USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > Kansas City, Missouri : its history and its people 1808-1908 > Part 34
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The Kansas City Provident association was incorporated December 20, 1880. The members of the first directory who also were its incorporators, were B. A .. Sheidly, Kersey Coates, Witten McDonald, Theodore S. Case, George H. Nettleton, Charles S. Wheeler, W. P. Allcutt, W. S. Gregory, John W. Byers, Thomas K. Hanna, J. V. C. Karnes, E. L. Martin, W. B. Grimes, J. M. Lee, M. B. Wright, T. B. Bullene, L. K. Thacher, C. A. Chace and C. B. Leach. Its functions, as stated in Article II, are "to look after the inter- ests of the poor of Kansas City, Missouri, to aid them in securing employ- ment when expedient and otherwise to assist them in such ways as may be deemed most judicious." As will be seen by the foregoing Article it was organized on a basis sufficiently broad to permit of charitable reliefs of any nature. However, its efforts have been confined chiefly to giving aid of a
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material kind both to individuals and to families, as well as to procuring or furnishing employment whenever possible. The association, operated a stone yard, fuel yard, laundry and sewing room. It also carried a stock of staple groceries from which those needing provisions were supplied. From the time of its organization until the inception of the Associated Charities, in January, 1900, it maintained a corps of skilled visitors who visited with those in need for the purpose of ascertaining their needs. Great effort was made to give relief adequately and to do it in such a manner as to preserve . the self-respect and independence of the recipient, if possible.
After occupying different sites, the association, May 1, 1894, moved from the southwest corner of Ninth and Charlotte streets to the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Locust streets. This property was purchased by the late August R. Myer for the use of the association and was the home of this association for nearly eleven years. Mr. Myer took great interest in the society's work, was its president for several years, and gave the use of this site for more than seven years besides liberal cash contributions to this cause. In the fall of 1904, the association purchased of the Women's Christian as- sociation a three-story brick building at 1115 Charlotte street. After making repairs, it moved to this new location, March 9, 1905, and still occupies the property in 1908, with the Associated Charities, the Visiting Nurse associa- tion and the Kansas City Pure Milk commission as an office and laboratory. The Provident association has been the agency through which many of the business men made their charitable contributions.
The St. Vincent de Paul society is an international organization founded more than one hundred years ago in Paris where its parent house is situ- ated. The Kansas City conferences were established in 1881, the first officials being William C. Gass, president, and John O'Brien, secretary. The two local conferences in 1908 had headquarters at the Cathedral, 412 West Twelfth street, and at St. Patrick's church, 806 Cherry street. It is com- posed of Catholic men who meet weekly, take up collections, appoint visitors to look after the needy and distribute their relief in a systematic manner.
The Humane Society of Kansas City, was incorporated December 24, 1883 with Thomas B. Bullene as the first president. The main objects of this society are to aid in protecting children and dumb animals and in prevent- ing cruelty, and to promote humane sentiments among all classes of persons. This is done by employing agents, with the authority of police; by encourag- ing the organization among children in all the schools of "Bands of Mercy," and by the circulation of books and papers for the purpose of educating both the head and the heart of the young, promoting kindness, consideration and sympathy toward suffering humanity and toward the lower animals. It is maintained by the annual dues of its members, which are $5.00 for each man
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and $2.50 for each woman. An amendment to the charter enables the so- ciety to receive, bequests and to hold both real and personal property.
The House of the Good Shepherd conducted by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, situated at Twentieth street and Cleveland avenue, was estab- lished June 29, 1887, and incorporated December 20, 1887. The members of the reform class are employed in sewing, laundry and domestic work, the income from which helps to defray expense of maintaining the institution. The children of the preservation class are entirely separated from the in- mates of the reformatory, all communication between them being forbidden, and it is the effort of the sisters to give them an education with instruction in the different branches of industry, thus securing for them occupation and the means for future maintenance. This institution owns a tract of four acres and its buildings include a laundry, which is well equipped with modern machinery. The capacity of this home is about one hundred and twenty- five.
