The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-02
Record of the Old
Ladies' Home.
A GRAND SHOWING.
Total Receipts for the Year
Were $667o.2O.

The 18th anniversary of the Old Lad
les Home occurred yesterday, and it
was very fittingly observed by the trus-
tees and board of visitors. In the early
afternoon they met in the parlors that
had been prettily decorated with fes-
toons of white and purple bunting, as
was also the large dining hall. After
prayer had been offered. interesting re-
marks were made by Rev. j. e. Tuttle,
Rev. DR.. Daniel Merriman, Treasurer
William woodward and Secretary E. f.
Tolman.
1t was the first time since early De-
cember that all the inmates of the home
had been able to come to the dining hall
on account of the illness that has been
so prevalent there during the past few
months. 1t was q rare treat to them,
indeed, to meet all the members of the
board of visitors and trustees together.
This report was submitted by the Sec
rotary, Mrs. Francis A. Hill:
During the year five have passed
away; with one exception weeks and
months, and, in one case, years OF i'll
ness preceded the blessed release. Mrs.
Johnson was the last of those who en-
tered the first year, coming Feb. l, 1874,
and thus enjoying all the comfort and
security of this peaceful home for "a
years. Good Mrs. Deacon Whitney was
the next to so, and In the summer and
early autumn Miss Collier, Miss Cham
berlain and Miss Knight died. The last
although only recent conner, had al
ready endeared herself to the members
OF the home, through the same fine
traits of character which had made her
the faithful co-worker with Miss White
at the Orphans home for so many
years. When it is remembered that, in
in addition to these fatal illnesses
many others have been seriously, often
alarmingly, i'll, you can easily under
stand that it has frequently been neces-
sary to employ additional help; also
that, in obedience to the doctors or
ders, supplies of delicate preparations
OF food have been constantly used,
making our provision bills appear UNI
usually large.
Twelve meetings of the board have
been called; at two of them there was
not quorum The committee on ad-
mission has faithfully performed its
delicate and laborious task and five APP
plicants have been received to fill the
vacant rooms. We have now 20 in all.
In losing Mrs Martin Green and Mrs
F. r. Macullar from our board, we lose
one of our Oldest and one of our young
| est members.
| That the home is still an object of in
terest Is shown by the fact that 131
times, friends, both old and young, have
come with their gifts of fruit flowers
vegetables, ice cream, books, papers
and many another pleasure and COM
\ fort Seventeen entertainments have
been given; that means that more than
once every month some person or club
has had the desire and found the time
/ to give pleasure to these old ladies.
They have received money for rides,
and Thanksgiving and Christmas have
! been pleasant occasions through the
thoughtfnlness Of friends who work in
the spirit of Him whose birth was
hailed with Peace on earth, good will
to men," We have, moreover, been re-
membered by much needed requests of
money from Mrs. Damon, Miss Glenn
ents and William c. Clark.
We are still limited in our power to
increase the number OF inmates, and
therefore rejoice whenever money!
comes to us. 1t is a continual regret
that empty rooms are closed to women
whose needs are so pressing now es-
pecially as the general expenses of the
home would not be extremely increased
thereby The greater cost Of the table
and additional help in case of Illness
make the chief additional items of ex-
penditure. Services have been held
here Sunday afternoons, under the
charge of the Ministerial Union, the
deacons of the Old South Church and
other friends. Physicians have freely
given their services in response to
very frequent calls for their help. The
daily papers receive due attention, and
no one can keep the paper too long
from others. who are waiting for the
last piece of news.
| The home was opened Oct. /, 1873.
with Mrs. Hutchinson as matron and
10 old ladies'. During the 16 months be-
fore the first annual meeting was held,
| February, 1875, more were admitted,
but at the time oil the meeting only
10 were there. OF the trustees who then
took care Of the finances, not one is
still living; of the board of visitors
none are now members, and the great
] er number have Joined the great COM
pany whose work here is ended. The
home during these years has sheltered
! 65 women, and the quiet life, free from
anxiety, and the watchful care they
receive have prolonged the lives Of
many to a great age. Four have lived
to be respectively o. 95 Sc and 81, and
20 from so to &c. while the rest are
mostly between 70 and so.
| For % years the house on Orange
street offered its shelter and made the
name of Ichabod Washburn synony-
nous with comfort and happiness to
many weary women. In 1896, owing to
I the generosity of Albert Curtis and Of
! the heirs of r. 3. Knowles, acting In
accordance with his Well-known wishes.
this estate was given a beautiful and
convenient lot to replace the old spot.