St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-13

- ~ ton HAS luIuCu
NM ~ many close corners
3 - Ss sssi; S'. .'5 # $%1
W ~ THEPY\TEY but it stands to-.
M NInnnI> VA day on firm basis,
NNN" attained by the in
M w defatIgable efforts
w. - of the great-heart
ed women who have managed It and the
generous men who have upheld them III
every financial stress.
May II. 1868. few ladies' met at the
residence OF Mrs. Charles NJ. Oaks TO
discuss the best method of caring fer
Protestant orphans, and Sept. IS, 1866,
The association became a regularly IL
corporated body. The first man.
ayers were Mrs. John Nichols,
Mrs. William Banning, Mrs. j. IL.
Stewart, Mrs. w. W. Singleton, Mrs +.
F. Drake. Mrs. Horace Thompson, Mrs.
Charles NJ. Oaks and Mrs. Z. Il. HOllins-
head. The first home of the asylum
was purchased in this same month, be-
ing the property known TO old residents
of st. Paul as the Franklin
house." an Old-Time Wayside inn,
Iacated at the corner of Marshall and
Western avenues, on what was at that
time the old st. Anthony road. This
property was bought for s.. 100, of
which they paid one-half cash, giving a
mortgage for the remainder. Mrs. Lay
cry was the first matrOn. beginning her
IabOrs with four children, who were at
once admitted. A large fair, at which
there was no rafhing, held in the follow
Ing December. Melted the ladies $1,000,
a larger sum, it will be noticed. than
the women are often able to realize
now. when the city is about five times
as large as it was then. With this
money they paid up the mortgage on
their home and met the current eX-
penseS of the year.
A second fair was held in February,
1867. at which the voting of a tureen
and ladle to the most popular dry goods
man created much excitement and net
ted 500. Fairs were held in December,
1869. and in 1870 and 1871. the funds
accruing being the only support of the
home. In July, 1872, the eXpediency of
purchasing the Cullen farm was eonSid-
cred. This was on the Fort Smelling
road, about two miles from the city.
The property comprised thirty-siX
acres of land, commOdiOus stone
dwelling house, and stone barn with
basement. The family had outgrOwn
the first home-Some change was neceS-
sary-and it was decided to buy this
property for $4,000. to he paid, one
third cash at the time of purchase, the
balance in three equal payments in
one, two and three years, interest at
5 per cent. The money for the
first payment was solicited. and in De-
IOber, 1872, the family of sixteen chill
dren, matrOn and servants moved into
the second home. Then began a season
of living by faith and entertainments.
The fair of 1871 not proving as success
full as was desirable, the Inference was
that the public was tired Of fairs, and
something else must be tried. Mrs.
Hancock managed a dramatic entertain
ment, which was very successful,
The Minnesota Boat Club
gave another. several were given at
private houses and the managers gave
a calaco ball at the Metropolitan hotel.
In 1878 circulars were sent to each
householder. asking for subscriptions.
Pledges for 81, 800 were secured i'll this
way. In July, 1874. new circular was
sent out, and few gentlemen became
responsible for the immediate wants of
the household, and for the payment OF
interest on the mortgage note. In
December these gentlemen de-
vised a plan to paw off the in
debtedneSS by plating part or
the property and selling the lots. A
number of the farmers gave vegetables
each fall, thus securing the winters
supply through these hard years. In
February, 1876, enough lots had been
sold to pay off the Indebtedness to date,
and the minutes Of the February meet
ing express the great JOY of the mana
gers. In this same month, all other
plans proving unequal to the expenses.
a three days fair was held, dinner and
supper served each day, and closing
with a fancy dress ball. This Melted
g.. 200, and was considered so successful
- that it was repeated in February, 1877,
netting g. 400; again in 1873, netting
S2,270, and for the last time in 1879, net
ting S1,7OO. After this last fair COM
mittee of gentlemen agreed to solicit
pledges for annual subscriptions from
business men, that the ladies might be
thereafter spared the great labor attend
ing fairs and all other entertainments.
The asylum was supported Ill this way
for two years.
In 1882 it became clear to the mana
gers that they must have new build
ing,
The Old One Being Too Small.
too inconvenient, and the locality hav-
ing become very undesirable for the
purpose. With change in view, more
of the property was plated and sixty
four lots placed Oh sale.
In September, 1882, the lists of annual
subscribers were placed in the hands of
the managers. The names were ap-
pOrtiOned, each lady agreeing to add to
her list as needed, to secure 5000.
In March, 1885, the board purchased
the present site, 500 feet on Marshall
avenue by 1917 on st. Adams street,
for IS, 800. The money for the present
building, which was erected during the
summer following this purchase, and
taken possession OF on Oct. %, 1885.
came from a bequest by JuStuS Ramsey,
ESQ. from the sale of various lands
given to the asylum, and from the sale
OF the lots plated on the old property.
The first serious trouble in the home
came in October 1886; in the form of all
epidemic, when nineteen children were
attacked with scarlet fever. Three of
these died, and several others were left
so weak that they succumbed to SINH
lar epidemic of the measles in January
of 1887. LII june of this year the by
laws were amended so as to admit
children under two years until the city
Founding hospital was ready for Oc-
cupancy; but when the babies home
was opened in February of 1890, the
former rule of receiving none under
two years was again adopted. The
neat brick
Hospital Building,
facing on st. Adams street. was built
largely through the bPquest or Mrs.
Carrie Thompson, for fifteen years pres
ident of the asylum, before i'll health
made it necessary for her to giveup
active work and become an honorary
member of the board.
Of the earlier inmates, some staid for
many years. In 1888 the bylaw was
passed, limiting the agreement to keep
children to periods of three months,
unless full control is given, in which
case good home is found as soon as
possible.
During the first twenty years seventy
four children were placed in homes;
during the last five years eighty-ivs
have been SO placed, making a total of
159 Of these, some are indentured