South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-04
Good VIII Week
Why It's Needed
History of Orphans Home
is Filled With Deeds
Of Charity.


I have been asked TO give a history
of the Orphans home to help the
Good VIII week this month. To write
history Of this home would be
greater work than anyone could &C
cOmplish in a few days time. indeed
book could be written of the children
that have entered this home and gone
from il 10 new homes. II was 33 years
last May since it was organized, quite
span out of the lives Of the women
that had this broad vision TO help the
dependent children, these that are left
20 the care of the public. -Four OF
the charter memb ers are Twin; and
three OF them are active members.
Mrs. Tabur Ham, Mrs. A. Ney, Misha-
waka and Mrs. ]. NJ. Studebaker and
Mrs. +. S. Reynolds of South Bend.
Mrs. Reynolds asked last June TO be
placed on the honorary council be-
cause owing to i'll health she was no
longer able to do active work. The
board did so at the annual meeting.
Mrs. Reynolds has been a good friend
TO this home. She has given not only
hard work good advice, but most
generously with her means. 1t was
she that gave the Fairgrounds and the
equipment which has been such q joy
10 the children, and many other ways
she has given of her means to help
carry on the work. This home was
organized in the basement of the
Methodist church. Mishawaka, by a
group OF interested women of the w.
G. T. L. in the month of June 1882
From this group, a board of man
ayers was elected. The name given
this new institution was Orphans
home association of St Joseph county.
suitable house was rented in the
west part of Mishawaka The furni-
ture for this house was very simple.
donated by the newly elected board
and interested friends. The first in
mates were five little girls brought
from South Bend. the oldest five
years. In 1884 six more counties
were solicited TO send their orphan
children to this home. The following
counties: Elkhart, Kosciusko Noble.
Miami, Steuben and Union. The con-
tract read that the commissioners
were to pay the home % percent per
day TO feed. clothe and care for when
sick. and burial in case Of death. This
brought more children under the care
Of the women managing this institu-
ton' and yet they wished TO do a
greater work
June II, 1889, the institution was
reorganized under the name of Chill
dren's Aid society of Indiana. but the
board of managers have always re-
tanned the name of Orphans home.
1t is, however, incol pOrated under the
name of the Childrens' Aid society of
Indiana and Orphans home, South
Bend and Mishawaka
In 1899, with the help and encour-
agement of the good people of Mish-
awake and South Bend, the board of
managers bought the Lang property.
10 acres. The house on the grounds
was used for the administration
building and a frame house erected
on the grounds east of this. was for
school dormitOry and nursery. These
served the purpose for the work for
several years. In 1907 plans were
made to erect the present home. that
stands as monument to the women
that have given time. strength and
money to this noble work
The late Mrs. Dempster Beatty was
president of the board of directors
during the years of buying the Lang
property and erecting the new build
ing, and no small part of credit is
due Mrs Beatty for this advanced
step in the work A woman of great
executive ability and determination
helped the board 10 undertake this
formidable piece of work.
The home has been sheltered in
this new building eight years. The
number of children cared for varies
from 175 to 200, with better eol1iD-
ment more Ct1Ctent work has been
done for the children. A good graded
school which is under the school
board of Mishawaka, manuel train
ing for the boys. sewing and house
hold work for the girls, gardening and
farm work for both makes the educa-
tlonal equipment almost complete
A board meeting is held at the
home the second Tuesday Of each
month. beginning at I 0 a. IN. and last
ing until late in the afternoon. There
are Is directors. nine from Misha-
waka, the same number from South
Bend; from these. the officers are
elected at the annual meeting There
is very little change in the personal
OF the board from year to year. only
by removal from the cities or death Is
a change made The board has re-
Gently created a waiting list. on which
az present, there are two names Mrs.
George Cutter and Mrs. E II. O'Hara.
All business of the home is taken mn
at these meetings of the board. Re-
ports are given of the children and.
also, a report of the visitor for the
month,
4 we'll eQufDDad boSDffaI - H. IA