Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-17
HOME FOR THE DESTITUTE
OHicers Elected mt Annual Meeting
Report Of the President.

OF directors or the Home for Destitute
Children was held in the parish house
OF st. Pauls Church Thursday after
noon at three O'Clock. when the follow
ing officers and committees for the
coming year were elected: President
Mrs. IT, II. Plat; vice president Mrs
". S. Peck; treasurer Mrs. G. S. Isham
assistant treasurer Mrs. A. @. Peircc;
secretary Miss Mary Roberts; auditor,
Walter G. 1sham board of managers.
Mrs. r. s Peck. Mrs. G.. =. smith Mrs.
A. G.. Pelrce. Mrs. G.. r. Stctson, Mrs.
c. s. Isham. Mrs. II. j. Andrews. Miss
Mary Roberts, Mrs. Harriet w. Hickok,
Mrs. A. e. Richardson. Mrs. r. Johon-
mott, Mrs. L. r. Lord. Mrs. g. G. f. To-
hey; honorary members of the board,
Mrs. Sarah p. Torrey. Mrs. G. r. MI
ner; advisory committee, Miss Mary
c. Torrey, Robert Roberts, NJ. A, Binr-
ham: county managers, Addison, Mrs.
John A. Fletcher of Middlcbury; Ben
nington, Miss Susie l. Rogers of Ben
nington Caledonia, Mrs. Walter ,.
Smith Of st. Johnsburv: Franklin, Mrs.
Daniel Moren of East Berkshire Grand
isle. Mrs. VI. p. Iandon of South Hero:
Lamoillc, Mrs. o. w. Reynolds of
Cambridge; Orange. Mrs. Laura y.
Stow OF Chelsea: Orleans, Mrs. Angus
tus Paddock of CraftsburY; Rutland,
Mrs r. /. Hall of Rutland; Washing
ton Mrs. Newton T. Nve OF Barre;
Windham. Mrs. j. NJ Tyler of Brat
tlcboro; Windsor, Mrs. s. r.. PinGrcc
Of Hartford.
Tho present star of attending physi-
clans is as follows: DR.. ]. n. JENNIE. Or,
W. Il. Prime. Or. Lyman Allen. DR.
John II. Dodds. Or. G. II Beecher and
DR.. George VI. Sabin; honorary mem
bers Of the staff, pr II. A. Crandan; ,
consulting physician, Or. II. II. Wat
Nins, consulting surgeon, Dr IT. g.
Tinkham.
The following annual report was
read by Mrs l.. l.. Platt. president of
the board:
II is with pleasure that I submit to
YOU the 41st annual report. In pro-
senting this report ! wish / might
bring before all friends Of little child
rem, the army OF children who have
gone forth from: this home. letting
each tell his or her history previous
to entering this home.
do not like to call il an institution
for we Try to make 1t /; home where
children can have a happy life. those
whom parents have neglected ana de-
serted. 1t has often been my wish
that I might know how many such
have been cared for here. even during
my work. which covers a period e
twenty five .ears.
a friend who came here to bring
some children who had been terribly
abused, was astonished to see what a
happy life the children had, how
much real love and tenderness was
shown them. Of course rules must be-
obeycd. and discipline used. as in any
well regulated family
The work during this year has been
very successful with very little sick
ness. our dear matron. Miss Baldwin,
whom we oil loved and so highly re
spected, was obliged to resign for 4
year at least, the long continued strain
proving too much for her. We have
been able TO procure a matron and a
housekeepcr to take her place and
the good work goes on very satisfac-
| torily.
We have so many things to he
grateful for, It is hard to mention all
our gratitude. The home Is under 50
many obligations to friends who have
been so thoughtful and kind. prob
ably our first obligation is to the trus-
tees of the permanent fund, who give
so much Of their time and thought in
caring for the financial part of our
work, without any remuneration.
Then the physicians and oculists. the
physicians coming in all weather, rs
cheerfullv and willingly as If they
were receiving full pay for their
visits.
We had hoped this year to print 4
complete list of the donations for the
year, as we are limited in means we
must make brief report but our
friends have remembered us with many
gifts of clothing. toys and candy for
Christmas, the First Church have done
sewing several tines Tho needle
work guild gave a large donation of
all kinds of garments, which we used
| in fitting out some who were destitute
| The Unitarian Church gave the chill
dren delightful day on the lake. and a
| supper al the childrens sociable, which
was enjoyed exceedingly. Mrs. A. -.
| Richardson has given all the plants &c
beautiful the home grounds which mas
| given so much pleasure to all at the
| home. Mrs. /. G. Clarke gave a large
| collection Of books, which were great
ly needed. Nothing has given the old
er children more pleasure. The man
ayers Of the Strong theatre have In
vited the children twice to entertain
ments. All these bits OF outside life
give the children great pleasure.
The impression is more or less genera
that the home is a local institution tax
ing children only from Burlington anC
| its vicinity This Is by no means thu
fact as many hundreds Of children hav'
been received from every part OF tn
State. We are now In n position whor
we feel that we can justly appeal to th
State at large for financial aid, We stan'
always ready TO give our help to deserv
| ing children from any Vermont town
This year 1t seems imperative that W
make a call to help us in the financia
needs of the home. Probably the i'm
preston 10 general that this institution
is amply endowed, and has no need o
material aid OF any kind,
This perhaps II not strange for man
and generous have been the gifts, whc
It has received In the past But durin
the last fifteen years the drain on it
resources has been very great The fir
in 1893, which destroyed tho main build
ing and made the many children With
its walls homeless for the time bein,
seemed disastrous but resulted In bette
buildings and accommodations. A ncN
house was erected for the older boys an
girls, the cost of which was met in grra
part by the insurance money, but nc
wholly. a debt being left upon the HON,
| This new building did not nroVidp f.,