Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-20
HOME OF THE DOOR OF HOPE
The Formal Opening of the
Building Tuesday.
MANY PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE
Exercises Consisting of Music
and Addresses.
The Efforts in Behalf of Fallen Women
Commended by the Rev. Merritt Hulburd,
S. T. d., and the Continuance of the Ex-
celIent WORK Urged.

Happier people cannot be found IN
Wilmington to-day than tine managers
of the Door of Hope, the new home of
which was formally opened Tuesday.
They have just cause for their Joy, and
Wilmingtonians generally feel that they
have done noble work in placing on a
solid foundation what has been their
dream for more than a year--a good,
comfortable dwelling place for women
who are willing to be saved from
eternal ruin and foul associates. The
new domicile is a home in every sense
of tho word, ana ia it is everything
that could be desired in the form Of
comfort and cheerful surroundings.
The roomy Thatcher mansion al
Sixteenth and Pine streets, which
overlooks the Brandywine and Della
ware, has been offered and accepted
FREQ of rent until March 25th, and
after that date the rental will be but
S25 per month. About week ago the
aCy managers decided to get things
,nto shape and make tho place useful
at soon as possible They appealed to
tie charitably inclined people Of the
city, and the result was that within
the week they had the place furnished
sufficiently for present needs, every
thing in the building, with the ex-
ception Of eight iron bedsteads being
donated, and on Tuesday provisions
enough were sent to make splendid
start.
1t was necessary, of course, to make
some minor repairs about the building,
but they were made GRATIS by gentle.
men who are in sympathy with the
work, and now the building is in first
class condition.
Tuesday was the day fixed for the
formal opening, and, notwithstanding
the extremely cold and disagreeable
weather at least 800 persons visited the
home. 1t was thrown open in the
morning and quite number called
before noon and took the opportunity
to look about.
The opening exercises, however, took
place in the afternoon, commencing at
2 o'clock. Addresses were made by
the Rev, Merritt Hulburd, S. L. D.,
and Miss Roach, the matron, who
came from the Door of Hope at Tap
pan, N. Y, and was recommended by
Mrs Whittemore, the great New York
worker DIR. Hulburd spoke about half
an hour, and in the course of his re-
marks he reviewed the excellent work
being done by the ladies' for fallen
women and predicted the greatest sue
cess in this city. He complimented
them on the progress they have made
and encouraged them to continue as
they have started out The address
was appropriate and inspired his
hearers with the Importance of the
undertaking and the responsibility
which the ladies' have assumed. He
predicted that they would have no
trouble to obtain assistance from good
people OF Wilmington.
Matron Roach, in her address, made
very favorable impressions. She is a
woman who has consecrated herself to
the work of God, and she comes here
without any expense to the managers
of the institution. She will accept no
pay, and the ladies are highly pleased
with her.
The programme was as follows: Solo
by Miss Virgie Conner; Scriptural
reading by Mrs Laura Heston, presi-
dent Of the society; prayer by DIR.
Hulburd; solo by Miss Corbely; ad-
dress by DIR. IIulburd; solo, "The
Door of Hope" written especially for
the opening Of the first Door of Hope
in New York City,, by Mrs. L. Allen
Hilles; address by Matron Roach; solo,
"If ! Were Voice" (by request), by
Mrs. Il. Allen Hillcs. At the conclusion
of the exercises, which were held in
the large double parlors, the guests
we're requested by DIR. Hulburd to
register and look through the building.
The invitation was accepted, and every
portion of the new home was thoroughly
inspected.
Bctween 200 and 300 persons attended
the exercises, and nearly all took adj
vantage of the opportunity to examine
the new home. The comments were
not only favorable, but everybody was
agreeably surprised to know what had
been accomplished by the society in
such short time.
Many who attended the opening exer-
cises were not cognizant of the real
object Of the society and did not have
any. idea what progress was being
made, and they heartily congratulated
the ladies' on their undertaking.
A reporter OF The Gazette was
shown through the building by Mrs.
Gambrill. There are II rooms in the
big mansion, and each one is quite
large. On the first floor are the double
parlorH, office for the advisory board
and managers, kitchen and dining
room. On the second floor are rooms
for the first and second matron, four
furnished and two unfurnished dormi-
tories, and on the third floor are four
unfurnished dormitories.
The kitchen, dining room and seep.
ing apartments arc complete in every
particular A great deal of china,
crockery, glass and silverware has been
donated aud was delivered before the
opening of the building. In addition
to these articles, clocks, stoves, furni-
,ture, carpets. oil cloths, an organ, pic
lures and beds were sent to the home
by charitable persons.
The ladies feel extremely grateful to
the donors for the articles contributed,
and they give the assurance that every
thing which has been given will be
made use of. There arc yet several
rooms to furnish and contributions are
still desired. Charitable people are also
requested to assist in keeping up the
supply Of edIbles, and money at any
time will be quite acceptable.
The home starts out with one matron,
Miss Roach, and one inmate, but in
week or so another matrOn will be ap-
pointed. II is expected, also, that
there will be several more inmates
soon. The object of the home is to
teach the women to earn livelihood.
They will be taught housework and
sewing at first.