Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-09-16
Inquiry Into Takoma Park Baby
Home Bogus.

Further inquiry into conditions surround
ing care Of fourteen children given home
by Mrs. Efie S. Dyke. 100 Cedar Avenue,
Takoma Park. this county, has been ordered
by States Attorney Robert Peter. Jr.. fol-
lowing refusal Of the Board Of State Aid
and Charities of Maryland to license Mrs.
Dykes clearing house" for infants.
States Attorney Peter was in conference
Friday with Miss Irma Mohr. director Of the
Montgomery County Social Service League
and Probation Officer of the Juvenile Court,
who was directed to visit the home for
additional investigation. Action by his
office will await Miss Mohrs report.
The home maintained by Mrs Dyke is
said to straddle the District Line. with the
children sleeping in the District and Mrs.
Dyke in Maryland. In a report to Mr..
Peter on the situation. William J. Ogden.
secretary Of the Maryland Board of State
Aid and Charities, charged that when the
District Of Columbia authorities proceed
against her, she contends she is a resident
OF Montgomery county. Md"
Children kept at the home are said to
be boarded at the rate of $50 or $40 a
month, and are said to be babies of young
unmarried mothers. or babies placed tenn
porarily under her care by deserted mothers
and parents unable to properly care for the
children. On May 81. 1926, the District
Health Department revoked license issued
Mrs. Dyke to conduct a home Of a similar
character in Chevy Chase.
States Attorney Peter pointed out that
Mrs. Dyke can be prosecuted under the
provisions Of law passed at the last
session Of the legislature. which specifies
that homes" caring for children must be
licensed by the State Board of Charities.
Refusal of permit to Mrs. Dyke is be-
lieved to mark definite campaign to abol-
ish illegal homes for infants In Maryland.
Should State prosecution force the clos
ing Of the home in Takoma Park. Mrs.
Dyke would be placed in the unusual pre-
dicament of having to dispose of fourteen
babies Immediately. the whereabouts of
the mothers of some unknown to the
matron.
In its report to States Attorney Peter,
the Board Of State Aid and Charities said,
the children appeared to be well cared for.
The mattresses and bedding were clean.
and each child comfortably and tidily
clothed" the report read. There was moth
ing offensive or insanitary in the arrange
ments. There was no sign OF illness dur
ing the period Of our visit. about an hour {;
there was no crying or distress Of any of
the children
However. the investigating cammittee
reported violations of the law which re =
quire that before children less than six
months old can be placed in a home or
institution. authorization by the court or
two physicians is necessary. 1t is further
stated that Mrs. Dyke is lax in keeping
her records and has no entries concerning
children that have left her home.
she claims the children are sleeping in
the District Of Columbia so that she may
place them in Washington hospitals. where
she usually abandons them" Mr.. Ogden
declared in his report TO the States Attor-
ney. Mrs. Dyke is said to have placed
between rs and 80 children in homes for
adoption in the last three years.