Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
HOMELESS WAITS
FIND TEMPORARY
AID AT BETHANY
Institution Doing Great Work
Has Made Rapid Growth
in Ten Years.
MORE ROOM IS NECESSARY
Plans Being Made to Erect Another
Building on Fifth Avenue
Grounds in 1918.
MORE ROOM IS NECESSARY

Bethany home located on Thirty
sixth street between Fifth and Sixth
avenues is owned and managed by
Bethany Protective association, which
was Incorporated under the name of
Union mission in 1899. It's incorpor-
ato-s wei. j. W Stewart, William
Jackson and G. n. German, whe to-
gether with c. w Foss, c. P. Com
eggs, ]. H. Kirsch, John Koch, l.. E.
West and F. c. Young were named as
directors for the first year.
In November Of that year they pur-
chased the property known as the
Cook homestead, located at the cor
ner OF Fourth avenue and Eighth
street in Rock Island, for $4,000.
Nine hundred dollars was raised by
subscriptions and a mortgage for
81 300 given for the balance of pur-
chase price.
Dec. II, 1899, actual work began in
the first home with Mr.. and Mrs. Ger
mann taking temporary charge, leav-
Ing their own home, the former as
superintendent and the latter matron,
each without pay. Mr.. Germann also
agreed to pay to the general fund Of
the mission $50 per month from his
earnings as harness maker at Rock
Island arsenal until a superintendent
could be employed.
DID MORE THAN SHARE.
Like all good movements along
charitable lines, someone early in its
history must do more than his share
10 get the movement started and Mr.
and Mrs. GevInann surely were the
ones in this charity TO set the exam.
pie that meant success TO the society's
growth.
Up to Jan l, 10 children had been
received in the Union mission The
following year. 1900. As children were
received, OF whom % were homeless.
or these ~ were placed permanently
In homes and five in institutions
The following is found in Mr.. Ger
manns first report: The Rock Island
Press The Argus and The Union. have
always very kindly remembered our
work in their columns. for which we
a., very thankful" He also mention
81 ana expressed his thanks to Mr.
Mack of the G. 3. g. @ railway and
Mr.. Gable Of the Rock Island railroad
for transporting children when nee
cssary. Silver Cross circle Of the
Kings Daughters. the German Ladies
Sowing society and the Associated
Charities were also mentioned
There was a general disposition
nom the start to recognize the mis-
sion as filing a real need something
necessary 10 supplement- the work Of
TIE public charitable institutions. anC
yet unlike the latter. unprovided fol
by law. So the people from the star
p"alized that the mission must be sup
ported. II at all. by generous givin,
ard that has been the rule since 1
was founded
FINDS NEW QUARTERS.
II was not long before the old quar-
brs were 10 longer adequate, and 81
the Silv!s homestead on Aiken stree
was rented and the name of the OF
ganization supporting It changed (,
BETHANY Protective association" tn
mission being known thereafter a
Bethany home"
At the close OF 1905, Mrs. W. {
Bennett OF Moline, the president
voiced q prophecy in delivering he
annual report that within a shor
time the home would occupy propert
OF its own. And the following yea
this came TO pass The old Gilpi
Moore homestead on Fifth avenue wa