The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24


payable within fifteen years, with in
terest payable annually. That year a
bequest of 81 900 also came to it under
the will of James Porter, who, a year
or two before. had given the society
$500, and at other times in a long MEM
bership had shown his interest in it's
work by liberal assistance. In 1868 the
society was left a legacy of $4,000 by
George Hall, a successful merchant Of
Savannah, and was also the recipient
of two $500 city of Savannah bonds
from Edward Padelford for it's build
ing fund. On the death of Mr.. Padel-
ford in 1870 the society received under
his will one hundred shares of South
western Railroad stock as the last ex-
preston of his liberality toward a
charity in which he had shown an ac-
tive interest for many years. In 1850
Mrs. Maria Edwards had left the so
ciety a half interest in her estate, val
ued at SS0,000 the revenues to go to her
grandchildren during their lifetime.
The interested parties being willing to
sell, the society, in 1868, borrowed $5,-
900 from Mr.. Padelford, and purchased
their interest in its half of the estate.
In 1870 Mr.. Padelford remitted the So
ciety $1,000 of this claim. In 1859 the
annual average cost for subsistence,
clothing, education and otherwise pro-
viding for boy was given as S162. The
membership of the society at this time
was 545, but many failed to pay their
dues. In 1870, for the fourth time,
Bethesda was the scene of build
ing operations, and new
and larger structure. more perma-
nent In character and better designed
Tor the uses of an orphanage than any
OF its predecessors had been, began to
arise as near the site of the original
House Of Mercy as could be deter
mined. The corner stone was laid with
Masonic ceremonies at the celebration
of the 10th anniversary on April 27,
in the presence of over 1000 visitors.
1t had long been the ambition of the
society to replace the inadequate and
decaying frame structure with a. mod
ern brick building. AS had been point
ed out, the war paralyzed the first
movement IN t0at direction. With the
new era of prosperity a spirit of great
er generosity toward Bethesda became
manifest among the people of means,
bringing some liberal contributions for
the building fund as well as several
large bequests. For the new building
donations were received from Mrs. S.
E. Coleman of $500, Jacob Waldburg
$500, Charles F. Mills, $500, N. B.
Knapp $500, w. 3. Hodgson 800, d. H.
Baldwin of New York s100, Andrew
Low $1,000, Miss Mary Telfair 5000,
William r. Garrison of New York $780,
Moses Taylor $100. Other smaller do
nations ran the total beyond $4,000. AS
the society had but 81, 700 in cash avail
able when the building began, and
its expenditures on account of it dur
ing three years exceeded $33, 900, it was
necessary to sell considerable of its
securities to provide funds for COM
pleting the central portion of the
structure and preparing it for oc-
cupancy, the construction of the two
wings being postponed until the socie-
tvs finances improved. The founda-
tions were built of tabby, the super
structure of brick. The society on its
| occupancy, in an incompleted state, in
| 1873 was maintaining 40 boys. 1t was
then the expressed hope of President
Minis that many of the members would
| live to see the day when Bethesda
would continuously shelter one hun
| dred boys. At the anniversary in 1888
it was reported that there were one
| hundred and six boys but the number
| was not maintained. Since 1896 the So
| ciety's beneficiaries have never fallen
below one hundred, there being at
| present 1872 at the home. In 1883 the
| west wing to the main building was
erected at a cost of $4,055, largely
| through donations, two gentlemen
| giving $500 each, Mr.. Edward
Lowell giving $500. Ex-President
Joseph Story Fay sending a check
for 81 900 from Boston, Mrs. G.. w. De-
Renne contributing 5000, nearly all OF
| the lumber and a great part of the
bricks being donated, and many other
| minor cash contributions swelling the
| total. In 1895 the eastern wing was
| built under a contract for $7,S06, new
stables were built and other improve
! ments made, requiring a total expen>
| diture in that and the following
| year or two of over SIS, 900. This COM
| pleted the building as originally plan>
| ned and fitted it for the comfortable
accommodation of 125 boys. The farm
area has also been increased by the
| purchase in 1892 o. 80 acres on the
south for $400, in 1896 of ten acres
| at the junction Of the orphan house
grounds and the Montgomery road, for
$780, and in 1900 of SO acres, making the
| total 500 acres, or the same as in
Whitefeld's day.
Another Crisis at Bethesda
Additional remembrances came with
the passing years to swell the society
endowment funds and permit of an
extension of its work. Unfortunately,
though, the interest and support from
the general public lessened Bethesda
has not received the encouragement
and aid from Savannahians that its
usefulness justifies. The number of
members paying their annual contri-
buttons with promptness decreased and
but for the rich benevolence of the few
| friends of the institution it's work
| would have been more restricted each
year instead of expanding to meet the
requirements of the growing population
of Savannah. In 1873 Mr. John ].
Kelly left the society the block bound
ed by Whitaker, Barnard, President
and State streets, with improvements,
from which the society derived a rental
of 81, 900 year. Two years later Miss
Mary Telfair bequeathed 1t a valuable
piece of property at Bay and Jeffer-
son streets. but as it was involved in
litigation it was some years before
Bethesda derived any benefit from it,
the will case not being disposed of un-
til 1883. In 1891 this property was
leased to. Henry Solomon G. Sons for
fifteen years at 81 200 a year, the les
sees paying for all improvements and
repairs. Good fortune seemed to be
smiling on the Union Society, when
the yellow fever epidemic of 1876 in
flicted another crushing blow. It's re-
sources were seriously affected by the
business depression of this season
of rents led to a curtail-
Where there had been fifty boys sup
ported by 1t in 1874 only twenty-eight
boys were provided for in 1877, and at
the anniversary in 1873 it was reported
that only nineteen were enjoying the
| advantages at Bethesda The state al