USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Sketches and statistics of Cincinnati in 1851 > Part 13
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150
CINCINNATI ORPHAN ASYLUM.
the latter, they are permitted to introduce the students of the col- lege to witness the treatment of diseases, the performance of opera- tions, and to receive clinical instruction in the hospital.
CINCINNATI ORPHAN ASYLUM. Elm, near Thirteenth Street.
THIS has been built up by contributions from the citizens from time to time. It is a well-planned and proportioned building, which has cost about $18,000, and presents a handsome appearance, its interior arrangements being highly convenient. The dimensions are 64 by 54 feet.
Including the basement, it consists of four stories, which contain spacious sleeping apartments, bath-houses, a separate department for infants, where they are provided with proper nurses, and the sustenance suited to their age; a library, and a well organized school, in which the children are not only taught the common branches of education, but receive that moral and religious training, which prepares them to become useful members of society : at the same time, in the ample grounds surrounding the house, they are enabled to take such exercise as is necessary to promote their health.
The laws of the institution appear formed with a careful regard to the future well-being of the orphans.
No child is permitted to be taken out of the asylum, until it has remained there at least one year, so that vicious habits may be cor- rected, before they mingle with society. The strictest scrutiny is made into the character of individuals who apply for children, and they are placed only in those situations, where, it is believed, the same attention will be given to train their minds to virtue as in the asylum. Stipulations are made as to the amount of education they shall receive, and with regard to their future prospects in life. When a child leaves the institution, a manager is appointed as its guardian, to whom, in case of grievance, it may apply for redress, and look for protection.
An average number of sixty children have annually been sup- ported in the asylum, so that upward of three hundred children have been, from time to time, maintained and educated, under its protecting roof. Sixty-seven orphans and destitute children are now enjoying the benefits which this institution affords.
151
ORPHAN ASYLUMS.
ST. PETER'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.
UNDER THE CARE OF EIGHT SISTERS OF CHARITY. Corner of Third and Plum Streets.
INMATES one hundred and forty-five females.
ST. ALOYSIUS' ORPHAN HOME.
UNDER THE CARE OF THE SOCIETY OF THAT NAME.
South side of Fourth Street, west of Western Row.
INSTITUTED for boys, of which there are one hundred within its walls.
The value of systematic efforts in benevolence, is here clearly shown in the fact, that these asylums are supported by the contribu- tions of sixteen hundred members of the Roman Catholic Church, in monthly payments of twenty-five cents each.
GERMAN PROTESTANT ORPHAN ASYLUM. Chartered 1849.
LEWIS WEITZEL, President ; Adam Hornung, Corresponding Secre- tary ; Jacob Menzel, Recording Secretary ; John N. Siebern, Trea- surer.
Frederic Reisz, Jacob Hust, F. H. Lilie, Simon Fieber, Henry Weichers, Dietrich Meyer, Henry Stegner,-Trustees.
This institution is just about going into operation, and it is ex- pected, will accommodate one hundred and fifty orphans.
The lot on which the asylum has been built, is 484 by 360 feet, and comprehends four acres. The asylum is built on the skirts of Mount Auburn, and is 54 by 48 feet. It is three stories in height- the basement being six feet above the ground, the first and second stories, twelve feet, and the third, fifteen feet high. It will be finished in a few days, and ample resources are provided for its support.
There is an Asylum for Colored Orphans, on Ninth, between Elm and Plum streets, capable of accommodating sixty or seventy chil- dren ; the children being put out to various employments, as soon as they become capable of usefulness; there are, therefore, rarely more than twelve or fifteen inmates dwelling at one time in this asylum.
152
WIDOWS' HOME - HOUSE OF REFUGE.
THE WIDOWS' HOME.