The Protestant Door of Hope was chartered under the state laws of Mis- souri, September 3, 1895. It had been in existence for more than a year before the articles of association were filed. It was organized for the purpose of pro- viding a home for the homeless, wayward girls, for those who might come to the home with a desire to reform, those placed there by their parents, guardi- ans, or the officers of the law, to teach them some occupation that they might become self-supporting and to find homes for them when they are ready to go out into the world. It is managed by its officers, board of managers, three trustees, and an advisory board. The officers in 1908 were: Mrs. G. A. Wood, president ; Mrs. J. K. Burnham, vice-president; Mrs. G. R. Chambers, secre- tary; Mrs. G. L. Coomber, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. J. N. Moore, treasurer. Trustees : Judge J. H. Hawthorne, I. E. VanNoy, J. N. Moore.
The Visiting Nurse association of Kansas City, Missouri, originated in December, 1899, as a charitable organization, in the First Congregational Church, supported by the members of the Church and holding its meetings in connection with the Women's society of the Church. The organization was started by Mrs. I. C. Howes, and the initial work of the undertaking was largely carried on through her. The name of Instructive Nursing association was adopted, one nurse was employed, and her work began with one patient. Sixteen months later, on March 30, 1891, it was found expedient to place the growing charity in the hands of a regular board of governing members and call for the assistance of people charitably inclined among all denominations, making it an independent organization.
The name Visiting Nurse association was adopted, and under that name has continued for seventeen years to give help through trained nurses, to all sick among the poor 'in need of assistance, free of any charge. Visits are made
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to the sick in their homes, instruction given on sanitary and hygienic matters, and medicines and delicacies provided where the patient is unable to supply them. Cases for hospital treatment are removed at the expense of the associa- tion The funds for the work are obtained from gifts, membership dues, an annual entertainment and an occasional bequest. In 1908 three nurses are con- stantly employed, and during the year 1907 to 1908, 4,910 visits to the sick were made and $1,863.57 was expended. The co-operation existing between this association and the physicians, the Provident association, and the other charitable societies, has been of the heartiest nature; and during the entire period since its reorganization, the Nursing association made its headquarters with the Provident association and still offices in the Charity Building, 1115 Charlotte street. It has also been a member of the Associated Charities since its federation. The Old Folks' and Orphans' Home was established in Decem- ber, 1889, at 1308 Vine street.
Kansas City with its thirty-four railway lines has become one of the great labor exchanges of the country, and therefore the problem of the transient unemployed has commanded the serious attention of its authorities. In four of the larger cities municipal lodging houses have been organized to supply the needs of those of this class who appeal for public aid. In Kansas City the Helping Hand institute, established in September, 1894, and incorporated in April, 1900, was organized to undertake the management of the transient class. It is, however, a private charity and it also conducts an undenomina- tional religious service. It provides work for the transient unemployed to earn meals and lodging until paying positions can be secured. It maintains a free employment bureau which secured 8,463 paying positions in 1907. It has free shower baths with certain hours reserved for the boys of the North End. In the Women's Department penniless, homeless women are temporarily cared for until permanent homes are found for them. They are provided with bath and laundry facilities. Its lodging department has an equipment of almost 500 beds, with mattress, blankets, white sheets and pillow cases and two large fumigators. Beds are given the sick or disabled, earned by the able-bodied, or sold for ten cents. Meals are given or earned-none are sold. The institu- tion has a representative in the police court every morning, as a friend of the unknown homeless man and as a visitor at the General hospital to attend to errands of mercy for the sick. Other features of the work are, outings for the boys, flower distribution, free ice water on the street; also a gospel wagon with stereopticon pictures in the neglected portions of the city. Its board of directors in 1908 were: George W. Fuller, president; J. A. Carpenter, vice- president; E. E. Richardson, secretary ; S. A. Pierce, treasurer; Gardner Lath- rop; Dr. John Punton; J. W. Jenkins; E. L. McClure; David Thornton; William Volker; James H. Austin; E. T. Brigham, superintendent.
