Evening star., 1894-01-13
MISS KIBBEY'S GIFT
The Young Woman's Christian Home
in an Old Mansion
HELPING WORTHY YOUNG WOMEN.
The House Reconstructed and
Ready for Formal Opening.
HOUSE WARMING ARRANGED

February g. 1887. Congress. by a special
act, incorporated the board of trustees of
the Young Womans Christian Home, the
following well-known men and women being
named: Mary G. Wilkinson, Benjamin H.
Warder. Octavius Knight. Thomas P. Nor
gan. Eliza n. Blair, Emma E. Dorsey, Ma
thaniel Wilson. Francis H. Smith. A. j..
Falls, r. d. Mussey, E. d. Powell. Caroline
NJ. Lawrence. Francis E. Childs. II. A Hall.
Elphonzo Youngs. Addison NJ. Smith. BY
the act of Incorporation the object. purposes
and powers of the corporation were limited
to providing a temporary home for young
women coming to and being in the District
in want of. and willing to accept a tenn
porary home. care and assistance. Strug-
Cling for existence in comparative obscurity
for several years. with no endowment be-
yond the undivided devotion of its foun dress,
Mrs. Mary G. Wilkinson, now passed to
rest. the home depended alone upon the
charity of the benevolent. 1t prospered,
however. and next Tuesday afternoon the
good people of the District will have the
pleasure of attending the dedication of the
handsome building donated to the board Of
trustees by young woman of this city.
Miss Bessie Juliet Kibbey.
Miss Kibbey's Gift.
The building donated as the permanent
home of the institution has for years been
known as the old Kibbey mansion. being
situate at No. 311 c street northwest, hav-
ing been erected many years ago by the late
VIM B. Kibbey, by whom 1t was bequeathed
to his daughter. the young lady who in turn
gave 1t and the land on which 1t stands to
the Young Woman's Christian Home. AL
though donated some time earlier, the trus-
tees Of the home did not become possessed
of 1t until the first of July last. when the
work of converting the old-time mansion
into the modern building 1t now Is was COM
menced. The work of reconstruction was
sufficiently completed several weeks ago to
permit the removal of the home from 404
9th street northwest to its present location,
although the new home was only entirely
completed during the present week. To
complete the work of reconstruction, how
ever, required considerable time and the ex-
penditure of much money, but the trustees
and friends of the Institution have the graft
fication Of knowing that as 1t stands today
the home, while not so commodious as kin
dred institutions in other cities. Is unsur-
passed in point of convenience, comfort and
elegance. AS reconstructed to meet the re-
quirements of the institution the home con-
tains forty-two rooms. capable Of easily ac-
commodating fifty young women.
The Reconstruction.
The first floor of the old man. sion has been
little altered in the work of reconstruc-
ton, the great wide hall, large double par
lors. commodious dining room and pantry
retaining their characteristic proportions
of past days. The greater part of the re-
naming floors have been altered by dividing
their space up into the many bed rooms,
single and double. designed for the ac-
commodation OF the inmates Of the home
he hll ha
greatest good taste is observable, and the
one pervading characteristic Of the home
is a homelike, cheerful air and appearance.
Many of the rooms have been handsomely
among them rooms in memory of Helen
Gilman Gurley, Elizabeth Shellabarger
Nellie Moses. and Mary g. Wilkinson, the
beloved founder of the home. Others have
been furnished by Mrs. Richard Pairo, the
First Presbyterian Church, Miss Trescott,
the young ladies of Miss Ellis school and
the Pansy Circle, under the supervision of
Mrs. Andrew c. Bradley. The congress
sional reporters have furnished a room for
the use of a stenographer and typewriter,
and Mrs. Hoeke, one to be used as an in
firmary, thoroughly equipped for the needs
OF the sick, Mr.. W. s. Thompson having
provided it with complete medicine chest.
Other rooms, it is expected, will also be
furnished by friends of the home.
A well-selected library of $50 volumes has
been presented by the Young Ladies' Aux
iliary of the home, and Mr.. Edw. F. Droop
has given the nome a fine piano.
Caring for Worthy Ones.
The home is not a reformatory institution,
thus differing from the work of the wo-
mems Christian Association, with which in
stitution 1t is, through something of a simi-
larity in name. sometimes confounded. The
Young Woman's Christian Home receives
only young women of good moral character
Under the age of thirty-ive. No woman,
however, will ever be refused a nights
shelter, unless 1t should, through an abso-
lutte lack of room, be unable TO accommo-
date her-her continuance at the home
should she be not over thirty-live years uf
age. depending upon an investigation OF her
case by the home committee on reference
and employment. A worthy, penniless girl
the regulations Of the home permits TO re-
main ten days free of charge, and as much
longer as may be deemed advisable, but
those of the inmates able to do 50 will be
required 10 make a slight weekly return for
board and room. When out of employment
or while receiving but mere pittance, an
inmate will be excused from payment and
the trustees of the home Will endeavor to
secure such young woman employment.
One or more rooms will be retained for
transient visitors-that is, for those young
women, strangers here. who may prefer To
stop at such home rather than at hotel
or similar place.
Strictly non-sectarian, no question as to
any particular denominational religious be-
lief is raised in the case of any
young woman seeking admission. A respect
for religion Is encouraged. and brief religious
services will be held at the home every
Wednesday evening, conducted by one OF
the trustees of the home or by an invited
leader, and an attendance at these services
will be urged, although not compelled. Sum
days the young women will be asked to at
tend, at least once, whatever church they
may individually prefer, although in this
matter there Will be no cOmpulsion. The
purpose of the home is to shelter worthy
young women, and to otherwise assist and
encourage them in lighting the battle of
life.
Inc home has no endowment fund. While
il received from Congress S1,OU0 yearly for
four years, it has received no congressional
appropriation since 1oD2. The reconstruc-
ton of the Kibbey mansion required the ex-
penditure of a large sum, and the trustees
are now endeavoring to secure funds to pay
for the work and for the maintenance OF
the home. Next Tuesday, from to 10 p.
m, house-warming and tea will be given
at the home, when the new home Will be
thrown open to public inspection for the
first time.
The officers of the home are: President
Mrs. W. b. Gurley, vice presidents Thos.
T. Morgan, Miss 5. A. Lipscomb and Mrs
ID. w. Brown; recording and corresponding
secretary, Mrs. W. II. Hoeke; treasurer
Mrs. ". w. Heron; treasurer of building
fund, Chas. 5. Bradley; superintendent, Mrs.
{. b. March.