Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-09-28
WORTHY OF HELP.
Pres. Stafford of Maine Relief
Corps Home Corporation,
Tells Of the Work Accomplished and
Needs Of the Institution.
Will Ask Legislature for SIC. 600 to Put Up
Main Building.

Skowhegan, Sept. 27.-(SpeciaD.-In
conversation, today, with George B.
Stafford of this place, who is president
of the Maine Relief Corps Home Cor
that may be of interest to the veterans
of the late war and others. as we'll
Mr.. Stafford had just returned from a
visit to the Home which is situated at
Camp Benson, on the west shore of
Lake Sebasticook. in the town of New
port. where he had been to inspect the
institution. Mr.. Stafford is an enthusi-
aStic supporter of the home which is
yet in it's infancy, having been incor-
porated only three years ago and thus
far supported only by charity. 1t was
with no reluctance whatever that Mr.
Stafford plunged into the subject of
what is proposed by the friends of the
home. Why he can talk on that sub
ject all day and every minute or two
give one some new idea regarding the
intentions of the corporation of which
he is the official head. Said he:
We have at present for real estate a
farm of 70 acres on which are a story
and half brick house, stable and =
barn. We want to enlarge the home at
once or within the next year and we
will ask the Legislature next winter tc
appropriate $4,000 for that purpose
We have seven inmates at the present
time and of course in a small house we
can not accommodate any more at pre-
sent. We have 65 applications for ad
mission on our books The home thu.
far has been supported by contribu-
tions from the Relief Corps and charity
1t is proposed to build main building
of suitable size and then in the future
as our needs require to build wing.
something after the ground plan of The
insane hospital at Augusta.
The home is for soldiers, veterans.
their wives and dependents who are
past labor. There are two men and five
women there now. 1t would do you gooG
TO see them. One old lady told me yes
terday that it was the first home sht
had known in many years. You see e.
the National Homes provided by tbs
general government the soldiers car
not take their wives with them but
Camp Benson we take both so that tn,
husband and wife shall not be sepa
rated. We have put in good deal q
work the past year in bringing tn;
home to the attention of the public
There is a young woman there wht
is almost helpless. the daughter of q
soldier. We took her in because of hel
devotion to her family and the faci
that her affection came upon her as +;
result of overWork in the attempt t.
care for her mother and sister. A singu-
lar thing about her case is that he
grandfather once owned the farm OF
which the home is and her girlhooo
days were passed there. BY a specia
act of the Legislature she receives STATE
aid in the sum of S. per month.
Those who come to us turn over t
the home the pension that they draw
from the general or State government
cut of which we allow them 81 per montl
pocket money. This is the rule in al
State homes. The farm was given th,
Maine Relief Corps Home Corporation
by the Camp Benson Veteran Associa.
ton and was originally purchased fo.
$500. Since the home was established
we have purchased what we call ths
annex a cost of $1,000.
Now Maine has expended the leasl
of money for soldiers, accord.
ing to the number of soldiers contri
buted to the war of any state in Tho
union. The State can support the vet
Grams cheaper in this kind of a home
than in any other way. When the
State recognizes this home the nationa
government will allow 500 year for