AN impulse was given, by a few public spirited individuals, during the inclemency of the winter of 1850, to the claims of aged, infirm and indigent females on the sympathy and support of the commu- nity. An effort had been already made which secured $1500 toward a building lot, on which to erect the necessary edifice suited for an asylum for individuals of this class. But the enterprise lan- guished under the weight of responsibility to carry it through, when Wesley Smead, the banker, making a thirty days' business of the project, by personal application to all classes, succeeded in obtaining contributions for the erection of " The Widows' Home and Asylum for aged and indigent Females," to the amount of $16,000. Messrs. Burnet, Reader, Shillito and M'Lean, generously presented the in- stitution with a lot on Mount Anburn, two hundred feet square, worth $4000 more ; and a spacious building, with a neat and elegant Grecian front, is now rapidly in progress. This edifice will be one hundred and thirty by fifty feet, three stories high, in the main build- ing, and two stories on the two wings.
Mr. Smead's own liberal contribution of $6000, together with the $1500 already alluded to, as invested at ten per cent., will form an endowment for the support of the institution, when in operation. In addition to this, there are already four hundred annual subscribers, at three dollars each-a number which will greatly enlarge, so soon as the house shall receive its inmates-and the act of incorporation, by the State Legislature, directs an annual appropriation of $500 by the township of Cincinnati. The Widows' Home, when finished, is ca- pable of accommodating comfortably one hundred individuals ; and its projectors and patrons entertain no doubt that the necessary funds for its support, beyond the resources already pointed out, can be raised in the city without any difficulty.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Established April 25th, 1850,-went into operation September 1st, 1850.
THE grounds connected with the House of Refuge are pleasantly situated between the Colerain Turnpike and the Miami Canal, about three-quarters of a mile north of the present corporation line. They were purchased from Joseph R. Riddle, for the sum of $7896.
There are 430,000 feet, nearly ten acres, in the whole tract;
i
153
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
260,000 of which are inclosed with a wall seventeen feet high, and averaging two and a half feet thick. The remaining 170,000 feet, lying between the turnpike and the walls, will be ornamented with trees, shrubbery, &c., and used as pleasure grounds.
The dimensions of the buildings are as follows, viz: The front, facing the road, is two hundred and seventy-six feet long, fifty-seven and a half feet wide, and four stories high above the basement. The centre building is eighty-four and two-thirds feet long. The three lower stories are appropriated for the use of Directors, Super- intendent, Matron, and others, in charge of the Institution. The fourth story is to be used as an Infirmary.
Joined to the main building are the two wings, each ninety-five and two-thirds feet long, in which are one hundred and eight dormi- tories for boys, and seventy-two for girls.
The buildings are of limestone, obtained from the adjacent hills. The coping to the walls, caps and sills to windows, &c., are of Day- ton stone.
The front is ornamented with a beautiful portico, of marble, ob- tained fourteen miles below Madison, on the Ohio river.
In the rear of the centre building, and connected with it by a gallery twenty-five feet long, is a back building one hundred and fourteen feet long, fifty-six feet wide, and two stories high. The second story contains two school rooms, each fifty feet by twenty-five, and a chapel fifty-eight by fifty-two. The lower story is designed for dining-rooms for the boys and girls, kitchen, store-rooms, &c.
Still in the rear is a one story building, forty feet long, used as a boys' bathing-room, and room for washing clothes.
There are in all over two hundred and fifty rooms, including the dormitories. All the rooms are to be warmed by steam. There is to be a boiler outside the boys' bathing room, of sufficient capacity to do all the cooking, washing, heating water, and also to generate steam to warm the whole building completely throughout.
A large drain passes under ground from the Canal to Mill creek, by which all the filth and offal is carried away from the premises.
Large cisterns, receiving water from the slated roofs, will afford an abundant supply of wholesome water for the whole establish- ment.
The rooms are lighted with gas manufactured on the premises.
The entire cost of the buildings and fixtures is about $150,000.
Competent judges, after surveying the premises, pronounce them
154
CINCINNATI RELIEF UNION.
to be the best constructed and most convenient of the kind in the United States.
There are about ninety inmates of this establishment, at present.
OFFICERS .- Thomas J. Biggs, D. D., Chairman ; Miles Green- wood, Treasurer ; Rufus Hubbard, Superintendent; Ann Carter, Matron; Morris B. Fifield, Steward ; William Leuthstrom, Secre- tary.
