USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 29
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The fine hospitals of the Homeopathic and Hah- hemannian schools are described in the medical chapter. In addition to all these establishment- another general hospital is now projected, under German auspices, to be erceted in the northeastern part of the city.
ROCHESTER STATE HOSPITAL.
Up to 1836 the insane poor were usually pro- vided for in institutions of different kinds main-
tained by the various counties. In that year the state adopted the policy of caring for those who were thus afflicted, except in the counties of Mon- roe, New York and Kings, which were left to take care of their own. So it went on for twenty years, when the condition of things in our alms- house, where the insane had been confined before that, became intolerable and a new building wa- erected at a cost of $3,000 and occupied in the spring of 1857. Successive enlargement+, which were imperatively demanded, were made, by the most recent of which, three years ago, accommo- dations were provided for 250 patients, in addition to those previously cared for, with six cottages used as "psychopathic wards" for the special treatment of new cases. In 1890 the legislature passed a law by which the state assumed the charge of all the dependent insane, and under this statute the asylum, with all the land connected with it, was purchased for $50,000, the transfer from one board of trustees to the other being made July Ist, 1891, since which time the institution has been known as the Rochester State hospital. The enormous in- ercase in the number of imnates, of whom there are now 790 women, 527 men, is due to the fact that there are only fourteen of these state hospitals, und patients from many adjacent counties are sent to Rochester. One great advance, made four years ago, was the establishment of a colony farm on the shore of Lake Ontario, in the town of Weo- ster, where a tract of sixty acres was purchased, together with an old farm-house, which has been snitably altered for the purpose, so that sometimes thirty of the patients are lodged there at one time. In this vacation home they remain for a few days, and then go back to make room for as many more, having had during their stay the bene- fit of a change of air and seene, as well as that resulting from light work on the farm, in the gar- den or about the house. The present value of the property of the State hospital is estimated at $678,401.17. The officers are Dr. Eugene HI. How- ard, superintendent and treasurer, with a staff of assistant physicians consisting of E. B. Potter, C T. La Moure, Eveline P. Ballintine and E. I .. Hanes. Of the board of managers George Raines is president. Miss Jane E. Rochester vice-president, and William Miller secretary.
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THE INFANTS SUMMER HOSPITAL.
This benevolent institution, located on Ontario beach, began its work in July, 1887, when tents were put up on the Greenleaf farm, and all infants suffering from cholera infantum were received, with their mothers, and cared for. In 1888 the first permanent buildings were erected on land contri- buted by Col. H. S. Greenleaf. Later additional land was purchased and buildings erected to pro- vide ample accommodations for all who applied. The Infants Summer hospital was the realization of the plans of the late Dr. Edward M. Moore and his son, whose many summers at the lake shore had impressed them with the curative properties of the pure air and the benefit to be derived for these little ones by a residence there under ideal conditions of proper food and care. It is a pure charity, as all infants and their mothers are cared for without charge. When the permanent wards are filled tents are erected and additional nurses provided. During the twenty years past all who have applied, who were proper cases to be cared for, have been received. The generous givers of Rochester have always responded to every appeal and have provided funds for all requirements. The blessing of pure milk for our city has been an outgrowth of the Infants hospital, as Dr. Gen. W. Goler, the health officer, was house physician for three years and later on the staff.
In 1900 Louis N. Stein erected and furnished a enmplete nurses' home, which he presented 10 the hospital. The late Frederick Cook bequeathed $10,000 to the Infants hospital, and a memorial building will be erected. The hospital buildings, which are all connected, are all on the same level. The wards are detached buildings, four feet apar!, with a wide overhanging roof and broad piazzas. Of the 1,600 or more infants cared for, a very large percentage are saved. The services of the physicians who were among the founders of this hospital, and of others since then, have been un- sparingly given. Arthur S. Hamilton was its president for the first twelve years, then Harold P. Brewster for three years, and John H. Gregory has been president for the last five years, The other officers are David M. Garson, vice-president ; Henry E. Ball, treasurer ; Mrs. William E. Sloan, secretary. The medical staff consists of Dr. E. Mott Moore and Dr. Richard M. Moore. Miss M.
Elizabeth Daly has been for many years the effic- ient superintendent of the hospital.
