Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-23
OLD PEOPLES HOME.
MRS. CHARLES CROKER LAYS THE
CORNER STONE.
terday-History of the Noble
Institution.

The San Francisco Bulletin OF last even
ing contained an account of the ceremony
of laying the cornerstone of the Old Peo-
Piles Home in that city yesterday, at the
corner of Bush and Pierce streets. The
new structure and the ground upon which
it is to be erected, are the gift of Mrs. Chas.
Croker, lady whom Sacramento is proud
has home here, where she frequently re-
sides, as well as at her residence in San
Francisco. Mrs. Crocker's generous heart
and open hand are well known in this city,
where she is honored and respected by all
The exercises yesterday were presided
over by Rev. o. G. Miller, and opened with
prayer and music by choir led by s. d.
Mayer.
Charles F. Hanlon made the opening ad
dress in behalf of the Trustees, in the
course of which he said: As the spirit of
one of the California pioneers hovers over
the charity fund in our Mayors hands,
the spirit of another over the Park build
ings for our innocent children, the spirit of
another over our classic College of Law, the
spirit of another over the astronomical
monument Gaping Mount Hamilton in the
clouds, and the spirit of still another over
the spires of Palo Altos temple of univer-
sal learning, so be meath the sunlight of
this glorious day, lowering around us on
this cornerstone of enduring philanthropy,
feel, hear, / see the spirit of that cham
pion of Charity's cause.-The spirit of that
powerful pioneer. our departed fellow -citi-
zen, Charles Crocker.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. DIR. Bar
rows, followed by Rev. DR.. J. A. Benton.
He spoke at length on the generosity of the
giyer, Mrs. Charles Croker. The laying of
the corner. stone Immediately followed. In
the box beneath the stone were placed
the photographs of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Croker and family, coins of 1888 and 1889,
an edition of the Bible, a programme of
the exercises of the laying of the
corner. stone, a copy of the minutes of
the last meeting of the Board of Trustees
of the Old Peoples Home, which was held
May 4th, and an authenticated copy of a
description of the organization of the Old
Peoples Home. There were, also, two
trowels, one of which was presented to
Mrs. Charles Croker, and bore the follow.
ing inscription:
Presented with grateful heart to Mrs. Charles
Croker by the Board of Iady Managers of the
Old Peoples Home, to be used in laying the
given by her. MRS. CHAS. NELSON.
San Francisco, August q. 1889.
There was another trowel, presented by
Page Brown, the architect, on which was
similar inscription. Both were of silver,
with ivory handles. One trowel was used
by Mrs. Croker and the other by her
young granddaughter, Mrs. Alexander.
The stone was laid in the usual manner.
The choir then rendered the hymn of
Rock of Ages" after which followed the
benediction and prayer of Rev. o. C. Mil
Ter, which concluded the exercises of the
day.
The cost of the building will be about
$4,000, exclusive of the land. The land
was given by Mrs. Croker and the build
ing, which is being constructed for her,
will when completed, be turned over to the
Trustees of the Home.
The sketch of the institution, referred to
above, Is as follows:
AT this great event, after fourteen years
in the history of the "Old Peoples Home"
the laying of the corner store of this mag
nifcent building for old men and women,
it may not be out of place to give synopsis
of the origin and development of said in
stitution, which, until recently. has not
been brought before the general.going
public, although its charity has been
broadly and widely felt by the poor old
creatures who have found shelter in it,
irrespective of their creed, nationality or
sex.
The Old Peoples Home is now located in
this city of San Francisco, State of Cali
fornia, on Francisco street, between Stock
ton and Powell, where its good work has
been carried on during the last ten years,
and there are many old people who, while
young and during the pioneer days of this
great State by their influence and activity
laid the foundation for great State and
founded comforts for generations to come,
but, like many good mariner before
reaching the haven of rest and security,
have been swept off the decks of their well.
guided ships into the expanse of a vast
tlssing ocean.
1t was for the care and comfort of such
that a few ladies met and organized them
selves into society in the year 1874, at the
residence of Mrs. Charles Nelson, at 80
Laurel Place, Rincon Hill, in the aforesaid
city. At this meeting, most of the ladies,
although full of benevoieuce, were with
out much means, and being many of them
of Scandinavian origin, they, in limited
way, started home for old ladies only,
under the name of the scandinavian La
dies Benevolent and Relief Society,"" For
several years, by their own contributions
and by personally conducting public en-
tertainments at Platts Hall and elsewhere,
the society succeeded in continuing doing
a considerable amount of charity.
In the fifth year Tin 1879 the finances
were at very low ebb, and meetings were
held at which it was discussed to give up
for lack of funds, and then, when matters
had assumed the darkest appearance, Mrs.
Nelson conceived the solid plan to make
the institution permanent, and immedi-
ately obtained from the State charter of
incorporation, with the right to use the
present name, "Old Peoples Home" and
applied to said city for the old city build
ings, or rather shells, the site of the present
Home, which was then without windows
or doors; these attracted Mrs. Nelson
keen eye as good place for Home, but
securing it was task OF difficulty. On the
very day when the final meeting to dis
solve was to be held at the Home, then on
Shipley street, with only four occupants,
Mrs. Nelson donned her hat and shawl.
and with unfinching faith and assurance
in the great and benevolent Giver, whose
bounty never fails, visited several of the
Supervisors and the Mayor of our city, and
laid her plan before them, to wit The
city to sell them the old shanty for nomi.
nal consideration, and give them the lease
of the lot for number of years.
The task seemed herculean and was criti-
cised as ridiculous, and would probably
have failed had it not been for the able
presentation of the case by the society's at.
| torney, Charles F. Hanlon, who, in public
meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the
city and county, eloquently plead for
charity's sake, and showed them how they
could discharge the watchmsn who re.
ceived 500 per month for watching the
old buildings, and promised that, with the
aid OF similar societies, almshouses in San
Francisco would become a thing of the
past.
A great many objections were raised in
the Board about giving the lease and do
mating the old building of policy
| points of law, were raised against it. The
attorneys loud cry continued, and the
efforts of Mrs. Nelson were redoubled
\ finally one of the Supervisors, Hon. A. w
Scott, at present himself director of tine
| society, re echoed among his fellows tina
| cry which oyercame their fears of public
| opinion, and caused them to pass to fina
| print the resolution founding the Home 81
| its present site on Francisco street. After
having obtained the building and ,hi.
lease, the next struggle was to get tht
necessary means wherewith to make III,