History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 70

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716

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bequest of Captain Sartwell, with the smaller gifts alluded to, constitute a permanent fund which is held by the trustees as a sacred trust, only the income of which is used for the current expenses of the asy- Inm, and which is expended by the managers with watchfnl economy.

The scope of the work at this institution embraces not only the care and maintainance of the orphans, but the provision of homes for them later on, among fam- ilies into which they are received as adopted children, and in which they are moderately certain to push for- ward the work, nobly begun by the asylum-the work, namely, of fitting themselves to become useful and valued members of society.

The first president of the board of trustees was Hon. S. J. Andrews, who served in that capacity until 1869, when Mr. Philo Scovill was elected to that office. On the death of Mr. Scovill, in 1875, Mr. Joseph Perkins the present president, was elected. The officers of the asylum are as follows: Henry Chisholm, Joseph Perkins, J. II. Wade, board of trustees; officers of the board-Joseph Perkins, president; Dan. P. Eells, treasurer; A. Il. Shunk, clerk.

Managers-Mrs. S. M. Hanna, Mrs. Harvey Rice, Mrs. Henry Chishohn, Mrs. Moses Hill, Mrs. Jason Canfield, Mrs. William Rattle, Mrs. J. M. Hughes, Mrs. J. A. Harris, Mrs. Lorin Prentiss, Mrs. T. S. Paddock, Mrs. B. Rouse, Mrs. N. W. Taylor, Mrs. G. W. Jones, Mrs. John Pool, Mrs. A. T. Slade.

The officers of the managers and asylum are Mrs. B. Rouse, president; Mrs. S. M. Hanna, vice president; Miss Annie Walworth, secretary; Mr. A. H. Shunk, superintendent; Mrs. A. II. Shunk, matron; Miss M. J. Weaver and Mrs. O. R. Wing, governesses; Dr. E. C. Thomas, physician.

The asylum has at present seventy-five inmates.

ST. VINCENT'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.

St. Vincent's was founded in the fall of 1852 by Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rappe, bishop of Cleveland, who, feel- ing the need of an orphan asylum in his diocese, called on the Sisters of Charity (Mother Ursula being then Superior) to take charge of the orphan boys. Very Rev. L. DeGoesbriant, vicar-general, entering warmly into the views of the bishop, made an appeal to the Catholics of the county in behalf of the or- phans. In the city, a fair was held for the same pur- pose.

The efforts of the worthy bishop and his vicar were blessed with success. A framed house, of two stories, was erected near the dwelling place of the Sisters of Charity, and on the 20th of May, 1853, the first orphan boy was received in the new asylum. IIe was soon joined by others, but owing to the want of resources only eleven children were received previous to the 1st of January, 1854. During the ensuing year, however, forty-six were admitted. Four years later the number of children had so much increased that more accommodation was required, and in 1858 a large brick building was begun in the same location.

2. Ittrade

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The new asylum was occupied in 1859. although not entirely completed; in fact, the right wing was not put up until 1865. In 1864 an addition was made to the main part in the rear of the chapel. The total cost has been a little over twenty-two thousand dollars. A large debt was incurred, but through the generosity of the Catholics of the diocese it has been entirely paid. The orphans received and cared for in this institution, down to January, 1829, numbered one thousand two hundred and seventy-two. At the present time one hundred and eighty boys are shel- tered beneath its roof. They are supported chiefly by annual donations from Catholic farmers, increased by the proceeds of fairs held yearly in the city in be- half of the orphans.

JEWISH ORPHAN ASYLUM.

This institution was opened for the reception of orphan children September 29, 1868. The buildings and property formerly used as a Water Cure, on Wood- land avenne, were purchased, at a cost of near thirty- two thousand dollars. At the expiration of about six months the building used for worship and school pur- poses was enlarged, to meet the wants of the rapidly increasing number of children in the asylum. The first officers of the institution were as follows: A. Aub, president : A. Weiner, vice president; J. Rohr- heimer, treasurer: William Kriegshaber, secretary: Henry Greenbaum and Isidor Bush, trustees: L. Au- frecht, superintendent: Mrs. L. Aufrecht, matron.

