Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-06-01
BAPTIST oRPHANAGE
Eighteenth Anniversary of the
Founding of Connie Maxwell
) Orphanage Appropri-
ately Celebrated

opening of Connie Maxwell Or
phanage, says the Greenwood In
dex, was observed with appropriate
exercises at the orphanage last Sun
day, May %. There were addresses
by members of the board of trus:
tees Sunday morning and in the
afternoon sermon by the Rev. W.
E. Thayer of Laurens.
Here are some interesting facts
about the growth of the orphanage
compiled by Superintendent A. L.
Jamison,, whose tenth anniversary
as superintendent was observed on
that day also.
During recent days my mind
has been. filled with memories. Ten
years ago today my eyes first saw
Connie Maxwell Orphanage. The
picture is very distinct in my mind,
for first impressions are indelible.
The barn stood in the centre of the
grounds, on the spot now occupied
by the Maxwell building. The
shade trees were numerous, but
very small, and therefore the ap-
pearance was one of baroness.
There were no sidewalks. Boys
and girls lived in most of the dor
mitories and were equally divided,
except that girls only lived in
burst Home and boys only at Smith
Home. Not table in the institu-
tion was supplied with linen. There
were three teachers in the school
and not a child from the Orphan
age had ever entered college. Two
hundred and thirty-three children
had been cared for up to that date,
including those that had been placed
in home>- by adoption and other
wise. Most of the children were
small, but they were healthy look
ing lot. Eight only of the tiny
tots that I found that day do | see
on our school roll today, and they
have grown some" in the mean
time: Annie Galloway, Leta
White, Epton Sprouse, Elise Eli
son, Lena Padgett, Bessie, Smith,
Den Altman and Furman Galloway
Remarkable Growth.
Some contrasts between that day
and this are notable. There were
then seven permanent buildings on
the, place. FIVE, homes the chapel and
the .superintendent's cottage There
are now seventeen buildings, nine
of them being homes for children.
There were then l25 children
against go at present; there was
then a total population of lS4,
against 254 today.
I'VE were at that time spending
annually about $1,000, against $685.
600 at present. The orphanage
then owned Sc acres of land in its
own title, while it now owns 627
acres in one tract, not counting a
large tract in another portion OF the
State now being offered for sale.
The total valuation of material
assets at that time was $4,000. 1t
is now at least sl5O,0oo. The Or
nbanaoe then placed children in
family homes. 1t is now an. edu-
eational institution for orphan
children.
''The additions of one kind and
another may be simply mentioned
and passed without explanation or
emphasis, namely, printing press
and outfit, and a monthly magazine,
library building and more than
1000 books; three grades to the
school course, a central school
building; an office building; a laun-
dry and cannery; several cottage
homes; barns; a system of water
works; the Maxwell farm and all
it's improvements.
AS to the changes, they have
been numerous. The increase in
cost ofsupport per capita is remark
able. The price paid for flour then
wass4 a barrel. A stub on an old
check book shows that one lot OF
dour was bought just before | came
at the price of s3.4O a barrel. Fer
tilizer cost $l5 a ton, lumber 75c
per hundred feet, brick 1925 per
1000. Our laboring man, Nathan,
was paid So a month, and John
$3.50 month. The provision ac-
count the first year was $4,000
1t was surprise and a gratiGca-
ton, however, to find upon recent
comparative calculations that when
allowance is made for the increase
in cost of living, and also
For the increased number of in
mates, the per capita of our sup
port has not materially increased.
And this Notwithstanding the fact
that the work is more liberal in
every respect. The principal reason
for this lies in the fact that the
farms and gardens have yielded SO
generously.
''Lest one should imagine that