The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-03
BUILDING A HOME
FOR AGED WOMEN
A Noble Work of the Kings
Daughters.
nICIT tn TIE u0ME HERE
A VISIT TO THE HOME HERE
THE MONEY BEING RAISED FOR
A NEW HOME.
HOW Mr.. JOHN T, PULLEN HAS HELPED
Capt. Nick West Has Also Contributed Liber-
ally, While Band of Noble Women Have
Never Tired in Their Efforts. The
Home is Not Charity But Help.

ltViIlC 10 NOl ~HaIiJ S~s
The problem of how to give help to de-
serving, self-respecting old ladies without
the degrading influences attendant upon
actual charity is one that is truly diff
cult of solution. There is, however, right
here in Raleigh an institution that fulfills
the desired end in a most sensible and
practical way. The Old Ladies Home
is small in size, but large in its possibili-
ties. And it seems only necessary to
point to its beginning, history and time
ly usefulness, to secure for 1t the patron
age that would enlarge its scope of
benefits.
About six years ago Circle of Kings
Daughters. called the Neighborhood Cir
Gle, and presided over by Mrs. Fannie
Hays, decided that their special work
should be looking after the increased
comfort and helpfuness of old ladies
who were left alone in the world and UP
able to supply for themselves the COM
forts they were accustomed to, but at
the same time were not subjects for the
county poor house. The ladies composing
the Circle worked faithfully, and they
were rewarded for their efforts. Mr..
John Pullen, seeing the real benefit to be
wrought by an institution of this kind,
most generously offered to pay the rent
of any house the ladies might select as
suitable for the purpose. The offer was
accepted and the house secured. Thus
auspiciously the undertaking had its
beginning. Ever since that time Mr..
Pullen has continued to pay the entire
rent of whatever house has been occu-
pied as the Home.
The present Home is the neat, nine
room cottage next door to Rex Hospital.
There are eight old ladies now living
there, each one paying a certain nominal
sum toward her own support. thus re-
taining the self-respect, too often lost
in pauperizing charity.
Church services of all denominations
except Roman Catholic are held in ro-
fation, so that there should be no sem
blance of partially, and that the non-sec-
tarianism of the institution be strictly
adhered to.
The matron of The house is Mrs. Spell
man, charming old lady of one of Vir-
ginia's best families. She devotes her
self, heart and soul, to her work, and the
love her charges bear for her is ample
testimony of the success of her efforts.
When the house was first secured,
different little circles of Kings Daugh-
tiers each furnished a room, and in the
same way. by the kindness of various
citizens in sending contributions of fur
niture and other necesSaries, the entire
house was fitted up One circle of young
girls, with Mrs. Nora Atkinson as leader,
has undertaken the work of keeping the
parlor properly furnished. This fall they
have spent ninety dollars for this pur-
nose, having made the money at the
State Fair by means of refreshment
table.
Can't. Nick West is the owner of the
house. and a true friend to the old la
dies he has proved himself. A year or
two ago he supplied water pipes, bath
rooms, and all modern conyeniences
without any charge. The institution has
met with q great deal of kindness from
the Raleigh neople ever since its incep-
ton. Friday used to be the regular day
for receiving the various donations made
TO keep down the expenses, and much has
depended upon these voluntary grfts for
the sustaining of the work.
RIlt more room is needed. The house
is filled to it's utmost capacity, and very
many applications of worthy people must
be refused This is one of the sad
features of a work of this kind; that
for the want of al little more room some
lonely old ladies must be denied all the
comforts that could be theirs. St Luke $
Circle however is rising nightly to the
occasion. This obstacle will soon be sur
mounted, as have the others that have
heretofore stood in the way. A new
house is to be built, fitted and adapted
in every way to the needs of the Home,
and large enough to afford ample room
for any reasonable number of applicants.
Already about two thousand dollars have