The number of children received during the first fiscal year was one hundred and thirty-three. The present number of inmates is two hundred and twenty- seven. These children coming from the districts two, six and seven, I.O.O. B., represented, in 1818, the following States, according to the number appended to each: Ohio, fifty-eight; Michigan, fourteen; Wis- consin, eleven: Minnesota, two; Illinois, twenty-nine: Indiana, seventeen: Kentucky, seventeen; Tennessee. twenty-six; Alabama, four; Mississippi, seven: Louis- iana, three: Arkansas, three: Kansas, three: Missouri. twenty-six. There is now in course of erection a large and convenient school-building, sufficient to meet the necessities of the institution for many years to come. This building will cost. when completed. about twenty thousand dollars. The financial situa- tion of the asylum is highly complimentary to those having charge of its affairs. The entire funds and investments of the institution amount to ninety-three thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars and fifty-three cents.

The present officers are as follows: A. Aub, presi- dent; A. Weiner, vice president: Jac. Rohrheimer, treasurer; Dr. S. Wolfenstein, secretary; Abram Hart. Gustavus Levi, David Adler, II. S. Ottenheimer. Lazard Kahn, M. Seelig, M. Ullman and L. A. Moss, trustees. The superintendent is L. Aufrecht; the matron is Mrs. L. AAufrecht; the physicians are Dr. M. Rosenwasser and Dr. Th. Parker.

HOME FOR THE AGED POOR.

This institution, the ninth of its kind in this country, was founded by Ri. Rev. Amadeus Rappe. first bishop of Cleveland. in the year 18;0. The Home is conducted by the members of the society of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The work of the " Little Sisters " began at St. Servan, a small town of Brittany. on the western coast of France. Their la- hors are carried on in this country precisely as they are in Europe. Every day the sisters call at the various hotels, restaurants and private houses, soliciting alms and collecting cold vietuals, coffee-grounds, toa, old clothing, etc., all of which are turned to good use for the benefit of their aged inmates. There are at pres- ent one hundred inmates in the Home on Perry street. in this city, under charge of Mother St. Joseph. superior.

THE HOUSE OF MATERNITY,

This is located on Marion street, and is conducted by the Sisters of Charity, of the Order of St. Augus- tine. Sister St. Joseph is the superior.

CLEVELAND BETITEL UNION.

The society of the Cleveland Bethel Union was in- corporated January 31, 1865. for the purpose of car- rying on benevolent and mission work in the lower part of the city, and of establishing a home for sea- men, railroad men and other transient sojourners. where reasonable accommodations could be offered at a very moderate compensation. In 1868 the society purchased the building and premises on the corner of Superior and Union streets. This location is eentral, and the building and surroundings are admirably adapted to the charitable work of the union. The incorporators were eighteen in number, from whom nine trustees were chosen, viz. : Loren Prentiss, W. B. Guyles, W. B. Castle, Horace Benton, E. C. Pope, G. P. Burwell, G. H. Ely, J. D. Rockefeller and II. R. Hatch.

The various departments or branches of work un- der control of the union, and directed by sub-commit- tees of the general organization, are: First, relief. under the management of the Bethel Relief Associa- tion: second, the Sunday school and mission work: third, the Bethel Home.

The department of relief work was at the outset limited to the lower part of the city and to provision for transient cases in the Home, but the public be- came so accustomed to sending applicants for help to the society that in March, 1823. this work was made to embrace the whole city; aiming to dispense with some of the many relief societies by having one cen- tral organization, through which all distributions should be made. This branch was accordingly placed under the charge of a large committee of ladies and gentlemen, with visiting committees for each ward. and a sub-committee having charge of the work in detail.

At the Home, rooms have been prepared for dis-

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fribution of clothing and supplies, and for furnishing nonrishing refreshments to the destitute poor during the winter months.

An employment office has also been opened, and every effort is made to provide situations for all worthy applicants. A temporary home for women and girls, and free bunk lodgings for men of worthy character applying for shelter, have been provided. The relief department is under charge of Samuel Job, superintendent, who has acceptably filled that posi- tion since 1873.

This work of relief is confined to the worthy poor, hot otherwise provided for, who through sickness, accident or other misfortune, require temporary s- sistance. The plan and principles acted upon have proved eminently successful, and the results are ac- knowledged as examples of efficient and well-directed benevolence.

The principal mission work of the Union is devoted to a Sabbath school, gathered mainly from among the poor, having an average attendance of about five hundred. A committee of ladies hold weekly meet- ings during the spring, fall and winter months, and distribute clothing to the needy children of the school. A girls' sewing school, with an average attendance of about one hundred, meets every Saturday afternoon during the winter. In addition to these, and as a part of the mission work families are visited, devotional exercises are held at the Home at least twice each week, and the subjects of personal religion, temper- ance and uprightness are earnestly presented.