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The Florence Crittenden Mission and Home corporation was organized at the Commercial club rooms in Kansas City, January 24, 1896, and was incorporated March 4, 1896. The subscribers constitute the membership. The incorporators were Elliott E. Richardson, president; Frank Hagerman, first vice-president; Henry S. Boice, second vice-president; James B. Welsh, secre- tary ; and Henry T. Abernathy, treasurer. In addition to the officers the first directory consisted of J. H. Waite, J. W. Montgomery, G. W. Fuller, Gardner Lathrop, John H. North, Henry M. Beardsley, Albert Marty, M. C. Ross, Thomas S. Ridge, and Stewart Carkener. Also an auxiliary board consisting of ten women is elected annually. Article III of the constitution says: "The object of this corporation shall be to establish a mission and a home in or near Kansas City, Mo., for the erring women and girls; and to give them religious, moral and industrial training. The home was first opened February 1, 1896, at the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets, where it remained until September 1, 1898; on that date it was removed to 3713 East Fifteenth street, where it remained until July, 1899, from whence it was transfered to 3005 Woodland avenue. This location was purchased by the Home corporation, which still owns it in 1908.
The Franklin Institute and Social Settlement, with headquarters at 1901 McGee street, is a work that was first undertaken by Joseph N. Hanson in the fall of 1903. Mr. Hanson had sometime previously established the South Side Social Settlement, operating chiefly in the Mastin Flats, otherwise known as McClure flats, situated between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets and Grand avenue and McGee street. In 1903 Mr. Hanson conceived the idea of adding to his settlement work, industrial departments and manual training, and it was at that time that the Franklin Institute became known. This was found to be too great an undertaking for the support it received and it was turned over to J. T. Chafin in June, 1905. Articles of association were filed in August, 1905, under the title of the Franklin Institute and Social Settlement, its first directory consisting of Thomas S. Ridge, president; Rabbi H. H. Mayer, vice-president ; Fletcher Cowherd, treasurer; E. E. Ellis, secretary ; and D. L. James, Edwin F. Weil, W. J. Berkowitz, and Alfred Gregory, members. The manual training departments were at once discontinued and the workers di- rected their attention to the settlement work exclusively.
The Catholic Ladies Aid society was established in January, 1890 and was incorporated in June, 1903. The late Mrs. Joseph T. Ellicott was the leader of the movement and the organization was formed at her home. The incorporators were Mrs. George A. Coe, Mrs. S. K. McCormick, and Miss Elizabeth Davis. The society's motto: "Charity threefold: love of God, love of His poor, and charity among ourselves." This society had several hundred members in 1908 who met Wednesday during the winter months at 203 East
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Twelfth street for the purpose of sewing, and distributing clothing among the poor; also for the purpose of receiving appeals for relief in other forms which are investigated by a committee. No discrimination is made as to the nationality or the religious belief. Special attention is given to children by this society, and a sewing elass for children is held every week where thrift and cleanliness are also taught. A series of entertainments have been given by members of the society every winter and from this source most of the funds were raised to meet the expenses.
The Children's Home society of Missouri was incorporated in 1892, and the Rev. C. F. Williams, the first state superintendent, began his work in 1893. The local board, appointed in 1893, consisted of F. M. Furgason, chairman ; David Ellison, vice-chairman; F. M. Perkins, secretary; J. E. Lockwood, C. O. Tichenor, E. D. Bigelow, E. Northrup, David Thornton, L. A. Goodman, J. H. Waite, Mrs. W. H. Reed and Miss T. A. Wise. Very few changes in the personnel of this board had been made in 1908. The object of this society is to locate destitute, neglected and ill-treated children, to receive them into legal guardianship, to place them in the homes of approved families, and to keep them under observation until maturity. Destitute children throughout the state, physically and mentally sound, not incorrigible, and under twelve years of age, are entitled to its assistance. This is not an orphanage, but a Home Finding society. The state is divided into seven distriets, the Kansas City district including seventeen counties. The society's headquarters in 1908 were at 4427 Margaretta avenue, St Louis, where it has a receiving home. This state society has placed more than 2,200 children in approved families more than one hundred of whom were Kansas City children, who have been placed in permanent homes and are under the observation of the agents of this society.
