Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-04-12
BELOIT ORPHANS HOME.
Brief Sketch OF Important Char
liable Institution.

Nesting beneath the hills which
mark the course OF the Big Sioux
river in the extreme southwest cor
ner Of Lyon county, is an institution
of public character and of much i'm
porJance. which has yet escaped gen
eral notice to Il considerable degree
and the good which has been done
without the blare of trumpets or the
blowing OF horns.
Reference is made to the orphans
home institution of the Norwegian
Lutheran church, and it will be a
surprise to most people to know that
the Institution is caring for upwards
of one hundred and fifty boys and
girls from eighteen months TO eigh-
teen years OF age. The home is manag-
eel by ThOre GunderSOn and his eStim-
able wife, and they are held in high
est esteem among the friends and in
mates of the institution. Mr.. Gun
derSon is much impressed with his
work for the young people and is
never happier than when recountlng
the Successes that have come TO his
children" who have left home to be-
gin life for themselves.
While acting as a member OF the
grand jury at the November term
of court Mr.. GunderSon consented to
tell a Reporter man something OF the
work of the home and he also furnish
ed a picture Of the institution from
which the accompanying excellent
half tone was made.
The aim and purpose Of the home
is to give home and education to
the orphans and other misfortunate
children, who are unable to care for
themselves. The institution is con-
trolled by a board of directors chosen
by the United Norwegian church,
and is supported mainly by donations
from the different congregations, the
Ladies Aid societies and other church
organizations. Many individual mem
berS have also given it their support,
and there has thus far been sufficient
funds to carry on the work in good
shape, although, as is nearly always
the case, there is not enough to make
improvements which would be well
come additions to the farm and home.
and which will be needed as the en-
rollment at the institution increases.
The home was established in the
year 1890 upon the site formerly Oc-
cupied by the AuguStana Synod sem
mary at Beloit. On the 2nd day of
December, 1890, the first child, a boy
of eighteen months was admitted.
During the sixteen years since that
two hundred and twenty-nine child
rem. or these ten are dead and sixty
four have gone away and are now
scattered over Iowa and the neigh
boring states. OF the remaining
children there are eighty-nine boys
and siXty-siX girls, all from eighteen
months to eighteen years old. These
together with the manager and wife,
chief matron, six governesses, four
teachers. two cooks, two farm hands
and fireman constitute the present
population of the home.
The children. with but a few ex-
ceptions attend school regularly for
nine months during the year. The
pupils now attending are classified in
to seven grades and a kindergarten.
The seven grades are divided about
equally among three of the teachers
and the fourth presides over the
kindergarten.
To begin with. the home occupied
two small buildings, but in 1880 the
larger of these burned to the ground.
This necessitated the erection of a