The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-03-08
TerradeIphia, the Lost
Wreck OF a philanthropists Aim %
Help HObOes.


nUT in what used to be the swamp,
~ beyond the railroad, on East Car
roll street Trenton, n. j., one Of
the biggest and handsomest fac
tories stands four stories high
among surroundings of grimy coal
yards and the accumulated refuse OF
railroad junk. Throughout the day
the buzz Of its industry sounds in the
ears OF man who sits in little
shanty back Of one Of the coal yards
pouring over his ledger with but one
dominant thought that runs through
all his labor; how he may once more
come into possession of the big factory
that he built and owned and lost and
make it a home for the thousands Of its
former dodgers now scattered over the
length and breadth of the continent.
The man is Thomas NJ. Tcrradell, and
thc factory building with its surround
ings was formerly n community which
was to prove to the world the indus
trial worth Of the so-called worthless
and all but succeeded.
Fifteen years ago, Tcrradcll, then n
man Of -, was an engineer on the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad. He had already
seen life in many phases. As n school
bov in Trenton he had BACKED boots
md sold papers to pay for his books
and clothes. Thereafter he had been
an iron moldcr, n jockey circus man,
n minstrel and iack-of-alI-tradcs,
wandering from place TO place and
constantly thrown in with the floating
population Of trampdom. When he
went into the employ Of the railroad,
ms fireman first and then rs an en-.
ginccr hc found himself still in posi-
tion TO see much Of tramp life, and
certain fellowship which he had always
felt for the knights OF the high road.
developed into strong desire to be OF
some lasting benefit TO them. In his
years Of experience and association
with the tramp fraternity he came TO
the conclusion that the hobo, as q
class, was not II cumbcrcr Of the earth,
but an unfortunate misfit, who, under
the proper conditions. might be made
of use TO himself and the community.
How to establish the proper condi
fiOns was the problem which Tcrradcl'
set himself 10 solve. The tramps them
selves gave him little aid; their ideas
were vague beyond the firm conviction
that n permanent settlement for aged
md wOrnOut tramps, where beds and
food could be always found ready
would be n grand thing for all con
Ccrncd, This wasn't precisely Terra
dcl's idea. lie had no mind TO set up n
home for the idle What hc wanted To
do was TO make the tramp work and
feel satisfaction in his work Whic
he was siill celebrating on the matter
he himself was incapcitntcd for work
by one Of the accidents incident TO his
business. His locomotive plunged of
an cmhaulmcut one day. and when
they got the engineer ont from under
th" wrcckngc there wasn't much lrf.
of him that was in place aud unbrol,cn.
For months nc was IN bed. and after he
was able 10 hc up his health was so
shattered that II was impossible ro
him 70 return 10 his old occupation
and b" supported himself by odd Jobs.
Al this time the scheme for the re-.
d"mption OF the hobo was growing and
solidifFng in his mind. and 10 the idcn
of making something Of this life for
The tramp was added the hope Of pre-.
pairing him for the next, for Tcrradcl
had joined the church. and had
thrown himself into religion with the
fcrror characteristic Of the man in
whatever lac did. Though without reg
nlar employment he contriycd to ret
together a few dollars and. with tho
faith which aftcrward enabled him To
achieve such amazing results, set on.
TO build tramps' home. For a site
he selected "A bill Of swamp land near
the railroad and the canal. partIv ho.
cause u was along these thorouqsl,farcs
that his experience taught him the
tramp would travel; partly because Che
land vas 80 worthless that uobod,.
cared 10 claim the ownership Of II at
that time. To build some SORT az ,
shelter WAS tho next confederation
Lumber was beyond Icrradelrs means
lie waited for something to turn mn
II turned NJ iu the river In the Shane
Of n raft 81 ole telegraph poles which
had broker loose from It's mooriupa
and was floating down stream to tbo
great grief Of the owner, who cursed
his luck and wondered what be was
ever going 10 do with 1t. Great WAS his