The St. Joseph's Female Orphan Asylum, Third and Jefferson streets, was established in 1879 and incorporated in 1893. Its officers in 1908 were: Mother. Agnes Gonzaga Ryan, president; Sister M. Ligouri Monahan, treas- urer; Sister M. Brigid Callahan, secretary. The institution is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph's Carondelet, and has for its special objeet the care and education of orphan girls. The Home was founded through the generosity of the Rev. Bernard Donnelly, the pioneer priest of Western Missouri. The Sisters opened the Home January 6, 1880. It has sheltered thousands of little ones who were either abandoned or orphaned. The children receive a common school education and assist with work in the Home. Most of them, having no guardian, are kept in the Home until old enough to care properly for them- selves. Many of those who leave the institution are employed in Kansas City. The Sisters in charge, whose services have been given gratuitously, have ever exercised the greatest vigilance in regard to their well-being after their leaving
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the home, and all are cordially welcomed back when sick or out of employ- ment. The sources of revenue for this institution are: A monthly appropria- tion from the St. Mary's Cemetery association, the proceeds of the Annual Fourth of July picnic and occasional gifts. The home accommodates about 250 children.
The Mattie Rhodes Memorial society was established in 1894 and incor- porated for a term of fifty years February 27, 1896, for the purpose of doing charitable work in and near Kansas City. Its chief activity has been a Day Nursery and for several years conducted a successful sewing school of 70 members, not only for the older girls in the nursery but for the girls in the neighborhood as well Children from 1 to 12 years of age are admitted. It is the constant aim of the membership to surround this group of little children with all the pleasures and advantages of a happy home. The children receive instruction in tidiness and courtesy during this formative period of their lives. A visitor has been employed who calls on the mothers of the children cared for, and does a neighborhood work.
The location of the Day Nursery in 1908 was at 2340 West Prospect Place, with Mrs. G. A. Stevens in charge. The society has a limited member- ship, with the following officers: Mrs. A. F. Evans, president; Miss Lavinia Tough, vice-president; Miss Ethel Ridenour, treasurer; Miss Mary Simpson, recording secretary ; Miss Theo. Mastin, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. A. D. Wright, secretary at arms. A substantial sum is usually realized from the proceeds of an annual Charity Ball and the remainder of the expense incurred is mostly contributed by members of the Society. The Nursery in 1908 has an endowment fund of $2,000.
The Kansas City Day Nursery was organized March 20, 1895, by these women : Mrs. G. W. Chadburn, Mrs Hugh Miller, Mrs. K. L. Mills, Mrs. C. H. Beattie, Mrs. M. T. Runnels, Mrs. G. S. Cartwright, Mrs. H. A. Collins and Mrs. Minnie McCheyne. The institution was granted a state charter in March, 1899. The Nursery cares for the children of the women who work during the day. Children from 1 to 12 years of age arc cared for from 6:30 o'clock in the morning until 7 o'clock at night. Three meals a day are served and a charge of five cents a day is made for every child cared for. About 25 children were cared for daily; the older children were sent to school and the younger ones kept in the nursery. The expenses of the nursery amount to about $135 a month, which is met by three hundred subscribers. Immedi- ately upon organization a home was opened at 413 Whittier Place, which they continued to occupy until the new Home at 1326 Charlotte street was pur- chased at an expenditure of $6,000. This new home was occupied May 15, 1908.
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Kansas City Orphan Boys' Home (Perry Memorial). This institution is in charge of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Its special end is the care and education of orphan boys, those who have lost both parents or only one. Boys who are not orphans, but who, for various reasons are without a home and proper care, are admitted by exception. The institution in 1908 was caring for 115 whose ages ranged from 4 to 14 years. Since the home opened in 1896 the Sisters of Charity have sheltered over a thousand little ones who were either abandoned or orphaned. The children receive a common school education. The sources of revenue for this institution are: A monthly apropriation from St. Mary's Cemetery association; the proceeds of the Annual Labor Day pienie; occasional gifts, and whatever the relatives of the children are willing or able to pay towards their support. Children of any denomination are admitted.
