Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-18
THE LUTHERAN HOME


al Lutherans' Home for the Feeble
Minded will be chosen by the execu-
tive committee in a few weeks prelim-
mary to the building of the institu-
ton. The object is to make arrange
ments to place the superintendent in
one of the state institutions for the care
Of the feeble minded. either in Chip
pewa Falls or in Jacksonville, ILL.,, that
he may become acquainted with the
best methods for dealing with these
unfOrtunates.
The officers of the home expect to
have the buildings up and ready for
occupancy within year. While the
charter was received yesterday and
the organization perfected on July
IL, the subject has been under con-
sideration among the leading Luther
ans long time, and they have had
Prof. Weissbrodt, well known teach
er, formerly of Milwaukee but now OF
Chippewa Falls, travelling in Europe
aging the institlons Of this char
sbrodt has submitted reports from time
to time which have been so encour-
aging that already several large sub
scriptions to the building fund have
been received and the Lutheran con-
gregations in Watertown have donated
site of twenty acres for the build
ing. while arrangements have been
made to increase the number of acres
as they are required,
Prof Weissbrodt writes from Europe
that while in the lower grades OF the
schools for the feeble minded appear
to be absolutely discouraging, the ef-
facts of the, training they receive, as
hown in the higher grades to which
the pvpils attain after few years, are
beyound his wildesI expectations. He
is SO enthusiastic upon the subject that
he has decided to abandon the teach
ing Of the normal school children and
has applied for position as teacher in
the contemplated institutions.
The institution will be located one
mile south of the Milwaukee railway
station in Watertown. 1t will be on
the Gotta plan, and, AS a beginning,
will consist of an administration build
~nAnd four large cottage plan is that
the pupils map be better classified as to
sex and mental conditions.
The association having the enter
prise in charge is made up of the state
societies of Lutherans of Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Michigan Illinois, Mis-
souri, Iowa and Nebraska, and each
society is entitled to three members on
the board of directors. The actual
manage nent, however, is in the hands
of an executive committee, the Rev. H.
Eggers of Waterto wn, the Rev. j.
Haase OF Ixonia, Wis; A. M. Gamm
of Watertown, and w. H. Graebner,
August KEELING, and the Rev. j. Stras-
en- of Milwaukee, The officers are:
President The Rev. IL. Meyer of
st. Paul.
Vice-pre sldent-H. Speckhard of
Saginaw, Mich.
Secretary-The Rev. H. Eggers of
Watertown.
Treasurer-Leora ard Schempf of Wa
tertown.
s.While few of the feeble minded
',ildren belonging to Lutheran famil-
...ssl~in the state institutions" said
". II. Graebner, "the great majority
of them are kept in the homes. The
parents do not like to send them away
to a public institution, but it generally
is believed that this objection will be
removed if they can be sent to an in
stitutior that is managed by the Luth-
eran denomination. They will certain
Iy gain advantages in such al institu-
tion that they cannot obtain in the
nome circle.