Telegram-herald., 1890-09-21
NICHOLS MEMORIAL
A Charitable Enterprise or the
Battle Creek Ladies.
HEADED By MRS. HELEs CALDWELL
Ana S0bIy Helped ~ aoa- John slshsis
"A Place Provided Whsre the Ia
valid, Peer and NoahE Girls Saa
ftna Hems and shelter.

Special Correspondents % TELEeEAN-fiEsAtD
BArrLE CkEEK. sept 2o.-AeAriy
four years ago the beneyolently m
clined ladies' OF this city pat on foot a
charitable enterprise that this week
eliminated in the dedication OF me
and eommodious structure TO be knoNn
as the Nichols Memorial Home. This
home, together with the work con-
nected with lis founding, deserves wide
mention. both from its generous pro-
portions. and that il may serve as the
initiative 10 other towns who stand IN
need of a similar institution.
The winter of lSS6-e7 brought
It's proportion Of suffering TO
the Invalid poor of Battle Greek
probably no more than that IN other
places of It's size, but sufficient 10 stir
the hearts of its noble women. They
gave very successful charity oall--so
successful, in fact, that il was thought
best TO call for representatives from the
different churches and aid societies TO
effect an impartial division OF
the spoils. This work aroused
such an interest among the ladies, that
with the outlay of the funds thus pro-
cured; it was not abandoned, bat
broadened through the assistance OF
the charitably disposed. Ii was the
unanimous opinion, however, that the
funds could be made to go further and
do more good, if there could be some
place provided where the sick could be
properly cared for; that there were
those among the respectable middle
class who were absolutely home
less and without friends and who when
sick, could neither afford the care of
hired attendants nor be sent to the
county house. Especially was TINS true
of young girls and aged persons, and to
the former it was often source OF
much temptation. Finally this need
seemed so pressing that the ladies hired
a small house and installed therein a
matron, where those so peculiarly stu
ated as to require Its shelter might find
home and care. Then, as now, such an
institution had no authorized support,
but was kept afloat, one day at
q time, as Providence seemed 10
dispose its friends. No begging
or soliciting was done for il,
| though now and then society or c-at
would give it "benefit."
A year and half ago this opening
| of what was called the "Unon Home
was made, although it soon oveTran its
original borders into larger and better
| located house. The lady foremost and
and untiring in this good work, was
Mrs. Helen Caldwell, and during this
time the death of much loved young
married daughter, Fannie Caldwell
Abel, of Detroit, brought with its sor-
row still more tender sympathy for
| the sutferlngs Of others. In this
manner, Mrs. Caldwells father,
| the Hon. John Nichols,
of Vibrator Thresher fame, became
personally interested, and he deter
mined 10 devote generous sum TO the
building of fitting memorial to the
memory of his gentle granddaughter,
which should at the same time perman-
entity establish the work which had SO
thoroughly engrossed his daughter
| large-hearted sympathies. This dete-
mination was fully realized in the com
pletion and dedication of the NIchol';
| Memorial Home, gift to the citizens OF
Battle Creek so long as they choose 10
maintain 1t.
The Home. large three-storied and
! basemented brick building, is finely and
| centrally located, fronting on three
streets. at the intersection of Tompklns
with West Main and Van Buren, on a
/ beautiful, terraced rise of land. Ihg
| home contains, besides accommodation:
for It's regular family. a commodious
reception room, patients parlOr, dining
loom, kitchen. bath rooms, physician +:
office and apartments sufficient for IN
entertainment Of thirty patients. 1t l'
finished throughout IN Georgia pine pol
| shed hard wood floors; lighted by both
| gas and electricity, and heated by fur
/ mace and CRATES. The whole cost wa;
! $4,000. The rooms were furnished hy
the various church and AID societies
| lodges. etc, and all in the most ex
quisite taste. The reception, dining
| room and kitchen appointments were
/ donated by the various merchants OF
the town. The work being wholly un.
sectarlan, all laboTed as a unit to com
plete in detail this beautiful tribute OF
! parental love and sisterly charity.
The work will be. as heretofore
/ wholly sustained by voluntary cOutrI
buttons and wholly devoted 20 the care
of the SICK poor, although the homeless
who are ably 70 pay simply nomna
sum are admitted when accommoca
tions are sufficient, and gwen the bes
of care and attention. The home Wa
placed in the hands OF a board Of trus
tees. but board Of lady directors have
sole charge Of the management. o
whom Mrs. Caldwell s the worthy pres
ident. and Mrs. Flsgg, president OF the
". +. G. Of Michigan, the secretary
while two ladies from each Of th'
societies represented IN The work, svel
the number to twenty lady managers
CITIlENs' meetings..