Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-10-30
HAPPENINGS IN
HAWKEYED0M
What Has Been Going on
During the Past
Week.
EX-C0NvlCTS HOME OBLIGATED
sFather Cofin's GifT to Humanity Is
Now Ready for Occupsncy-Mrs. Booth
Makes an Address and Irominens Rso-
pie Are Present

Fort Dodge, Oct. 25.-Under perfect
October skies yesterday afternoon. in
the presence of a large company
Hope Hail." the home for ex-con
victs which the beloved Father" l.. s.
Coffin has built, was dedicated to its
humanitarian work. The home has
been built on Mr.. Coffin's beautiful
Willowedge farm on the outskirts OF
this city, and is especially adapted to
its uses and represents the founders
latest contribution to the work of al
truism and love.
Mrs. Ballington Booth. wife of tke
commander in chief of the Volunteers
of America, delivered the dedicatory
address. Chairman Cownie, Judge
Kline and Judge Robinson of the
board Of control, Warden Hunter and
Chaplain Pickworth of the peniten-
tiary at Anamosa, and Charles Al
drich, curator of the state historical
building, were guests of honor at the
dedication. The exercises were held
On an open air platform which had
been erected in front of the home.
Judge Kin presided, and after Chap
lain Pickworth had offered an elo-
quent prayer Mrs. Booth was intro
duced. Mrs. Booth spoke with great
power and eloquence and was followed
with rapt attention by the audience
which had gathered. Warden Hunter
and Chairman Cownie made addresses
supplementary to that of Mrs. Booth.
Hope Hall" is the ontgrowth of the
desire of Hon. l.. S. Coffin to leave
hinh mil ha hnInf,,l
to his fellvw men. Its purpose is to
receive the most deserving prisoners
as they are discharged from the peni-
tentiaries of the state, to place them
in quiet, homelike surroundings, where
they can regain their self respect and
efface the prison faint, and to finally
ind for them situations where they
may begin life anew. Mr.. Coffin has
been impressed with the fact that a
man when turned out of the peniten-
tiary, with half formed resolutions Tor
a better life, is most likely to drift
back into the associations from
whence he came. The home is admir-
ably situated for its purpose. 1t is 10
Gated in the midst of the eighty acres
of his fertile "Willowedge farm" on the
outskirts of Fort Dodge. 1t is beau
tiful in situation, on the summit of a
wooded hill which commands a wide
view in every direction. The build
ing itself is commodious frame
structure 76 by so feet, two stories in
height with a quaint gable roof. A
veranda, eight feet In width, encircles
the east and south sides.
The first floor includes a vestibule,
main hall, reception hall, library, ma.
irons parlor, bed room, bath room,
dining room and kitchen. The floors
and woodwork are of hard pine, well
oiled and vanished. On the second
floor is a large bath room and nine bed
rooms, which are calculated to accom-
modate thirty or forty persons. A
large attic furnishes workshop.
Over every detail # the building
Father Ccffin has watched with anX-
ious care. Every detail is as he
wishes it, and he feels that there is
nothing omitted calculated to add to
the comfort of its inmates.
Occupation for the inmates is to be
furnished by a large plat of ground
which is to be set aside Cor gardening
and for the raising OF small fruits. A
library of well selected books is in
the library provided.