The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-03

likewise honored. Another beneficiary
OF the society, Robert L. Tillinghast, |
removed to South Carolina, became |
ieaulns cltzen and state senator, dying |
in 1859.
1t was not until 1877 that the society |
became located in permanent quarters |
Oh It's own. The first movement to-
ward securing a home was made in |
i's4, when Vice President Stephens in
troduced a resolution calling for an
appropriation at the next quarterly
meeting for erecting a building on lot
NO: 2, Percival ward, Holland tything,
winch had been granted to the society
by the board of wardens on Nov. 6,
1877, at a ground rent of five shillings a
year. The matter was carried over,
Vice President Stephens and Messrs
Lewden, Sheuber, Bolton and Eppinger
being appointed to propose a plan for
building not to cost over 400 pounds,
that would produce the society the
greatest income possible. The project
was finally laid on the table and no
further references are found except
in the matter of payments of ground
rent on the lot. On April 30 1870 a
block of five lots, 300 feet by 80 feet,
on South Broad street, from Drayton
to Bull, were granted by the city to
the Chatham Academy and Union So
ciety as a site for a building to be
erected by them, in return the right
| to piece of land on the south com
| mon granted for a similar purpose on
June Is, 1903, being relinquished On
| June 5. 1872, a lease for fifty years was
| granted on five additional lots, includ-
ing the lane, in the rear of the original
grant, for extending the limits of the
| academy grounds, and on March o.
l orixy 20
| the north boundary 25 feet. Other
| valuable grants We're made by the city
( to the society a half century later.
On the original grant of land an
| academy building was erected by the
two bodies. The Union Society was I'M
able to pay its full share of the cost
and therefore disposed of part of its
interest to the Chatham Academy for
1888. reserving for itself only the
western or Bull street wing.
This portion of the building
was evidently not entirely COM
( pleted until 1916, in which year a
contract was made for lay
ing the lower floor, and for 9TH
| err carpentering work. The society had
not met with much success in renting
the completed portion, and its revenue
from the building was unsatisfactory.
Finally, when the contract was made
in 1917 with Carr for the instruction,
boarding and lodging of the boys ar
| engagements were made to lease him
the whole of that part of the acad-
envy belonging to the society, reserving
one room for the use of the members,
for $500 per annum' The Chatham
Academy building accordingly became
| the first permanent home of the So
ciety, and here it remained for some
years. On May 5, 1S1S President John
| Hunter, under direction of the man
ayers, procured a marble slab. had a
suitable inscription placed upon it, CIV
ing the time when the society was
founded and its object, and placed it
on the outside of the building, imme-.
diately over the door. On May II, 1919,
the home, for such it might now be
denominated, was inspected by Presi-
| dent Monroe. On this occasion the
| president of the institution delivered
! the following address:
| Sir: The high honor of receiving
| the Chief Magistrate of our country
| has seldom fallen to our lot, and it is
with no common feelings of gratitude
| and joy that we welcome you among
us.
1.-THE sweetest recolIections of many
now before you, are those which were
produced when he, who was justly
styled The Father of His Country
visited his people, and you, sir, NOV
ing in the footsteps of that great man,
are securing the affections of a COM
munity, of which the children we this
day present to you, form most inter-
esting part.
Religion, peace and learning -four
ish under your auspices-may they
long continue the bright characterize
les of that government, so wisely adj
ministered by your Exceilency.'
President Monroe made an appropri-
ate reply, which has not been pre-
served.
The minutes of the society from 1920
I to 1928 have been lost. In 1920 the boys
were still under Cars charge. In 1928
they are found receiving their instruc-
ton at the Savannah Free School,
which was also doing a good work
! among poor children remaining with
| their parents. At this time the boys
were under the immediate charge of
Mrs. Cooper" who devoted her at
tention to them with the same kindness
and acceptableness as before" The
society had evidently met with Sc
rious reverses financially. The
epidemic and great fire of
1920 impoverishing many Savannah
| ians, had doubtless diminished its as
sets and reduced its revenues consider
ably, so that the number of its benefi
Charles had to be lessened but six be-
ing provided for in 1928. The ordinary
receipts and expenditures at this time
were put about $500 year.
In 1881 the boys were removed to
Springfield, bingham county, then the
site of well known academy and rec
ognized as we'll for it's healthfulness.
In the following year Thomas Young,
Esq, by his will bequeathed to the So
ciety $1,000 in trust, the income there
from to be used in promoting its de-
signs. In 1888 Rev. Willard Preston, in
his address at the anniversary. esti-
mated that between 1891 and that time
$4,000 had been expended by the soci-
ETY. on children. MANY losses have
been sustained" said he, in discussing
it's revenues, but in most instances
they were in consequence of that be-
nevolence which prompted this society
to make loans in aiding mechanics
at the commencement of business, but
who were unable to reimburse them.
Its riches have consisted, emphatically,
of good deeds, liberal charities and
bountiful aims. 1t originated in char
ity and it has been conducted on the
same disinterested principles" In De-
cember, 1887, the boys were returned to
Savannah again and placed with Mr..
John Haupt, whose offer TO board them
and wash and mend their clothes, at
SIPS year each, had been accepted. In
struction was provided for them at the
Savannah Academy, under Rev. George
White, while DR.. Posey gave gratuitous
medical services. The academy build
ing was rented out In 1851 an addf-