Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-29
BELL SUMMER HOME
Institution Where Children
Go for Recreation.
AT COLONIAL BEACH
FOUNDED BY PROF. ALEXANDER
MELVILLE BELL.
Buildings Consist of Three-Story
Structure, a Play House, Boys
Dormitory and Cottage.

The Bell Summer Home at Colonial
Beach, Va, is one of the most interesting
institutions in this section of the country.
Situated on the southern portion of the
peninsular surrounded by the waters of the
Potomac river and Monroe bay the home
Is thus directly in the path of the strong
salt breezes which are continually blowing
in that locality. The Bell home receives it's
name from its founder and benefactor,
Prof. Alexander Melville Bell, who, in 1894,
set apart two acres Of ground and $1,000 as
an endowment fund.
The affairs of the home are conducted by
board of managers which annually elects
set of officers. The incumbents are: Mrs.
w. G. Davenport, president: Mrs H. Y.
Satterlee, first vice president; Mrs. A. A.
Birney, second vice president; Miss Victo
rine Koones, secretary; Mrs. Joseph r.
Johnson, treasurer. The legal title to the
property is vested in three trustees, Mr..
Charles J. Bell, Mr.. A. A. Birney and Mr..
John L. Weaver.
The object of this institution is conciseiy
stated in a letter from Bishop Henry Y.
Satterlee. in which he says: 1.-THE Bell
Summer Home at Colonial Beach is doing
a most excellent work among INDECENT chill
dren. Not only are many, who otherwise
would be unable to get out of the city at
all during the excessive heat Of the sum-
some food fresh air, and salt water baths,
thus restoring them to strength and vigor;
but while they are at the home they are
under the constant oversight and training
Of refined Christian women, Daughters of
the King, and receive instruction which
few of them ever receive at home"
The Buildings Erected.
The buildings on the grounds which have
been erected one by one as the finances of
the home would permit, now consist of
large three-story building, a boys dormi
tory. a play house and a one-story cottage.
The construction and arrangement of the
large building Is unique, the first and sec
ond floors being divided into little bed
chambers completely furnished, each I'M
der the especial care Of some one church of
this city The furnishings, while simple,
are nevertheless ample and extremely at
tractive Each room has it's white iron
bed small toilet stand, and, in some cases,
a little dresser. One or two chairs. a little
clothes closet and set of spotess bed
linen make up the average room. In some
cases a few extras have been added. such
as pictures and potted flowers. The third
floor consists Of one large ROOM extending
over the entire building. This orig
inally used as play room, but, owing to
the increased demand in recent years for
additional space, this room has now been
turned into a bed chamber, and has been
fitted up with about twenty little beds,
which accommodate from tnlrty-nVe TO
forty Of the smaller children.
In the rear of the main structure is the
kitchen and pantry, while the dining room
occupies the first floor Of what Is known
as the boys dormitory. Here are found
tables, ranging in height from one to two
and half feet with a little chair for the
child OF two years and a larger chair for
the boy or girl Of seven or eight. The sec
ond floor Of this building is devoted to
sleeping accommodations for the boys, and
here located about twenty single beds
each provided with springs, a good mat
tress and a complete set Of bed clothes
This room is under the care and charge of
a man who remains constantly with the
boys and gives his personal attention to
all their needs.
The New Play House.
Twenty-Five or thirty yards from the main
building Is the new play house. This Is
one-story open structure which has been
erected by six little girls Of Washington,
who desired to help their more unfortunate
sisters and brothers and to provide for
them a little Of the pleasures which they
themselves enjoy at their homes. This play
house is provided with toys and various
games which have been donated by friends
Of the home, and it is here that the chill
dren spend the most of their time.
The cottage, which Is used by Mrs. Daven-
port and the young ladies who assist her.
d L
large front room is utilized for this pur-
pose, and services are held there every
morning.
The home is also possessed of two fine
Jersey cows, who yield from two to three
gallons Of milk daily. and horse and large
double wagon In which the children are
| taken for drives through the adjoining
country.
regular program is followed each day.
At $50 large bell rings, which indicates
the time for rising The children are then
washed and dressed. and at 7:3O the bell
again rings, whereupon the children fall
| into line and march to breakfast. After
| breakfast is over they return to their rooms,
make up their beds and straighten up the
rooms. At they again form into line and
march to the chapel for prayers. On their
| way to the chapel they pass the large
flag pole in the center of the front yard.
| and as they salute the flag they all repeat
| the words, lone God, one country, and one
| flag" very amusing incident occurred
previous day the flag was SO badly torn
| that 1t could not be raised, and as the chill
| dren paused to repeat their accustomed
words, a little boy Of four was heard to
| say, zone God one country and one flag
| pole" After prayers the children have
| their time entirely to themselves until din
ner, which Is served at l o'clock. At 2 all
| the children are taken to the river for a
| bath and after their return to the home,
| they are free again until supper time Dark
ness finds them all safely In their beds.
Read Like Romances.
| The Mfe-story of many of these children
| read like romances One little boy was re-
| ceiyed at the home with a tag around his
neck, on which were the words, please de-
| liver at Bell Home. Colonial Beach, Va
| Nothing Is known of his parents or how he
| came to be abandoned. He has been under
| the care of the home for about two years
now. and is one Of the brightest and hap
piest of all the children.
Another little child came into the hands
| Of the ladies OF the home, with the state
ment Of physician that the child had
| but eighteen or twenty hours to live. In
| speaking OF the case. he said 1t would be
| useless to 60 to any trouble or to spend
| any time or money on the child, as there
| was not the faintest chance for its recovery
| An operation Of a very severe nature had
just been performed. in which large tu-
| NOR had been cut from one Of the child e
lungs and life was almost extinct The
| child was given immediate attention. how
| ever, by all the ladies Of the home, and as
a result OF their careful and tender nursing
the little one Is now fully recovered and
| restored to health, and as strong and ro-
| bust as any Of her companions.
The home has provided for about eighty
H. Iii III