Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-18

| Asking no question except to deter
mine that the orphan or neglected
child needs care and home tempo
rarily, the Arizona Children's Home
at Tucson has just closed its greatest
year of work and has launched into
year that promises to bring greater
tasks to its door because the greater
needs of the field. Non-sectarian and
dependent upon the big-heartedness
of the Arizona people, the thought of
race or religion is farthest from the
minds of the management. Removal
of the dangers of neglect to the help
less child is the outstanding purpose
that is kept in mind and to that is
added the effort to bring the child
into surrounding that has whole
some atmosphere, comfortable quar-
ters and kindly attention until hap
pier moment may arrive in its young
! life.
! The story Of the home is a story OF
trials and tribulations; of hopes de-
ferred and of difficulties at times well
nigh insurmountable-a story of inces-
SAINT labor that would have been a
dull and monotonous grind were it
not for the thought that lives were
being saved little ones were being
cared for, neglected and ill-treated
tots were given a fresh start and
/ orphans were placed in the best homes
possible in lieu of those they lost
The Arizona ChildrenS Home was
founded and incorporated in the year
1915, and the first building was at 8S3
East Ninth street, Tucson, Mrs.
j. G.. Wheat'S old homestead.
1t was opened in June OF that
year with ceremonies befitting the
occasion, and the first child to
enter was little tot from Bisbee.
Others from various parts of the state
soon followed
During the spring of the following
year the Fred Hughes house on st.
Mary's road was chosen and some
time in March the little group moved
out there, staying until the present
building was opened in 1921. The
tireleSS little band of workers who
were instrumental in founding the
home and carrying on the work, fl
nally saw this larger building rise on
the land decided to them by Mrs. Julia
A. Attix
The first president of the board,
Mrs. B. F. Daniels, served for some
time, with Mrs. Tom Davenport as
vice president. Tne latter was chosen
as president until three years ago
when she was followed by Mrs j. w.
Buchanan and Mrs EStella CrosSen,
the present leader.
ChiIdren'S Friends
1t is impossible to give credit here
to all those individuals and orgafli-
cations who have helped to carry on
the work; there have been so many
who have helped, and many names
are lost through the passing OF time,
but they all know the satisfaction OF
work well and nobly done. Among
the pioneers may be mentioned Julia
A. Mattox, donor of land, the differ
/ ent presidents, and also Mrs j. Wood
Walker, the first treasurer, who cared
for many children herself. George D.
PurviS, charter member, has been a
steady and consistent worker. Then
later, in the drive to finance the
present home, captains of three teams
stand out-Harry E. leighton, Herbert
Drachman and DR.. Bywater. OF the
$4,000 needed to complete the build
ling, these teams raised $4,000. This,
added to moneys raised in other ways,
totaled $4,000, the amount finally OBJ
| tanned.
| The Arizona Children's Home, as
| the name implies, was intended to be
the statewide scope from the start.
Prior to it's foundation, the California
Home took Arizona children; the Rev.
Gannett pla cling the Baby States
babies from that society.
| Home Nom Sectarian
| The home is non-sectarian with
children of practically every religion
and nationality taken; in fact, the
only race not represented to date has
been the Chinese A Hindoo child,
Indian children, MeXicans, Americans,
of course, and many others have come
and gone, each finally placed in a
suitable private family, making room
for other needy ones.
Always striving to obtain better liv-
ing conditions for the little ones, the
board was able to have the building
ready for occupancy before it was en-
tirely financed. The fact that the
''laying of the cornerstone was not
done until year following the onen-
ing of the home might be humorous
were it not so very touching. The
primary purpose Ito house the or
phans and neglected ones-was carried
out; the dedication could come later.
But the work went on.
Lacks Many Things
When the home was taken over it
A was still far from completion Ir
fact, it still lacks many, many neceS-
sary things A special drive was pu1
+ over to build the fence on each side
r carpenters and painters donating par
g of their labor, The fire escapes werc
obtained from the old Holiday schoo