DIRECTORS .- Thomas J. Biggs, D. D., William Neff, Elam P. Langdon, William McCammon, Charles Thomas, Miles Greenwood, Hudson B. Curtis, Alphonso Taft, and Wm. Burnet.
POOR HOUSE AND FARM.
THE city has purchased a farm, in the vicinity of Carthage, on which paupers, who are now depending on the public for support, will be employed, in earning their own means of subsistence. On this suitable buildings are in process of construction, and will be made ready for occupation in the course of the current year. The farm consists of 164.475 acres, and cost $16,500. The building is ex- pected to cost $120,000. Much benefit will doubtless result to Cincinnati from this institution, if it should accomplish nothing more than to rid the community of idlers and street beggars, which are yearly, in enlarging numbers, coming in from other parts of the country, and from foreign lands.
CINCINNATI RELIEF UNION.
THIS admirable institution owes its existence, as well as much of its efficient organization and success, to the late Rev. James H. Per- kins, whose whole life was spent in promoting the welfare of his fel- low-beings, by relieving suffering wherever it fell under his notice, and searching out objects of beneficence, as opportunity served. His sudden and regretted death is a great loss to his associates in this labor of love.
The present officers are, Rev. A. Blake, President; G. Taylor, Treasurer ; Dr. A. L. Bushnell, General Agent.
The general objects the Relief Union have in view, may be briefly comprehended under the following heads :-
1st. The temporary relief, of those who are actually needy, and who have none to help them but the hand of charity.
155
CINCINNATI RELIEF UNION -HOTEL FOR INVALIDS.
2d. The prevention of street-begging, from house to house, and the detection of impostors.
3d. To act, as a voluntary agent, for the poor and the stranger- by obtaining for them employment, and raising up for them friends.
4th. By a faithful and continued effort, to bring the young under proper and healthful moral influences -- by obtaining homes for the homeless, and instruction and employment for the ignorant and idle.
Many other objects might be mentioned, but it is believed that all may be included in these.
Temporary relief has been given to more than five hundred families, embracing between two and three thousand individuals. The amount given, and the time of its continuance, has varied ac- cording to circumstances.
This has been done, after personal visitation and investigation, by donations of money, provisions, clothing, shoes, beds, bedding, fuel, medicines, and nurses.
As will be seen by reference to the Treasurer's report, two thou- sand one hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-eight cents have been received, and one thousand nine hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-seven cents paid out to the members of the board of control, for expenditure in their respective wards. The above sum, only embraces a part of what has been expended by the society, as donations of clothing, provisions, &c., do not pass through the trea- surer's hands, but are given out in the different wards, under the direction of the superintendents and visitors. The whole amount expended by the society during the year, including clothing, food, fuel, &c., will probably more than double that reported by the trea- surer ; and this sum, will not include a large amount given indirectly through the influence of the Relief Union, by individuals and fami- lies, who are thus made acquainted with needy and worthy cases.
There are two or three houses of employment, for the relief of women seeking work, such as that of the Daughters of Temperance and Female House of Industry, which are the means of obviating much suffering during the inclement period of winter.
HOTEL FOR INVALIDS, AND ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTION. Corner of Broadway and Franklin Streets.
IT is the object of this institution to provide for transient persons sick in our city, and such of our citizens as have not families to ad-
156
TRACT DEPOSITORY.
minister to them, when afflicted, the constant and efficient attention of well-regulated hospitals, with the comfort and quiet of the best conducted boarding-houses. In every city of considerable popula- tion within the United States, the want of such provision has been most painfully felt. Hotels or boarding-houses are objected to, either because of charges too heavy to be long borne, or the want of such nurses as can be trusted ; and to the public hospitals there is attached a prejudice, however unjustly, so strong, that many risk their lives rather than enter them. These difficulties, it is hoped, will be avoided so far as possible, by keeping the best nurses, and by making the rates of the establishment so low, that its advantages may be within reach of almost every class of the community.
The institution is spacious, and delightfully situated ; is superin- tended by J. A. Denis ; has the constant presence of a competent house physician, and will be subject in all its arrangements, to the directions of the medical attendants.
