The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-28
ODD FELLOW HOME
At CULLMAN ADDS
CREDIT TO LODGE.
Orphan Children Cared For
Under the Supervision of
Daddy" MiIIer-Raise
Own Foodstuff

CULLMAN, Ala, Jan. 27.-(Spe-
cial.) Alabama Odd Fellows
Home. located here, has during it's
IA years existence established itself
as one of the most efficient institu-
tons of its kind in the state, accord
ing to statistical reports from such
homes in all parts of Alabama. The
home, which is maintained by the
grand lodge of Odd Fellows in Ala
bama, has as it's purpose the care
and education of orphans of members
of the order and the support of
widows of Odd Fellows. 1t also
cares for aged and INDECENT members
of the lodge.
The Alabama Odd Fellows Home
was organized at Cullman December
1, 1909, with e. B. Miller as super
intendent, and Mrs. Clara B. Miller.
his wife, as matron. Since that time
the home, under their direction, has
grown until odd Fellows in the state
claim it to be credit to the sover-
eign grand lodge of America.
Raise Own Food.
The home has a farm of 234 acres,
of which $50 are under cultivation.
On this farm all of the supplies of
the home are raised. According to
Mr.. Miller the home buys no food
stuffs except flour, sugar and coffee.
During the year 1922 more than 400
gallons of tomatoes were canned for
use at the home. Eight hundred
gallons of syrup and 1000 cans of
beans repose on the shelves in the
cellar of the main building of the
home ready for consumption by the
children. Other staples are grown
and stored in like proportion. The
annual sweet potato crop of the
home farm is from 1,400 to 1880
bushels.
The home is noted for the health
full condition of its. children, Mr..
ent time 90 children in the institu-
ton and the amount of money spent
for medical attention for them dur
ing 1922 was only $43. Mr.. Miller,
or Daddy as he is affectionately
known to the children, attributes
this remarkable record to the meth
cd in which the children are cared
for and the routine to which they
are subjected. So successful is the
plan adopted by the home in caring
for the children that most of the
s43 spent for medical attention dur
ing the past year was for those just
admitted to the institution.
Rise At O'Clock.
The schedule followed at the home
runs like this. The rising hour is
o'clock. Following breakfast and
the early morning chores every child
attends school from o'clock to IL
o'clock. The school for the young
sters Is taught by Mrs. Miller and
teachers from the Cullman schools.
The older children attend the Gull
man county high school. Afternoons
are devoted to work and play.
1T don't hurt them to work." Mr..
Miller declared. Every child has
certain tasks to perform. The boys
work about the farm and outside,
while the girls help with the house
work. The home is just like one
big family.
This last statement by Mr.. Miller
Is one that strikes every visitor to
the home. From the groups of happy
children playing in the great yard
surrounding the main building to
the older boys working about the
dairy, the piggery. the cane mill or
the woodpile every thing runs like a
well regulated and well ordered
family.
Fit Children for Life.
Since the home was founded in
1909 a total of 308 children have
been admitted to it. These children
are trained and cared for until they
reach tho age when they are able
to care for themselves. Upon leav-
ing the institution they are we'll
fitted for life and the records kept
by Mr.. Miller show that all of them
are making good.
The general supervision of the
home is in the hands of board of
trustees elected by the grand lodge
of Odd Fellows. Members of this
board are John Ellis, Jacob Burger
William Ellis, r. E. Lee and Fred
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