THE ROCHESTER OUPHIAN ASYLUM."
It is said to be the fault of the American people to make so large and conspicuous a beginning in anything they undertake that the end must be small and inconspicuous. Surely this was not the rule fifty years ago. The homes, the business en- terprises, the institutions of various kinds had, as a rule, modest beginnings, and, if well managed, a normal growth ensued Comparisons are inter- esting from an historical point of view, but the his- torian must not overlook the long periods of quiet development that stand silent but luminous, back of every achievement, small or great. In the early days of Rochester, and in the late thirties, a home for orphans and destitute children had its simple beginning in a two-story house on Corn Hill. Filling a real need in the life of the young town, it was ably managed and well supported by public- spirited citizens. In time the need for more room was made manifest, and after several changes the large and. commodious building in Hubbell park was completed. Here, in the year 1844, the grow- ing family found a permanent home for the next fifty-seven years. This period of usefulness has been dealt with elsewhere, as has also the terrible fire of 1901 that made a change of some kind in- evitable. That there is a silver lining to every cloud was once more proved true, when up from the smoke and ashes of that truly tragic calamity rose the fair vision of Hillside, the new home of the Rochester orphan asylum. Tried by the or- deal of fire, the olden plan of housing many little children in one large building was found wanting. and from the embers of that fearful morning there has grown into being a veritable children's village, where cottage homes vie with one another in dem- onstrating to the people of Rochester the wisdom of placing dependent children in comparatively small groups where a normal home life can be more perfectly realized. The new location is in itself exceptionally beautiful. More than thirty acres of land, including fertile farm land, along Highland avenue, and wooded hill slopes that lend unending interest to children, provide an ideal
.This sketch was contributed by Mrs George C. Hollister.
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store-house of practical knoweldge and rare beauty. The view from the crest of the hill is almost unsur- passed in its wideness and variety. Who shall say that the lives of many a man and woman will not be better and sweeter for the childish memories of those glorious suburbs and long stretches of quiet meadow lands? It required a good deal of courage on the part of trustees and managers to dare, with limited means, to carry into effect the most modern and perfect method known for the care of this class of dependent children. Five cottage homes, with an administration building and school-house, look down upon the city that gave them birth, with a response so full of cour- age and happiness that those who dared undertake so radical a change are glad at heart and hopeful of spirit.
'Three of the cottages have been gifts from friends of the asylum. The only place in Roch- ester where young babies are cared for is at Hill- side, in a lovely cottage provided by Dr. and Mrs. Edward W. Mulligan. Here a trained nurse, with able assistants, is in charge of from ten to fifteen babies. This class of work is very expensive, as it requires four trustworthy attendants. Aside from this cottage for babies George Eastman has given one for boys, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Cook one for girls. One school building repre- sents the Potter Memorial bequest, to which Mrs. B. D. MeAlpine, a daughter of Henry S. Potter, has added much in the way of decoration and fur- niture.
It is the aim of this institution to send out its children useful members of society, not unac- quainted with the ways of life among people gen- erally. To do this it is necessary that this class of children should not only be taught to work, but should learn to earn money, to save money and also to spend money. The cottage plan makes all this more natural and quite possible. To have all one's needs supplied from some unknown source is not good for any child, least of all the child who must eventually earn its own livelihood. To meet this need a small department store is run in the admin- istration building. Here the cottage mother send" one or more of her family daily for necessary food supplies, and from time to time for shoes, cloth- ing, etc. The boys and girls can here have an opportunity at keeping store, learning values in this way, as well as the keeping of accounts. As
soon as the services of a child have a money value a suitable wage is given and a bank account started. From these earnings the child provides certain articles of clothing for himself. There are also other ways of earning. The boy who raises chick- ens, paying for their food supply, and then sell- the eggs at the market price, learns many valuable lessons, Patience, faithfulness, honesty, as well as finance, become very real things to him. Prices are discussed and ways and means considered in these cottage homes.
