The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-25
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% @ O. 's''s 'y CORA A. WELLS.
HOME FOR AGED MEN OF PRovI-

HOME FOR AGED MEN OF PROyI-
DENcE.
An asylum, ordained by benevolent
In loyal observance OF mercy's COM
mands:
A very Bethesda. where angels will
come
And bring for the aged the comforts Of
home.
A harbor, where, after the tempests of
life:
The storm tossed may anchor, escaped
from all strife"
From history and annual report OF
this splendid institution we learn that
in the early part OF the year 1874 the
late Mrs. Mary A. Holden made a gem
erous offer of $1,000 toward founding
this home. A public meeting in the in
terest OF the project was held in the
Memorial chapel OF the Beneficent Con-
gregational church, and the enterprise
was inaugurated. At a second meet
ing held on the 9th OF July following a
constitution and bylaws were adopted.
officers and board OF managers were
pleted. AT the January session or the
General Assembly for 1875 charter OF
Incorporation was secured. on the 2lst
of November, 1874, a house at No. "a
Point street, capable of accommodating
twelve inmates, which had been fitted
up and furnished through the free VIII
offerings of friends, was opened In the
presence of a large assembly. Dona-
tiOns and bequests Were received ana
ladies collected i'm the several wards OF
the city and in the principal Protest.
ant churches.
In 1882 Mr.. Henry j. Steere presented
to the home the beautiful housl and lot
on the corner OF Chestnut and clifford
street; 1t was dedicated with appropri-
ate services on the 10th day OF August.
1855. The munificent endowment OF
sl50,0O0 was left to the home by Mr..
Steere. a part OF which was to be ex-
pended i'm the erection of a building
for the future use of the home. After
"a careful examination Of sites the pres
enc location was chosen. IL fronts on
Broad street 200 feet. and is bounded
on the north, west and south by Laura.
Niagara and Mitchell streets, having
an area of $4,000 square feet. or nearly
two acres. After three years OF labor
the present commodlous and elegant
structure was completed. Ii is said to
be unsurpassed by any builo4ng Of it's
kind known. IL has accommodations
for fifty inmates. These are required 10
be men who have lived Industrious and
upright lives. are So years of age and
upwards. have no incurable disease or
trouble requiring special medical treat
ment. have resided i'm Providence at
least ten years next preceding their ap-
plication for admission and for whom
the sum of $500 has been paid. Tho
building has most excellent appoint
ments and a home-lil<e atmosphere per-
vades 1t. A large library supplies men
tai food for those who enjoy reading.
and the standard magazines. daily pa
pers, etc, are regular visitors. The
sleeping apartments are very pleasant,
with the most approved modern meth
DDS for heating and ventilating. Every
old gentleman has articles he specially
values in his room, these helping TO
make him feel he is really at home. Be
sides the several spacious piazzas, a
goodly sized tent is erected on one OF
the side lawns. where the old gentlemen
sit in grateful shade and enjoy the
beautiful summer days. A large vege-
table and flower garden are located
back of the house and are just now i'm
the height of their beauty. The flowers
cultivated are fthe variey that bloom
most profusely and they are a source
of much pleasure to the old gentlemen.
A large proportion Of the old gentlemen
have reached the age OF four-score
years and the oldest has attained 81
years: he enjoys life very much, ram
bling about the grounds and even TAX
ing long walks. His is a very sociable
nature. and his practical views of life
are very helpful 10 those privileged to
converse with him. Various light occu-
pations are enjoyed by some OF the old
gentlemen. One of them has worked
patiently during seven years upon a
knitting machine that he has recently
perfected. 1t has been approved by ex-
perts and is superior in several particu-
lars to anything i'm use today. Patents
have been applied for and II Is expect
ed IL will soon be in general use in knit
ting factories. The gentleman who i'm
vented this machine was formerly n
performer I'm the American band and
still enjoys his playing. The figure of
boy. dressed in fantastic costume. is
arranged on box. and by action OF
triangle i'm the box keeps excellent time
10 the music when manipulated by
pressure of the musicians foot as he
plays. Another mechanical genius has
arranged several musical devices in his
room which are very interesting. Vari-
Gus other occupations are engaged i'm.
each man having perfect freedom to
carry out his plans for recreation or oc-
cupation so long as NJ be consistent
with health. Groups Of the old gentle
men may frequently be seen enjoying
such games as checkers and domnoas.
ON the birthday Of every inmate ice
cream Is bountifuly supplied by the l..
n. Tillinghast company. Pleasing en-
tertainments are given from tine II
time by local talent, trolley car rides
are enjoyed and excursions 20 the shore
resorts i'm the summer. The Calvary
Baptist and ST. Paul's Sunday schools
invited the old gentlemen on their an
nual excursions this summer. These
were mich enjoyed by tile old gentle
men.
our city and state is very fortunate
i'm the number Of places where depend
ent people are cared for and in none
more than I'm this Home for Aged
Men" All of the many organizations
are ministered unto bv professed Chris
tians. and to n very large extent these
are Christian wome,.
In connection with this home tribute
should be given the late Mrs. Janus G.
Bucklin. to whom more than to any
other the Home for Aged Men is in
debted for it's origin and early prosper-
ity. IL is certainly n delightful place
for the AGED to enjoy their declining
n