Every variety of disease will be admitted into the house, except those that are contagious.
Beside their uniting in the attendance to the sick of the house generally, they will give special attention to all the operations and diseases of the eye and car, and diseases of females. Diseases of the skin, chest, and urinary organs, as well as the operations of lithotomy, lithotrity, club foot, wry neck, curvatures of the spine, and other deformities. The house is furnished with warm, cold, shower, salt, iodine, sulphurous, and other medicated baths.
Applications for admission may be made to the superintendent, at the house, or to the medical attendants at their residences.
Charles L. Avery, M. D., south side of Seventh street, between Vine and Race. John L. Vattier, M. D., west side of Vine street, between Ninth and Court. E. K. Chamberlain, M. D., Sixth street, opposite U. S. Hotel. John F. White, M. D., south side Fourth street, between Race and Elm.
TRACT DEPOSITORY,
AND AGENCY OF THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
THIS depository and agency, under the superintendence of Seely Wood, as agent of the society, is located in the Melodeon building, 163 Walnut Street.
This City was selected, ten years since, as a central point for the
157
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
supervision of colportage in the west and south-west, and for the reshipment of books to colporteurs, of whom it employs more than one hundred English and German in this State, and in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, whose supplies are shipped by boats running on the Ohio, Muskin- gum, Kanawha, Kentucky, Green, Wabash, Cumberland, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers, and the canals and railroads cen- tering here.
The depository is furnished with a complete assortment of the society's publications, consisting of more than 1200 different books, tracts, and children's tracts, in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Welsh; which in point of execution, are the most beautiful specimens of typography the country affords. These publications are furnished not only to colporteurs, but to individuals and to the trade generally, on the same terms as at the society's house in New York; the purchasers thereby saving five per cent. in freight and exchange.
This agency distributes more than $40,000 worth of publications annually, of which, $6000 worth are disposed of gratuitously, among the destitute native and foreign population, by colporteurs.
AMERICAN B. C. FOREIGN MISSIONS .- Missionary rooms, 28 west Fourth Street.
Rev. H. A. Tracy, District Secretary ; Dr. Geo. L. Weed, Re- ceiving Agent.
Publications .- Missionary Herald, Journal of Missions, and Youth's Day Spring.
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN UNION. - Office, 28 west Fourth Street.
Rev. Samuel Day, District Secretary.
AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION .- Book Depository, 28 west Fourth Street.
Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, General Agent; G. L. Weed, Depositary.
CINCINNATI YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE SOCIETY. - Office, 28 west Fourth Street. G. L. Weed, Depositary
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
CINCINNATI COLONIZATION SOCIETY. OHIO ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. CALEDONIAN SOCIETY. SCOTS' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY. CINCINNATI TYPOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION. HIBERNIAN BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
158
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. CADETS OF TEMPERANCE.
WASHINGTON Section, No. 1, meets Monday evenings, at Foster Hall. Queen City Section, No. 2, meets Friday evenings, at Foster Hall. Cincinnati Section, No. 3, meets Monday evenings, at Losan- tiville Hall.
DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE.
Washington Union, No. 1, meets every Thursday afternoon, in Foster Hall. Olive Branch Union, No. 2, meets every Tuesday afternoon, at Foster Hall. Queen City Union, No. 3, meets every Monday afternoon, at Foster Hall. Bethel Union, No. 4, meets every Tuesday afternoon, at Bethel Chapel, on Front St. Friend- ship Union, No. 6, meets every Wednesday afternoon, at Foster Hall. Cary Union, No. 8, meets every Saturday afternoon.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
Ohio Division, No. 1, meets every Monday evening, at Foster Hall, south-east corner Fifth and Walnut Streets. Cincinnati Divi- sion, No. 2, meets every Thursday evening, at Foster Hall. Queen City Division, No. 3, meets every Friday evening, at Foster Hall. Fulton Division, No. 8, meets every Wednesday evening at their hall in the basement story of the McKendree Chapel, Fulton. Lafay- ette Division, No. 18, meets every Tuesday evening, at Temple Hall. Jefferson Division, No. 24, meets every Friday evening, in the Hall of the Eastern Fire Co., No. 6, adjoining the 3d District School-House, Front Street. Union Division, No. 30, meets every Monday evening, at Foster Hall. Star Division, No. 50, meets Monday evenings ; Hall, corner Clinton and Cutter. Third Ward Division, No. 55, meets on Thursday evening, in Bethel Chapel, east of Front Street.