Once a month the cottage mothers meet with the superintendent and compare notes in true housewife fashion. Just here should come in the real training of these foster-mothers, giving an:1 receiving advice under the wise direction of a re- sponsible head. Manual training forms a part of each child's preparation for life, and through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Bausch a large room in the Potter school building has been fitted up for this purpose. The home life in each cot- tage varies somewhat, according to the ideas of the cottage mother and also according to the ages of her little family. One home represents a mother, one helper and twenty-five children. All the work suited to children is performed by them. Sweeping, dusting, bed-room work, dining-room work, cooking, dishwashing and laundry work are all taught in turn to groups of four children, boys and girls alike. It is surprising to see the best of bread made by mere children, and the great pride with which it is compared with "bought bread." The long summer vacation gives ample opportu- nity for the best and healthiest of all work, Na- ture's garden must be cultivated, ploughing, sow- ing, reaping, each teaching its Icsson again of faithfulness, patience and honesty. Vegetable. fruit and flower gardens are all included, in the care to be taken of them, in the plan of daily oc- enpation, and healthy bodies are glad to rest when night comes, instead of following out the unwise or mischievous fancies of active young minds. Rochester has reason to be prond of its Hillside Home for children. May its public-spirited citi- zens generously rise to meet all the increasing needs of so worthy and so vastly important a char- ity.
The financial statement shows that the land cost $26,667.15. the various buildings, with their furniture, 889,962,85, making the real estate worth
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$116,630; the investments producing an income are $93,333, making the total property of the asylum $209,630. The treasurer's report for 1906 shows that the receipts last year were $13,510.41, the disbursements 8556.70 less than that. The cost of maintaining one cottage one year is $3,200; the cost per capita, including clothing, ete., is sixty-two cents a day; under the old institutional plan it was forty-four cents. It is well worth the difference.
The board of managers consists of thirty women, the president being Mrs. George C. Hollister, the vice-presidents Mrs. John N. Beckley, Mrs. Levi F. Ward, Mrs. Frederick Cook and Mrs. Wm. A. Hubbard, jr .; the recording secretary Miss Alice C. Cartwright, the corresponding secretary Mrs. Wm. B. Hale, the treasurer Mrs. E. W. Mulligan, the registrar Mrs. W. S. Hubbell. There is also a board of trustees, consisting of the mayor ex officio and fourteen men elected, of which Cyrus F. Paine is president, John N. Beckley vice-president, Thomas B. Dunn secretary and Harold C. Gorton treasurer. The physicians of the institution are Dr. Seelve W. Little and Dr. Joseph Roby, the superintendent is William F. Van Dohlen, and the matron is Mrs. Burrows.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHAN ASYLUMS.
St. Patrick's Asylum .- In 1841 the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum society of Rochester began the crection, on Frank street at the corner of Vought, of a brick building three stories high. for the reception of orphan children, but it was not until 1815 that the society was incorporated. the first trustees being Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, Rev. Charles D. French, Rev. Lawrence Carroll, Hugh Bradley, Patrick Doyle, Patrick Barry, James O'Donoughue, James Gallery and Michael Mul- len, and the pastor of St. Patrick's being president of the board ex officio. In the building referred to, which was enlarged in 1847 and a wing added in 1865, only girls were received, the orphan boys being then and for many years afterward sent to Lancaster and to Lime Stone Hill, near Buffalo. Membership in the society was maintained by the payment of monthly dues of twelve cents, with fifty dollars for life membership, and these fees. together with fairs and Christmas offerings in
the churches, kept up the asylum. Sisters of Charity came on to take charge in 1845, and in 1863 the trustees turned over to them the whole management, which they retained for seven years and then resigned, whereupon Bishop McQuaid put the Sisters of St. Joseph in full control. The old building was abandoned in 1893, the cathedral chapel being erected on that spot, and a new asylumn, a fine four-story structure, was reared on Clifton street, near Genesce, $25,000 being raised for its construction at a fair in which most of the churches participated. Sister M. Cecilia has been in charge since 1894, assisted by eleven others; the present number of orphans is 107.
St. Mary's Asylum .- Bishop Timon of Buffalo concluded in 1864 that the Catholic orphan boys of Rochester should be supported in this city, so he opened an asylum for them near St. Mary's church on South street, which is now a part of the convent. Nine Sisters of St. Joseph came on to take charge, Mother M. Stanislaus being the su- perior. The institution was moved in 1868 to an old building on West avenue, corner of Genesee street, and three years later the accommodations were increased by the erection, adjacent to it, of a stone structure of three stories. Sister M. Jus- tina, who has been in charge since 1891, is assisted by sixteen others. In that time 1,069 children have been received and discharged, the present number being 152.
