The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-12
The Home For Old Negroes
Ky MRS. J. B REID

The negroes of Birmingham have begun
 active plans for maintaining the home for
 cid negro men and women, as also for
 the care Of orphan and afflicted children. They have a beginning in the home al- ready partly paid for, and their renewed
 efforts are to remove a mortgage on the premises.
 Before the state assumed charge of the negro industrial school at Mt. Meigs much
 of the funds raised by ther churches, so- cieties and clubs for charities and philan- | thropies were appropriated for that insti- tuition; now, however, the interest is focused on this home Institution. The Sojourner Truth club, with motto of
 Lifting as we Climb" composed of % competent women, has resolved to assume the real work of removing the debt and
 maintaining the home that is sorely need
 ed for their race.
 The writer attended a called meeting at the home by invitation through the
 secretary of the club. and observed they lad founded a very intelligent basis for their work.
 The home has 162 rooms, very neatly
 furnished. The work began several years ago and at the time seemed an assured success, but interest Jagged. just manag- ing by strictest economy to keep. open; stelterng and caring for the 16 inmates already there. The club has revived the 1T terest, realizing the growing need of dcu bling their efforts The city allows S25 month-paid into the hands of
 board of control through the treasurer matron has been retained with a part of this fund, and with the aid of q very few dimes gathered here and there they have struggled along. At one time the property was free from debt but in order to build a negro hospital there was a mortgage placed on the home. The lot is 200xl40 feet, and has the two buildings with a debt of about $500: secured by a
 mortgage The hospital was not a fnan-
 cial success, and this is closed.
 Before the hour for business discus sion we strolled through the enclosure, and found the deerepid inmates wander i irg childishly around. only arousing as you spoke to them. and then they seem to live on memories of wha. their
 white folks used to think of them. 1 One could never read the pages of l 'piddy Dumps and Tot" Howard Wee
 den's and Martha Young's verse, or
 hear Mrs. Martha Gielow without giving a hearts interest to the scenes among
 those old negroes. No matter where we turn we find some one who claims some of the greatness in helping to build the Magic City, and right here we found some of the relics of of the first days of Birmingham-several
 old men and women who have distinct recollection of their share in making the city. Negro men and women too feeble to work who recall that their service with -the white folks as the most peaceful days of their lives. Strolling around we found
 typical old slave who was the body servant during the war to Dr. Schuler of Charleston. S C. He was leaning on a stick and at once we saw he was blind. The greeting, "how do you do uncle," brought the response, poorly miss. poor ly, and how did I know you was white, 'cause l knowed when you said uncle twas some of my white folks My white folks always called the old nigger just that way" This was the introduce ton to Hardness Murphy. who had gar dened and worked the yards in many hcmes in the city. He came to Birmins- ham in the early days and at night worked as flagman at the Sloss crossing
 and at odd hours in the homes.
 For five years he has been blind and has been cared for in this home He left his work in the afternoon and be- fore daylight he was totally blind: f.a had been told he had "a spell on him." and that his sight would return with the application of poutice of apple cider and red clay. Again he believes that he has been punished by three of his church sisters who had no tolerance for the man, who believed in preacher working, and- Murphy always thought preacher should work with his fellow-man. He k