The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-27

good work they were the friends Doth
of the men who wore the Gray and the
Union soldiers. Their work received the
commentator of all and 50 it was af-
ter the training that the members of
the order had received in these trying
times that they were especially capa-
Bile of conducting hospital work The
little hospital was a success and If 1t
were not for the fact that the city of
Worcester realizing the duty that de-
volved upon 1t and established the
City Hospital they undoubtedly would
be still engaged in that important
work. With the establishment of the
city institution the hospital work of
the sisters was done away with.
The city was rapidly growing and
the number of Catholics in the city in
creasing and plans were made by Fir.
Power for the erection of st. Paul's
Church on Chatham Street. This led to
a division of the city into parishes and
when the new church began to be used
as a house of worship FIR Power Sc
cured the house at 46 High Street and
it was opened as a convent AT that
time there were seven members of the
order in the city, their work having
been such as to demand the increase
from the original number of four.
about work on the original lines laid
out. The hospital having been given
up and no longer in demand they early
established a school for the instruction
of the children of the city. The original
schoolhouse standing on High Street
adjoining the convent and on the
ground which at present marks the
residence of FIR. Power.
Three children were however left or
III, khafy rad
upon the sisters This was the begin
ming of the establishment of the asylum
at present conducted by the sisters.
At first two small rooms in the rear
of the building occupied by the sisters
was fitted up for the reception Of the
little ones. The demands soon in
creased and a brick building standing
in the rear was hired by FIR. Power and
the asylum rapidly filled up This first
addition to the work was in 1876, and
a few years later about so homeless
little ones were being cared for, edu-
Gated and, when attaining the age of
II, were placed in good homes, a num-
Der being adopted. The day school was
given up, the demands being too great
for the little band of sisters and the
school work was confined to the or
phans under their charge.
lie udy SCHOOl has HGNtI OGGu It-
sumed although every year a number
of applications are received to be al
lowed to attend the private school con-
Quoted by the sisters. Six years after
the opening of the asylum the building
occupied by the orphans was partially
destroyed by fire and for several
months the work was carried on with
great difficulty. FIR. Power, however, at
once set about the construction of a
h.,fI r,.n1 nc.
as completed and the condition of the
institution was greatly improved. They
found their new home a modern build
ing with all improvements and facili-
ties for carrying on the work. Special
was given in the construc-
ton of the building to sanitary i'm
and, although there has
been for some time nearly 100 little
ones within its walls, the institution
has been remarkably free from con-
tagious diseases.
During the past year the new asylum
has been found to be in too crowded
a condition, although accommodation
was provided for 80 the demand has
been such that for some time the num-
Der in the institution has been 100 or
more. The original building, which
was destroyed by fire, had been rebuilt
and was occupied as a tenement house,
dition had to be relieved, the building
was secured and added to the institu-
ton. Several changes were made in the
old building and now every inch of
space is taken up and in use. Early in
the present year it was apparent that
the institution had outgrown the
original building and also the addi-
ton.
One of the most serious faults of the
10 oh 81 10
institution being in a crowded section
of the city and nearly every available
inch of ground having been taken up
by the building, the children had only
a yard 20 feet wide by so feet long.
This was the only place in which the
little ones could secure outdoor ex-
ercise.
The situation was taken under con-
sideration by Ri. Rev. Bishop Beaver
Of Springfield and steps were taken to
secure a summer home for the in
mates of the asylum.
A farm formerly owned by the Kent
estate at Lakeside in Leicester was
bought by the Sisters of Mercy and in
the development of this new property
a new field opened up for the order
which will be a great benefit to them
and the city. Most of the children re-
ceived by them and cared for would
become public charges, and even at
present, when their institution has
been in a crowded state, they have
been obliged to refuse admission, and
the children refused have become state
charges. With the Leicester property
the work of the institution will be
benefited in more ways than one. The
most important, however, is the bene-
fit that the children will receive in the
summer season. 1t has been difficult
to care for the little ones during the
hot summers and especially so when
deprived of a playground The only
that has been given the