The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-23
THE. NORTH CAROLINA CONFEDERATE
SOLDIERS HOME SITUATED AT RALEIGH
A T1onnelike Asylum for Vete-
rams Set Amid Noble
Oaks.
HAD PECULIAR ORIGIN
ORIGIN
Started With Small Building
With Seven Inmates and Then
Became Fine Success.

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/ RALEIGH. N. c., Oct. 22.-One OF the
most attractive OF the Confederate
Soldiers Homes Is that at Ralc gil. It's
chief charm Is that II Is really homelke,
set amid noble oaks, with various build
vcrandas and plenty of room III every
way. and with the Interior fittings as at
tractlve ais those OF d toplcl school The
history o. the location Is rather unique
| In 1861 tile place was a Nortu Caro!ir q
| Military Hospital, and wos one of the
1t continued us such until the war closed,
/ and the surgeon who was IN thurse OF
It treated there, after the surrender Of
General Johnston. both Confederate and
| Federal wounded and sick. Tllen tho
| Ecderals took charge OF the place nn.1
| converted 1t INTO u IN litary camp, naming
| 1t Camp Russell, /" and It's principal ave
nues after Generals Grant and McPner-
son. AS such camp II continued IN
use until 1871. when the FGucral troo 10
| left the Southern States under the idnlGIs
Tiidcn- Hayes political arrangements. For
j many years the place wns used by the
1. State Cc!ored Fair Association. there be-
ling a dispute as 10 the lille, the War
| Department having occupied the plate
| as Confederate propcl ty t''lial Y the
State proved thut II was never IN the
! possession OF the Confederate authorities,
but always In that Of the State, and so
| IL was turned over to thu State, Which
! In 1881 d es Labllshed the Soldiers Home
I there.
IT'S ORIGIN.
The origin OF the Sldiers Home Is
rather singular. AS far back US 1854
, there was at movement for such home,
and some funds were raised, part OF these
being under a condition that certain
sum was first procured. In 1890, a great
fair was held during four days and lights
in one of the Raleigh parks, IN aid of
Lille Soldiers lc,.ie fund tile mel proceeds
amounting to some s1,6GU. With this
money small house was rented aud IN 4
this seven veterans were lbc;ttrd-
4 little later the number was increas ed Slo 1
fourteen and the legislature then made
a provision for the present home. Tho \
buildings already In use were reti.ted,
some of which had been officers quarters
we're remodeled and one or two small
ones built and on the 10Th OF May. which
IS North Cardinals "lndepenu.nce lay
being the anniversary OF the Meck! az
burg DeclaraiIun. the hoh,. was formally
opened and the North Carolina flag
hoisted above 1t, with about forty in
mates present The late William c.
Stronach was the first superintendent. and
| he continued in that position until ms
/ death ten years later. The home grew
and the Legislature made e. provision for a
new dormitory. and also. for a hospital,
both built In accordance with, the general
plan Of having only onc-story buildings.
with plenty of veranda ROOM. Then tho
United Daughters Of ConfedsiLcy and
Julian S. Carr, the Commander Of the
United Confederate Veterans in North
Carolina took up the ma tier Of the siulp-
ment OF the new dormitory ana hospital.
tthe work as to the dormitory being done
entirely by the Daughters who f'i:nis led
!, the bedding, wardrobes, et:. ne State
putting In the remainder Of the furniture
in the building, this cons 5-i.is ri Lcds
OF metal, and bureau US and tables Of oak, I
the hospital, the Daughters furnishing
the bedding for that building. also.
HOSPITAL FOR CONSERVATIVES.
They will equip the new hospital ,nr
consumptive Inmates which IS now about
ready for occupancy. The purchases
we're made by the late Mrs. Fred. a. Olds.
that time Secretary and Treasurer OF the
Soldiers Home Ladies Committee. Tile
results Of the work Of The Dausnters Is !!
everywhere plainly to be seen and adds
to the attra ctiveness. Of the home In every
way. There are now. 10 Inmates aid ,
the board who has the/hom In charge. !
will ask the next Legislature - provide;
for at least fifty more Inmates. Appli-}
cations are numerous ami ;inother I;,:'Ge |
dormitory is needed, Il this Is, u ill The
Daughters stand ready to equip It, The |
Home has a very fine garden WHICH Is
carefully looked after. The go ,ilds are
very attractive and are giver snoct.,l care /
by veteran. who Is good landscape /
gardener, and who part OF the year Is |
q school teacher. i
In tho sight OF the home is the Con !,
federate Cemetery, In which those who !,
do in the Home are burieu, and there Is !,
long array Of such graves, there teinS
already 100 other Confederates buricd
there The average age of the Inmates
is seventy years. The Oldest Is ninety
three and Ills first war service was IN
the Indian War Of 1856 lie was also
4 In the War with Mexico, and remarked
with smile that he wished he could
have been In the War With Spain also.
The National Cemetery Is quite near the
home also, and on the S0th OF May. Dec
grafton Day. the inmates are always spa
;cIal guests at this cemetery. where seats
are provided for them. They hear the
exercises and participate In decorating
the graves Of their late enemies
INMATES WATCH THE WAR.
THE Inmates are up-to-date and mnni-
fest the keenest interest In the war now
In progress between the Russians and
Japan, Just as they did regarding the
War with Spain ana that IN China. Sew !
eral of the veterans have sons now IN
the regular army Two Of them served
In the army Of. France during the war
Of 1901 with Germany, one of them
was with the Inflated Walker In the
latter,s once famous expedition to Mica
ragua. This man was In the Fifth North
Carolina Infantry. and lost both arms
below the elbow, yet he has wonderful
use of himself and Is very fond OF show
Ing how he can use his stunps, The IN.
,n,afes9 of the homo are the members or |