Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-20
MRS. DODGE GIVES
ST. S|MONS ESTATE
FOR BOYS SCHOOL

ROME, Ga. Oct, lS.-ConNinced
after thirty years operation of a
children's home on her st. Simons
Island private estate that much of
her effort goes for naught, because
boys reared there to the age of IA
or Is go out from under her train
ing, Mrs. Anna Dodge. wealthy
Georgia woman, has decided $500
acres of rich land valued at $780,
900 to a board of trustees whom she
will name, to be used for the opera
ton and endowment of q vocational
training school for boys, it is an
nounced by John A. Metcalf, asso.
ciated with the Citizens and South
ern Bank of Atlanta. 1t is expected
that 400. boys will be enrolled, 40 of
whom have already applied for
places The school will be made as
nearly self-sustaining as possible by
the products from the farm. to be
operated by the students.
Since announcing her plans, but
without soliciting contributions, gifts
totaling $4,000 already have been
made to the institution, Mr.. Metcalf
said. t@&
NhI 5s tl(O06OJ N4CLOOlAy' cOAAAA L
Rose, internal revenue collector,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Thornton Marye.
of Atlanta, we're here Wednesday to
view building at Berry schools,
an Institution somewhat like the one
to be established. Mr.. Marye is an
architect. He drew the plans for
the Atlanta Woman's building.
Although twenty-three boys from
Mrs. Dodge's school for children
have graduated at colleges, she has
realized for fifteen years that her
plan was often futile, because after
leaving the environment and train
ing of her school, the boys often
failed to go forward. Some of cher
boys" have attended Berry schools
and others have gone to college, but
many of them have gained no other
education after leaving her home.
For this reason, she has decided to
establish a school that will take
boys from the scrap heap" at their
most impressionable age and make
men of them.
No charge Whatever will be made
for tuition or board at the st. ST.
mons School for Boys, according to
Mr.. Metcalf who is assisting Mrs,
Dodge in launching the institution.
Any boy who desires to secure an
education but has not the money to
do SO, will be admitted 1t will not
be. q school for correction or refor-
nation, but boys who have become
involved in juvenile court or who
have become unmanageabl in their
homes also will be accepted. Stu
dents will be required to pass only q
mental and physical examination
showing that they are qualified to
be developed.
Under the deed of the property,
the board of trustees, which will
include the governor of Georgia, will
be self-perpetuating AS vacancies
occur, the governor of the state will
appoint a member to fill the place.
The board will consist of seven mem
bers. The property is unincum.
bered by debt or any other claim.
During the thirty years that Mrs.
Dodge conducted the children's home
she never once asked for a contribu-
ton, but maintained the institution
from her private funds. She and
Miss Martha Berry. founder of the
famous Berry schools at Rome, are
intimate friends.
lie III OIJGlLy COuSlStS VI Z,OOU
acres on St. Simons Island between
the ocean and the Frederick river.
The deed to it dates back to the orig
pal charter granted to General
James Oglethorpa, and the land is
said to be the only real estate aCtu-
ally owned personally by the founder
of Georgia. One hundred years ago
the estate was owned by Maj Or
d inf~ l,a Low cln
owner in the south, who operated a
gigantic rice plantation. He married
Fannie kimball, famous actress, but
Mrs, Butler wrote a book against
slavery which is said to have
started the Civil war"
Mrs. Dodge came into possession
of the property many years ago. She
has informed only few close friends
about her plans for the St. Simons
School for Boys but already $4,000
is available for the building fund and
Mr.. Mayre has been engaged as the
architect. He has studied he land
scape and has ADOPTED the Spanish
style of architecture which was used
by Major Butler In the construction
of his plantation home many years
ago A handsome cornerstone is be-
ing carved in Atlanta and on Oc-
tober so il viii be laid with formal
ceremony for the construction of the
chapel the first building to be
erected.
Mr.. Metcalf, who is prepared to de-
vote much time to the institution.
- a successful Atlanta banker. He
IS d prominent !ayman of the Meth
ndist church. J. T. Rose, who also
j. deeply interested in the plans, IS
chairman of the board of stewards
of the First Methodist church, At