The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-07-10
THE ST. LOUIS
"a ...
ORPHANACE

placed in charge of the Sisters of Char
ity, of Cleveland.
The institution was formerly known
as St Louis College, and later as st.
Joseph Academy. 1t was not until sew
eral years had passed after the break
ing up of st. Joseph Academy. that
the building was first used as an asy-
lum for orphans On account of the
original uses to which the building
had been put aud on account OF the
damages done to it during the few
years it was unoccupied, it had to be
remodeled and put in repair before
it was ever fairly fit for its new pur-
pose. The expense was met in part
by the diocese and in part by the Rev.
Louis Hoffer then pastor of st Louis
Catholic church in Louisville, and his
parishioners.
Until his death, November l. 1897
Father Hoffer was a generous bene
factor of the asylum, and at all times
promoted it's interests without spar
ing himself He also encouraged his
congregation to contribute generously
towards its support. He was the
founder of the building when it was
erected for college purposes, and twice
he saw it's failure as an educational
institution. Now as it was changed
into an asylum for orphans, he felt
that the building had not been erected
in vain. He therefore made every ef-
fort to make the new venture a sue
cess. which it became to a degree very
gratifying to him before he passed to
his eternal reward
The building is a substantial two
story brick structure, 81 by 10 feet.
On the first floor of the main building
are the reception and class rooms;
on the second floor are the dormitories
and in the basement are the kitchen
and refectory or dining room.
In 1890 the building was fitted UP
with a steam heating system. The
new building contains the boiler room,
the laundry, and the bakery. Previous
to 1890 the asylum was unsatisfac-
torily heated by means of stoves,
Since then its inmates have never
been obliged to contend with the dis
comforts of cold blasts and frigid
temperature. Other improvements
have been, added by degrees, 50 that
now the st. Louis Crphanage is in ex-
cellent condition, and equal to any
similar institution in this part of the
country.
In 1900 the present very neat chapel
was built as a cost of $4,000, including
its furnishings. It adjoins the asy-
lum on the east end.
Besides receiving a pro rata share
of the returns from the annual or
phans' fair in Cleveland, the orphan
age is generously supported by the
people living in and around Louisville, |
Massillon, and also by the
faithful living in. the southeastern Sec
ton of the diocese, which is annually |
visited by the sisters The orphan
age IS not a money-making institu- |
tion, but is supported by voluntary
contributions only
The orphanage is practically a
branch of st. Vincent's Orphanage of |
where it received its first |
complement of orphans. To this insti- |
tuition are sent the orphans and ne
elected children of Stark, Columbi. |
ana and Summit counties Also the |
children of parents who find it hard |
to make living.
The children cared for by this or
phanage are not necessarily Catholics,
but they may choose for themselves
what their creed shall be- Most of |
them, however, become Catholics.
All that is insisted upon by the sis
ters is that the child shall be honest,
truthful and obedient.
The boys are taught arithmetic,
spelling, grammar and as many other
subjects as the boy can learn before
he leaves the asylum
Kind people of the surrounding
country take the boys at about the age
of fourteen, and give them homes. The
boy is taken into the family, and is
all but considered a son by the peo-
pie who take him. If the boy is ILL.,
treated, and such cases are very rare,
or If he does not like his new home,
he is at liberty to return to the or
phanage, where he is always welcome.
The boys are placed mostly among
farmers, as they always have some
thing to do on a farm, and the boy
habits He would be much more liza
BILE TO do SO in city.
Brothers are kept together as long
as possible, and are nearly always
placed on adjoining farms.
Although most of the boys are start
ed in on farms, only about half of
them stick to farming. A great many
go to the cities and find employment
In the shops