The Ilome department comprises the general man- agement of the Bethel building, on the corner of Su- perior and Union streets, under the superintendence of Thomas Braggins. The revenue derived from the rent of the lower portion of the building is used for the purpose of the Union. The dining-room depart- ment is more than self-sustaining. A library, with a moderate supply of books, has been provided for the use of the patrons of the home.

At the time of the organization of the Union, Loren Prentiss was elected president, and has occupied that position without intermission to the present day. The present officers of the Union are as follows: Loren Prentiss, president; E. C. Pope, secretary; C. W. Lepper, treasurer; E. Prentiss, G. E. Herrick, W. II. Harris, W. B. Guyles, D. P. Eells, executive committee; L. Prentiss, II. R. Hatch, D. P. EclIs, Dr. II. Honltz, G. E. Herrick, E. P. Morgan, T. D. Crocker, W. B. Guyles, S. L. Severance, George P. Burwell, Rev. R. Dubbs, William Bowler, W. H. Doan, Samuel Andrews, W. II. Harris, trustees.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

About 1850 a Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Cleveland, and fixed its location on Superior street where commodious reading rooms, a valuable library, etc., offered many advantages to the rising youth, and conferred numerous benefits on the community. The association flourished until the

breaking ont of the war for the Union, when, as nearly all of the members entered the military service, the society lapsed into inactivity and finally became de- funct.

Soon after the close of the war, however, in 1866, the present Young Men's Christian Association was organized, and occupies to-day a very prominent place among similar organizations in America. In 1872 the association purchased the building No. 79. north side of Monumental Square, and has occupied it since that time. It is neatly and conveniently furnished, with chapel, reading rooms and music rooms, parlors, committee rooms, etc. There is a free reading room for the public, as well as one for the members. Union prayer meetings are held daily at noon, and young men's prayer meetings every Saturday evening.

This association was the first one of its kind to en- gage in special work on behalf of railway employees; in 1822, it opened in the Union Passenger Depot at Cleveland a railway reading room, which still serves many valuable purposes. Connected also with the association is the Newsboys' and Bootblacks' Ilome, where these youthful laborers are not only lodged, but taught in Sunday and night schools-a most worthy and commendable work. The officers of the associ- ation for 1879 are J. B. Meriam, president; C. J. Doekstader, corresponding secretary; G. W. Crozier, recording secretary; T. M. Irwin, registering secre- tary; C. II. Fuller, treasurer.

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

On the 20th of October, 1868, at the close of the State convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, the president, Mr. II. T. Miller, issued a call request- ing the Christian women of Cleveland to meet and form a society "which should do for women as the Young Men's Association was doing for men." The response was general and hearty; so large was the meeting that the old hall at the corner of Superior and Seneca streets was erowed to its utmost capacity. Three weeks later an adjourned meeting was held, at which the society was formally organized.

The first official directory of the " Women's Chris- tian Association" reads as follows: Miss Sarah E. Fitch president; Mrs. O. E. Huntington, Mrs. Geo. W. Whitney, Mrs. Ira Clark, Mrs. S. F. Smith, Mrs. C. W. Lepper, Mrs. Jno. Coon, vice presidents; Mrs .- A. W. Fairbanks, corresponding secretary: Mrs. C. E. Bolton, recording secretary: Miss Ann White, treasurer; Mrs. L. Austin, Mrs. Jas. Barnett, Miss May E. Baldwin, Mrs. L. F. Mellen, Mrs. D. P. Eells, Mrs. A. T. Osborn, Mrs. W. II. Keith, Mrs. W. P. Cooke, Mrs. D. Houtz, Mrs. W. Mittleberger, Mrs. O. B. Skinner, Mrs. Geo. Pusley, Mrs. George L. Chapman, Mrs. S. II. Sheldon, Mrs. P. B. Clapp, Mrs. James W. Clark, directors.

In April, 1869, the Association was regularly in- corporated under an aet passed March 30, 1864, en- titled "an aet for the relief of benevolent and char- itable associations managed by women." In 1878 the

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increased work required additional measures of secu- rity, and a special act of the legislature was passed for that purpose.

The first practical work was the organization of a committee for missionary labor. This committee now numbers twelve ladies, to each of whom special duties are assigned. One cares for the Sabbath visitations at the City Hospital, and another at the Huron street Hospital; two on alternate Saturdays visit the Work- house, where prayer is offered, hymns sung and Bible lessons explained. Three members make semi- monthly visits to the Infirmary, to read the Bible and give religious instructions. Two others conduct weekly prayer-meetings at the Retreat. A mother's meeting was established in February, 1876, and is held each Friday afternoon in the chapel of the Young Men's Christian Association. IFere garments are made and sold at a low price.