St. Joseph's Asylum .- Under the title of "St. Joseph's German Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum of Rochester and Monroe County" this society was incorporated in 1863 by members of St. Joseph's church, the original trustees being Joseph Hoff- man, John Groh, Jolin Wegman, M. Weigel, Ber- nard Klein, Louis Ernst, Roman Schlitzer, Vitus Sanderl, Joseph Schutte, John Soeder, B. Gom- menginger and E. Weigel. The asylum itself had its beginning in 1866, when a frame house on An- drews street, near Franklin, was occupied for the purpose, then two small adjacent buildings being taken in, the main building, four stories high, of brick. heing erected in 1874 and raised to its present enlargement in 1882. It is under the management of the Sisters of Notre Dame and the number of inmates, both boys and girls, is about one hundred.
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THE JEWISH ORPHAN ASYLUM.
In November, 1877, the three Jewish orphan asylum societies of Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse joined together in the formation of the Jewish Or- phan Asylum association of Western New York, the office and headquarters of which have been in this city since then. The asylum is on St. Paul street, between Evergreen and Scrantom, in a building that has been made to conform with the needs of the case. Out of the six hundred and more members of the association over one-third reside in Rochester, and the officers live here, Abram J. Katz being the president of the board, Joseph Michaels the treasurer and Rev. Dr. Lands- berg the secretary. while Isaac Adler and S. M. Benjamin are the other Rochester members of the executive board. Members pay an annual contri- bution of four dollars or more, and the accumu- lated fund is now 865,000. There are at present thirty-five children in the asylum, and every ef- fort is made to place them, as fast as practicable, in desirable families.
ROCHESTER HOME FOR THE AGED.
As this institution has been known for fifty- eight years by another name it scetne necessary to preface this account with some explanation of the change. The original object of the Home was the temporary relief and shelter of homeless and friendless women, so "The Home for the Friend- less" seemed descriptive, and at that time eminent- ly suitable. But in time other institutions took charge of the children, the sick and the women seeking temporary shelter and employment, and this became exclusively a permanent home for aged women. Soon after the character of the institution was changed, objections to the name be- gan to arise and the desirability of another name was frequently considered by the board of man- agers, but no action was taken until the fall of 1906. At that time the managers reported that in their work of collecting they found that the ob- jection to the name on the part of their contribu- tors was strengthening rapidly. Modern philan- thropists emphasize the thought of the "home" and object to the word "friendless." "If they are friendless" they say, "it isn't necessary or kind
to publish the fact, and moreover those who give of their time and their means to carry on the work of the institution are their friends." So it was decided to adopt the name of "The Rochester Home of the Aged," looking forward to the time, perhaps still distant, when the scope of the home shall be enlarged and there will be a place for old men and aged couples.
On April 11th, 1849, a group of earnest women, moved by a desire to assist those less fortunate than themselves, assembled at the home of Mrs. Charles Church and organized "the Rochester as- sociation for the relief of homeless and friendleas females." with the following board of managers: Mrs. Samuel L. Selden, president ; Mrs. Charles Church, treasurer; Mrs. Samuel D. Porter, secre- tary ; Mrs. Selah Mathews, Mrs. Edwin Serantom, Mrs. Ingersoll, Mrs. M. M. Mathews, Mrs. J. H. Gregory, Miss Maria G. Porter, Mrs. Samuel Ham- ilton, Mrs. C. Robie, Mra. Jonah Brown, Mrs. R. Lester and Mrs. Stoddard. The only philan- thropie institutions in the city at that time were the Female Charitable society and the Rochester orphan asylum, and the new association undertook to provide a temporary home for "virtuous and unprotected females" while seeking employment in the city. It was intended to make the insti- tution as far as practicable self-supporting by the industry of its transient inmates, in supplying such demand as then existed for laundry or nee- dlework. Its first location was on Edinburgh street, in the half of a tenement house, for which a rent of fifty dollars a year was paid. Mrs. Alvin Ingersoll was the first matron. These were its struggling days, when faith and zeal supplemented its feeble treasury and encouraged the patient workers. The following year the society occupied a small house on Monroe street, and in 1851 a house on Adams street was bought of Ehenezer Ely for $1,400, 8200 being paid down. In this year they received their first legacy, coming from the estate of Mrs. Everard Peck, a warm friend of the new society. This was the sum of fifty dol- lars, which, the record says, "greatly relieved the embarrassed treasurer." In August of that year came three hundred dollars. part of the proceeds of a concert given by Jenny Lind in old Corinthian hall. In June, 1855, the society was incorporated under the name of Rochester Home for the Friend1- less, with these seven trustees: Samuel G. An-
"This skrich af the Rochester Home for the Aged was pre- pared by Miss Minme A. Bellows.
