000, posse ssion to be given April
l. 1867. WhereupOn the trustees rented one of
those large residences fronting on street north
near I'd street west, adjoining the then residence
OF Gen. Grant, from whom and his family the
orphan home received many kind and helpful
attentions. In this temporary home the lady
managers continued without abatement their
kind Offices TO their dependent wards until
May, 1876, q period of nine years. The deed
Tor the lots, constituting the present site of the
Westminster City asylum, having been exc
cnted by MIR. W. w: Corcoran, plans for the
home were prepared by John c. Hardness and
adopted By the lady managers and the board
OF trustees as well. Bids for the enclosing of
the building were received from several promi-
nent builders. The contract was awarded
James G Nay1Or, dated June, 1865 the amount
OF the contract being $24, 170. Under this
asreelnent the basement walls were completed
SO That the cornerstone was laid July 18th
1860, In the presence OF a great crowd of citi-
zens, with imposing Masonic ceremonies Ap-
prOprlate addresses were delivered by Hon
W III. Whiting. of the Masonic order. Hon Wm
Harlan, Secretary of the Interior; PRAYER by
the rev. Or. Gillette pastor of the First Bap-
tist church, and the benediction pronounced by
rev. r. ID Gurley, pastor OF the New York
Avenue Presbyterian church.
THE PRESENT BUILDING COMPLETED.
By the close of the season the building was
satisfactorily enclosed, and in the spring of
1866 the then Secretary of State, the late Hon.
william H. Seward, requested Its completion
for the accommodation of the State department.
which was cordially agreed to by the trustees
and during the summer and fall the work was
accomplished and the distinguished tenant mn.
III possession, and continued in the occumancy
until November LIST, 1875. The trustees haV-
ing been put In possession of the building lost
no Time, but at once proceeded to have the
same ntted up with the best of known reoui.
sites for n first-ciass orphan asylum so that the
institution was installed therein Nav 1876
Resuming the official history, Mrs. William HaW-
Icy succeeded Mrs. Van Ness as first directress
and continued to fill this position until 1S50