The establishment of a Provident Fund is one of the recent measures adopted by the association. Each poor woman is encouraged to place, each week, in the hands of one of the ladies, such a sum as she may be able to save from her earnings, of which an account is kept, and the amount is held for her benefit in case of need.

The Boarding Home .- Early in the history of the the association, the conviction was forced upon its members of the necessity of establishing a boarding home, where respectable young women, dependent upon their own exertions, could find shelter, protec- tion and the influences of a Christian home. The committee for that purpose, in the winter of 1868-9, made temporary arrangement with a woman ou Lake street, to receive such girls into her house at a moderate compensation. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Stillman Witt purchased for the association property on Walnut street, for the purpose of a home. Other citizens contributed liberally, and the building was enlarged, repaired and adapted to the uses intended. Churches and individuals provided for its furnishing, and on the 11th of November following it was ready for occupancy. In the spring of 1822 Mr. Witt pur- chased the lot adjoining, and by the erection of a new front the capacity of the building was increased from twenty fo more than forty. These apartments are conveniently arranged and neatly furnished. The price of board ranges from three to four and one-half dollars per week.

The Retreat .- Another institution maintained by the association, is the " Retreat," which was opened in June, 1867, at 267 Perry street, where it continued four years. The rent of the house was paid during these years by Mr. Joseph Perkins. In August, 1812, Mr. Leonard Case presented to the association a large lot of land on St. Clair street, better adapted for the purposes of a Retreat than the Perry street property. For the purpose of constructing a substantial build- ing, Mr. Perkins then contributed ten thousand dol- lars. By means of this gift, and by the assistance of other generous friends, the present healthful and at-

tractive structure was erected, being presented, free of debt, to the association in November, 18:3.

The Earnest Worker .- In the spring of 1824, the Committee on Ways and Means decided to publish a monthly paper, having in view two objects: To es- tablish a medium of communication, which the grow- ing work of the association demanded, and to secure a source of revenue.

The first number of the Earnest Worker accord- ingly appeared in June following. A brief notice of it will be found m the "Press" chapter of the general history.

Home for Aged Women .- Another important work conducted by the association is the management of the Home for Aged Women on Kennard street. In the latter part of 1876 a commodious building was erected by Mr. Amasa Stone, and conveyed to five trustees, to be used as a home for aged Protestant women. The management of this institution and an annual income of one thousand dollars, also provided by Mr. Stone, were offered to the association and ac- cepted. An executive committee of seven ladies, from as many Protestant churches, was appointed to take general charge of the Home. This house like the others has been beautifully furnished by churches and individuals. It was formally opened July 14, 1877.

From the organization of the Women's Christian Association to the present time, Miss Sarah Fitch has held the position of president.

The present officers of the association are as fol- lows: Miss Sarah E. Fitch, president; Mrs. Lewis Burton, Mrs. R. R. Sloan, Mrs. J. R. Mills, Mrs. S. W. Adams, Mrs. E. Curtis, Mrs. J. R. Twitchell, vice presidents; Mrs. William W. Butler, recording secretary; Mrs. William M. Meriam, corresponding secretary; Miss C. M. Leonard, treasurer; Mrs. L. Austin, Mrs. J. Barnett, Mrs. L. O. Coman, Mrs. D. P. Eells, Mrs. James Galbraith, Mrs. O. E. Hunting- ton, Mrs. HI. M. Ingham, Miss R. H. Selden, Mrs. M. P. Adams, Mrs. B. W. Jenness, Mrs. C. W. Lepper, Mrs. B. T. Noakes, Mrs. 1. A. Nelson, Mrs. W. S. Porter, Mrs. JJ, S. Prather, Mrs. A. Il. Potter, Mrs. William Sabin, Mrs. E. C. Standart, Mrs. G. B. Senter, Miss A. Walworth, Mrs. A. A. Thorne, Mrs. George Whitney, Mrs. S. Williamson, Mrs. Horace Wilkins, directors; Joseph Perkins, Henry Chisholm, D. P. Eells, John Thomas, Dr. W. S. Strea- tor and Samuel E. Williamson, trustees: Col. HI. Har- ris, auditor.