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drews, Selah Mathews, Henry A. Brewster, Josiah W. Bissell, Samuel D. Porter, Edwin Scrantom and Ebenezer Ely.
In 1853, through the agency of Mr. Bissell, the present location, corner of East avenue and Alex- ander street, upon which stood a small and in- ferior building, was selected and by gradual pay- ments purchased. The removal took place the fol- lowing spring and the new quarters were greatly appreciated. The first life inmate had been re- ceived in April, 1853, and now children were re- ceived and cared for until suitable homes could be found for them with adoptive parente, to whom, after careful investigation. they were indentured. A teacher was provided who gave them daily in- struction, and a sewing school was conducted by volunteers. Into this school day scholars were received and prizes were given for the greatest proficiency in sewing. An employment exchange was also established, by which housekeepers could secure servants and servante obtain situations. In 1855 occurred the first donation, when the house was thrown open to receive visits and gifts from its friends. This continued to be an annual ens- tom for over thirty years, but in 1886 the man- agers decided to adopt a new plan and cach one undertook to solicit cash contributions from a certain number of people. The result was awaited with great anxiety and no little misgiving, but the receipts proved to be larger than ever before and they have never returned to the more indirect method of raising money. In 1857 the society be- gan the publication of a monthly paper called The Journal of the Home, whose object was to ac- quaint people outside the city with the aimns and needs of the institution. The paper was published for eighteen years and was edited in turn by Mrs. Alexander Mann, Mrs. E. G. Robinson, Mrs. N. S. Barnes, Mrs. T. C. Arner, Miss Caroline Kendrick, Miss Mary I. Bliss and Mrs. Isaac Hills. In 1859 an amendment to the constitution was adopted, providing for lbe permanent care of aged women, and although it continued for some time to give temporary shelter to homeless and friendhes wo- men it has for many years been distinctly an old ladies' home. The care of children was gradually :elinquished when the Industrial School took up the same line of work, but the nurture and educa- tion of children which was begun and continued for many years in the Home for the Friendless
was the inspiration for the Industrial School. Be- fore the erection of the City hospital the Home also received and cared for some of the sick poor who were pensioners of the Charitable society. By large and special gifts from friends the build- ing has twice been enlarged and remodeled. In the fifty-eight years of the Home's existence it has had but eight presiding officers: Mrs. Samuel L. Selden, Mrs. Selah Mathews, Mrs. Frederick Starr, Mrs. D. R. Barton, Mrs. C. E. Robinson, Mrs. Samuel Porter, Mrs. Horace C. Brewster and Mrs. William R. Gormley. Mrs. Mathews held the office twice, the last term covering a period of twenty years, and Mrs. Porter also held the office over twenty years. The present board is composed of Mrs. William R. Gormley, president ; Mrs. John Il. Hopkins and Mrs. E. B. Chace, vice-presidents; Mrs. Robert G. Cook, recording secretary; Miss Louise U. Little, corresponding secretary; Miss Minnie A. Bellows, treasurer, and twenty-three other managers. House physicians. Dr. Henry II. Corell and Dr. Warren C. Daly; matron, Miss Anna M. Thomas. Directors, A. M. Lindsay, president : John F. Alden, vice president ; Eg- bert F. Ashley, treasurer; Henry Selden Bacon secretary and attorney ; J. Herbert Grant, Albert O. Fenn, George B. Watkins, Charles J. Brown and G. D. B. Bonbright.
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