Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-21

The care of unfortunate little ones
the waits that have no homes. is the
mission of the Maine Children's Home
Society of this city, now housed in a
suitable and commodiouS building on
SeWal street. 1t is one OF the State
institutions that fathers and mothers
every where take great intesest in and
as the home has recently been enlarged
and its usefulness extended in many
ways Il word historical about the in
stitution may not be amiss at this
time.
Several years ago Miss Matilda At
kinson came TO Augusta from West
Liberty, Iowa, and opened gospel
mission at 1872 Water street She was
Il member of the society of Friends
and was doing evangelistic work. Af-
ter some active work in this city Miss
Atkinson came to believe that a home
or an asylum for homeless children
was needed. and that badly. There
fore she commenced to agitate the
question and shortly after building
was rented at 10 Capitol street, which
was sufficient in size for the needs Of
the society at the time. Then came
the gathering of the inmates and very
soon there were ten children in the
home.
But it was soon discovered that an
institution of this kind needed money
as badly as any other enterprise and
to meet this condition Miss Josie
Drake was appointed a solicitor. After
funds had been secured and the school
had grown considerably a location was
secured on Grove street that gave the
little folks and their attendants more
room. A historian in speaking Of the
matter of the growth at this time says,
This increased building came none
too soon as the number of the inmates
at once jumped to Is. At this time
Miss Atkinson was president, superin-
tcndent and matron, all in one. She
had given her whole attention to the
institution and no sacrifice was too
great for her to make in its behalf"
With the increase in the size of the
school or institution came the need of
more funds and another solicitor was
employed, Miss Fannie Abbott, to for
ward this part of the work. With a
special adoption for the work and by
hustling night and day she averaged
to collect not less than $500 per month,
which tided the home over many finan-
clal stringencies. BY this time the
home was attracting attention all over
the State and many favorable COM
men-s were made regarding the insti-
tuition.
In November, 1902. Miss Josie Drake
severed her connection with the home
,,,I 7 DnII
Portland was appointed to succeed her
in the work. Some time after Miss
Gertrude e. Frye of this city was APP
pointed one Of the permanent solicit
tors for the home and still holds the
position In very satisfactory man.
ner.
Through continued growth the home
had outgrown the old location and q
new one was badly needed. II was
here that Governor Hill came to the
rescue with proposition that the so
ciety could have a house which he
owned if it would move the building
to another location. That was inst
before the building of the Hill man.
sion. This was too good an opporLun-
ity to let slip and the managers OF the
home undertook to move the building
to a location on Sewall street, where
a site had been contributed by Miss
Margaret Mason of this city. The cost
Of The work with some improvements
that We're made at the time amounted
to over $4,000, but the expense was
cheerfuly borne and the new home
was ready for occupancy by the first Of
February, 1902. on which date the re-
moval was made.
The Illustration conveys very good
idea of the building as it now stands,
with the addition that was put on dur
ing the past summer The first floor
is used for a nursery. except the rooms
used for bathrooms and clothes
closets. The upper story contains the
schooroom and the balance Of the
space is used for q dormitory, dining
room and another bathroom as well az
storage room. A new heating plant
has been installed that will keep the
little tots warm and comfortable no
matter how cold the weather gets. The
hot water system is used as 1t IS re-
garded as being a more reliable and