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

This truly benevolent society was organized on the 13th day of March, 1824. The purposes of the League are very appropriately expressed in the pledge adopted by the organization, which reads as follows:

"We, the Christian women of Cleveland, Feeling that the use of intoxicating liquors has reached a de- gree no longer to be endured, do promise, by the help of God, to use our utmost endeavors to banish this

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evil from our midst, and, in order that our work may be more thoroughly done, we form the Women's Tem- perance League of Cleveland. And we hereby pledge ourselves to discourage, in all possible ways, the use of anything which can intoxicate; and, in order to strengthen our influence in this regard, we promise not to use wine, beer, or any distilled liquors, as a beverage, and not to furnish them for social enter- tainments."

First in order of importance are the three Friendly Inns, under the control of the League, besides which there are three others which are conducted independ- ently. All are located advantageously for the work. Connected with five of the six are restaurant and lodging departments, where needy or intemperate men, desiring to reform their lives, can find good meals and comfortable beds at low prices. The Inns under control of the League are the River Street Friendly Inn, organized April 24, 1874, by the River Street Praying Band; the St. Clair Street Friendty Inn, organized June 15, 1874, by the ladies of the Fifth and Seventh Ward Praying Bands, and the Central Place Frienly Inn, organized September 7, 1874. Auxiliary to the League, and directly and in- directly connected with it as the increase and out- growth of the League work, are the following organ- izations: The East Cleveland reading and morning prayer-meeting room, established April, 1824; the Collinwood chapel, organized with a Sabbath school May 5, 1844; the East Madison avenue chapel, built during the summer of 1875; the Ontario street taber- nacle, built for promotion of the temperance work by W. Il. Doan; the " Doan Guards," a military tem- perance body, organized in 1874; the " Eighteenth Ward Friendly Inn, organized in 1825; the South Sude Friendly Ilome, opened January 1. 1875; the Peart Street Friendty Inn, organized February 17, 1826; the " Society of Yoke Fellows," " rescued," as their constitution says, " from the vice of intemper- ance, through the mercy of God and the prayers of Christians," which was formed in March, 1877, and now has a membership of one hundred and twenty- five; the "Open Door." an institution founded by several ladies of the Central Inn Committee, July 3, 1827, which grew out of the necessities of temperance work among the wretched women of that neighbor- hood, and in which, since its establishment, one hun- dred and seventy-five of the neediest class of women have received temporary help and shelter.

The following are the present officers of the League: Mrs. J. S. Prather, president; Mrs. Horatio C. Ford, Mrs. George Worthington, Mrs. E. HI. Adams, Miss F. Jennie Duty, vice presidents; Miss M. E. Inger- soll, recording secretary; Miss F. Jennie Duty, cor- responding sverotary; Mrs. A. H. Potter, treasurer.

CONVENT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

The monastery of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd of Angus was founded July 31, 1829, and was established as a generalship by Pope Gregory XVI.

July 9, 1845. The convent at Cleveland was founded by Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rappe, bishop of the diocese, on the 23d of July, 1869. For the first six years its work was conducted in a dwelling house, No. 397 Lake street. In 1875 the large convent building on Sterling avenne was completed and occupied.

The institution is intended as a reformatory for women and a protectory for children, under the gov- ernment of a superior and thirteen cloistered and seven out-door sisters. The inmates at present num- ber ninety-eight, of whom thirty-seven are in the children's department; forty-seven are in the reform- atory and fourteen are magdalenes. The convent is maintained by the industry of its inmates. Mother Mary of St. Alphonse is the present superior.

FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

During the month of February, 1868, a meeting of the Cleveland Fire Department was called at the chief engineer's office, having for its object the better protection of its members against accident or sickness. The members had tried for several years the plan of accidental insurance, which only protected them against accident, while the life of a fireman is not only one of constant danger and severe toil, but one which in a few years breaks down the hardiest con- stitution or produces early death. After several preliminary meetings a plan of organization was ar- ranged, and a constitution adopted for the govern- ment of the society, which was to be known as the Cleveland Firemen's Relief Association. At the or- ganization sixty members of the department signed the constitution and became members of the associa- tion. James Hill was elected president; Edward Lindsay, treasurer, and Samuel Brown, secretary.

By section seven of article four of the constitution it is provided that the proper officers shall visit and attend to the wants of the sick members, and report to the president, or in his absence to the vice presi- dent, who may cause a weekly order to be drawn on the treasurer to the amount of ten dollars per week, for a period of twenty six weeks, or until recovery, provided the claimant furnishes a certificate from his attending physician, or from the surgeon of the asso- ciation (if demanded by the president ) to the effect that he is incapable of performing service.

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History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 70

Author: Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716