Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-14
IRONTON, MO, THURSDAY, JANUARY "A. 1915 NUMBER
Missouri Home for Aged Bap-
fists.
tst. Louis republic. January iOth.l

AT lront0n, MO-, Unere recenIly mas
been established the Missouri Home
for Aged Baptists. For IS months
this establishment has fiourished in
the Arcadia Valley. 1t is designed "as
place of residence for members of
Baptist churches in Missouri, who, be
cause of age and infrmity, are unable
to support themselves, and who have
no children, relatives or personal
friends able or willing to give them a
home"
The Baptist Church in Missouri long
has felt the necessity for some such
Institution. Its orphans have been
provided for, and it's sick cared for in
their own sanitariums, but it was not
until May 6, 1918, that Superintendent
Riggs and his excellent helpmate op-
ened the doors of the Missouri Home
for Aged Baptists.
The home at that time was in the
historic old Emerson place, at IRON
ton, which was rented from Henry M.
Blossom, of st. Louis, but after a
years trial the Board of Trustees, con-
sisting of Rev. Milford Riggs, D. D.,
president, E. L. Cook, of Ironton, sec
uetary and treasurer, and s. P. Ringo,
Ironton, Adrian Steel, De Soto, David
W. Hill, Poplar Bluff, Mrs j. A. Hope
and Mrs. Milford Riggs scented bar
gain in building erected by a santa
rum company which was about to go
out Of existence, stepped right in and
bought the property, obtaining for
$4,000 plant worth several thous-
ands more.
TWENTY IN HAPPY FAMILY.
So, the other day, when l visited
there, found 20 men and women, who
comprise superintendent Riggs hap
py family, ensconced in steam
heated home, consisting of central
building Of 20 rooms, three cottages
and an aggregation of sheds and sta
bles for Bossy, the Polled Durham, Q
gift from the Reynolds County Asso-
citation, and Queen, the thoroughbred
mare.
After Queen set me down at the
front doorstep ! was almost 10th tc
enter the house, the view of the Ar
cadian Valley is SO bewitching.
To the north looms lofty, conical'
shaped Pilot Knob. Hard by is Shep,
herd Mountain, six miles round it'
base. Then Bald Mountain and Til
Top and Lewis peaks to the south, al
overhung with the purplish mountain
haze, the guardian sentinals of thi
beautiful Modern Already, and it
three settlements, Pilot Knob, Irontol
and Arcadia.
1t is delightful location, healthfu
for everybody, particularly for thu
aged ones whose last days should b.
bright and happy.
BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL INSIDE.
Inside the home, all was bright ant
cheerful. The building, I noticed, wal
particularly we'll adapted for its pur
pose, with lis spacious balls, assembl,
room, screened sleeping porches ant
15 or more small bedrooms on the sec
ond floor.
The southern exposed living room
lined with bookcases, which is at one,
library, chapel and assembly room, i
decidedly the best apartment Of it
kind that have seen in any institu
tion that have yet visited.
Not elegantly furnished, not bit o
polished mahogany was there, or ele
CANT rugs lit was inst living-room il
every sense of the word. Here wer,
rows upon rows of well-filled .bool
shelves, well-worn rug, an old-tim
ed square piano, comfortable easy
chairs with inviting cushions, big hick
ory logs blazing on, the hearth, all go
ing to make members of DIR. Riggs
Baptist household comfortable an,
contentcd.
Indeed, DIR. Riggs and his capabl
wife both told me that the home i
not intended as an institution. Their,
are no rules printed or unwritten
Each inmate Is as much a member o
the family as any one of the goo
PASTORS family of four husky boys
There prevail only the long -standin,
regulations of peace and happines
and considcrate regard for the feeling
and comforts and rights of others.
CHAPEL SERVICES HELD OFTEN.
Since many Of the family are un
able, because Of age, to attend th
village church, where each Sunda,
Superintendent Riggs becomes Paste
Riggs, chapel services are held severs
times each week in the assembl,
room. The house, though young il
years, is we'll known to the brethrel
Of the cloth, and they drop in frequent
ly and informally to visit for day o
two and always meet with hearty vel
come when they lead in prayer.
At meals, also, it was noticeable
how unlike most institutions this hom
is. The conservatory at the soutl
end of the dining room was a mass 0
living green, the table appointment
we're attractive and the pretty, white
capped young maid served Dime
which, I was told, was all donated 0
sent in by the Baptists throughou
Missouri. Indeed, Sister Riggs tell
me, the table is almost entirely sup
piled by parcel post
The Ladies' Aid Society of Bismarc