The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
RICHNOND UU1NE SOCIETY
A History of tie Noble Insiitut'on From
its ORGANIZATION.

its Organization.
The beginning Of this noble charity
dates back 10 the year 1896, just sixty
three years after Richmond was founded
as a town.
At the door Of a charitable woman OF
the city, a homeless female child applied
for aid, which was giyea. Soon after,
assOciating with herself two others. these
three benevolent women laid the founda-
ton Of a charity which has indeed been
a blessing to this community for ninety
years
The first printed page setting forth the
aim and object OF the association Is IN
the form OF a blank book bearing date
1871. on the first three pages are printed
the "Rules and Regulations Of the Rich
mond Humane Society" The three blank
pages that follow more than suffice for
the names Of the members, fOrty-seven In
number. These names represented almost
every family OF any Importance in the
city.
The object of the society, IL was
stated, was for the general purposes OF
charity and benevOlence, for the relief ana
comfort OF distressed females and Tor
the maintenance and instruction or desti-
tute white female children Of the city
Of Richmond and suburbs The charter
General Assembly in 1911.
The resources Of the association were
so small and uncertain that we find sew
entoen ye.rs later it was only able TO
urov,ie for .hrteen children, and veal
or two after the number was reduced 10
eight.
About this time the managers held
"fair" for the purpose of repenishins Il
well-nigh exhausted treasury, hoping also
I'm this way 10 tring their work more
prominently before Tie public THIS was
the first fair ever held in Richmond, ana
was SO emiaently successful that Tor
several years at the approach OF winter
Il was the custom 10 work fox the or
phans Fair" which took place about
Christmas. the Common Council giving
the use Of the United states court-rOoms
ia the old City Hall, for this purpose
The association, at the death of Mr.
Edmund Walls. came into possession or
ample means TO erect the commodlous
building at the corner Of Leigh ana Sew
enth streets, which is Familiarity known
"a the citizens of Richmond As the 'Fe-
male Orphan Asylum" Mr.. Walls, cont
ing here from his native Ireland, poor
and friendless, left TO the city Of his adop-
tion an ASYLUM destined 20 shelter hun
drods of its destitute children, IN token
of his gratitude for the success that had
crowned his labor here.
The inmates Of the asylum were re-
moved from their cramped quarters on
the outskirts Of the city TO their new
home in 1913.
From this time the association gained
greatly I'm influence, and 1t was soon able
TO provide comfortably for fifty orphans.
Many persons, following Mr. Walls
example. left requests TO this charity, and
quite large endowment had been Sc
cured 70 the association at the begin
ming of the civil war. This was, with
the exception Of a few thousand dol
lara invested ir Virginia state bonds.
swept away. Then came dark days. and
the managers feared from month TO
month that the doors Of the asylum must
be closed.
few brave women struggled on. how
ever. and kept starvation from the home
though at times II was little more than
bread and water they could furnish the
inmates.
The first legacy OF any size left the
association after the war was by Mrs.
Sophia Caldwell Deane. Soon after 1t be
came one of the benefciares under the
will of Mr.. Edmund Walls FOR q cOnsid-
cradle amount. These leEacies. with one
or two for smaller sums, put the associa-
ton once more upon firm foundation,
and enabled il TO increase its usefulness
until .here were seNentN-tWO chliufen
cared for in the asylum. From this time
the interest derived from the endowment
suiiced to carry on the work without the
yearly collection Of money from the citi-
zens. which for some years had been the
chief means of support
The income derived from the endow-
ment, however. barely covered the cur
rent expenses, and extraordinary de-
mands would have obliged an inroad upon
the endowment had not few generous
persons from zine TO time come TO the
assistance Of the association with liberal
gifts. The financial troubles OF the past
two years have somewhat hampered the
work. but an ever watchful Providence
has again given an increase OF means.
The legacy of the late Mrs. Elizabeth
w Fry, OF New York, amounting to
$500, with enable the association to go
forward with renewed faith and hope.
The president of the association is Mrs
Frank O.. Kufiin.
LUCY c. TRENT,
Secretary.