The Mercy hospital started in 1897, with one little white bed, the begin- ning of a Deformed Child's ward. It is true to the original plan-the care of crippled, deformed, and sick children free of cost. The hospital seeks for de- pendent and neglected children and urges its friends to help it in so doing. It was opened January 1, 1904. No suffering child has ever been turned from its doors. Crippled children are largely left to such institutions as the Mercy hospital, the very poor being often quickly pronounced incurable and left to become so. In many instances crippled children may be cured and almost all of them can be helped. Many of the children can be made strong and self- supporting. This is the work the Mercy hospital began in June, 1897. Ground was broken for a new hospital building at 404 Highland avenue, April 10, 1907.
The necessity of a juvenile court in Kansas City was urged by various charitable societies for several years before it was organized, but the idea took definite form in the Men's club of the First Congregational church. One night in the fall of 1901, the late Dr. Henry Hopkins then pastor of the church, spoke on the subject of "The Neglected Boy in Kansas City." His remarks made a deep impression on some of the club members. Young culprits at that time were tried in the criminal court and often were confined in the county jail with older and more hardened criminals. This plan was objectionable. It ruined the culprits beyond redemption.
Richard S. Tuthill, presiding judge of the juvenile court in Chicago, came to Kansas City and spoke to the Men's club on the development of the juvenile court idea in Illinois. The juvenile court law was passed by the state legislature in February, 1903. The county court of Jackson county promptly held that the law was invalid and refused to appropriate money for the main- tenance of the juvenile court. A case to test the validity of the law was taken before the Missouri supreme court. Gardner Lathrop conducted the case free
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of charge. In December, 1903, the supreme court held that the juvenile court law is valid. Judge Tuthill returned to Kansas City in April, 1903, and in an address before the Men's club gave instructions how to organize and conduct the juvenile court. Judge James Gibson of the circuit court was the first judge of the juvenile court. Judge H. L. McCune was the next judge. One of the chief difficulties with the old system was the confining of boys in the demoralizing atmosphere of the jail. Under the supervision of Judge McCune, the county court bought a site on Oak street across the street from the courthouse and remodeled two old buildings which stood on the lot, into a comfortable place where delinquent children could be kept. The home, opened August 28, 1906, is all that its name implies. It is a home rather than a jail. The floors are carpeted. There is always plenty of clean linen. Wire netting is used across the windows instead of iron bars. Every suggestion of a jail is removed as much as possible.
The parental school farm, known as the McCune Home, is an important branch of the juvenile court. At the request of Judge McCune the county court contracted for 100 acres six miles northeast of Independence, where an industrial school was established for bad boys. There the wards of the court have the benefit of outdoor life and are taught to work. A law passed in 1905 gives the county court authority to maintain such an institution. The farm was modeled after an industrial home at Cleveland, O.
The Light Bearers Boys' club had its beginning in 1903 in the home of George M. Holt, then a machinist, later employed as a probation officer. The club rooms at 3112-4 East Eighteenth street are open every night in the week, and Sunday school is held every Sunday morning. The success of this club led to the establishing of the Juvenile Improvement association, with Judge Mc. Cune as president. The association established the Boys' hotel. This is an institution where homeless boys can obtain board at nominal cost.
The Women's Christian Association was organized in January, 1870, and incorporated May 25, 1877. In 1908 the active and associate membership list had grown from a small gathering of ten or twelve persons to one hundred and seventeen, besides which there is a board of seven trustees and a staff of thirty-four physicians. The object of this association is the improvement of the religious, intellectual and temporal welfare of the young women under its care. In 1898, Mr. Thomas H. Swope, seeing the need of a children's home and other charitable institutions in Kansas City, gave to the association a tract of land containing three and one-half acres located at the northeast corner of Twenty-second street and Tracy avenue. This property is one of the least of Colonel Swope's many gifts to. the city.
The first building erected on this plat of ground was for the use of the Gillis Orphans' home. The home is sustained for the benefit of orphan chil- dren or those whose parents are temporarily without means of caring for
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them. The new building on the land given by Colonel Swope was opened April 1, 1900; the former location of this home was on Eleventh and Char- lotte streets, where it was originally opened April 1, 1883. In 1908, 205 chil- dren were cared for; the greatest number in the home at any one time being 95.
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