TEMPLES OF HONOR.
Grand Temple of Honor of the State of Ohio, meets semi-annually in the months of May and November; annual session in May. Cincinnati Temple of Honor, No. 1, meets every Friday evening, at Temple Hall. Washington Temple of Honor, No. 2, meets every Thursday evening, at Temple Hall. Ohio Temple of Honor, No. 7, meets every Wednesday evening, at Temple Hall. Union Temple of Honor, No. 9, meets every Thursday evening, at Hall, corner of
159
MASONIC.
Western Row and Wade. Losantiville Temple of Honor, No. 10, meets every Tuesday evening, in Losantiville Hall. Mechanics' Temple of Honor, No. 17, meets every Friday evening, in Fulton.
DEGREE TEMPLES.
Aurora Degree Temple, No. 1, meets the first and third Saturday evenings of each month, at Temple Hall. Mt. Sinai Degree Temple, No. 12, meets second Tuesday evening in each month, at Hall, cor- ner of Western Row and Wade Street. Apollo Degree Temple, No. 6, meets in Fulton.
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MASONIC.
CINCINNATI Encampment, No. 3, meets second Monday in each month. Cincinnati Council, No. 1, meets 3d Monday in each month. Cincinnati Chapter, No. 2, meets 1st Monday in each month. Mc Millan Chapter, No. 19, meets last Tuesday in each month. N. C. Harmony Lodge, No. 2, meets 1st Wednesday in each month. Miami Lodge, No. 46, meets 1st Tuesday in each month. Lafayette Lodge, No. 81, meets 1st Thursday in each month. Cincinnati
Lodge, No. 133, meets last Thursday in each month. McMillan Lodge, No. 141, meets last Wednesday in each month. Cynthia Lodge, No. 155, meets 1st Friday in each month.
The MASONIC HALL .- This fine edifice stands at the north-east corner of Walnut and Third streets, occupying a front of one hundred and fifteen feet on its southern, and sixty-six feet on its western exposure, and is eighty feet high from the pavement to the top of the angle buttress. It was erected at an expense of thirty thousand dollars, and its appropriate furniture and decorations, cost five thousand more. It is in the castellated style of the Gothic architec- ture of the Elizabethan era. The lower story is partitioned into five store rooms, and a spacious banking hall and offices occupied by Ellis & Morton for banking purposes.
The front is divided by buttresses, two feet face, and eight inches projection. These buttresses run above the battlements, the tops of which are finished with openings in the ancient castle style. The windows to the principal hall are sixteen feet high, and are divided by a heavy centre mullion and cross rail, making four parts in each. Each window is surmounted by a hood of fine cut stone. The win- dows of the third story are nearly of the same size, order, and finish.
160
ODD FELLOWS.
At each end of the building on the south front, two of the buttresses are elevated a few feet above the centre, and returned on the west front the same distance. Each angle of the west front, is made to correspond with each angle of the south front. The centre of the west front is gabled ; in the centre of which is a shield, with an in- scription bearing the name of the building and date of its erection, together with the era of masonry. An iron balcony surrounds the building, on a level with the floor of the main hall in the second story. This is designed for public assemblies, and is one of the most spa- cious in Cincinnati, being fifty-one by one hundred and twelve feet, fronting west, and twenty-three feet high, with an orchestra on the east end. The ceiling and cornice of this hall are finished in the richest style.
The third story is designed as a hall, for the use of the several lodges of the city, together with the chapter, council, and encamp- ment, and is eighty by fifty-one on the floor, and twenty feet in height. There are various passages, antechambers, and committee rooms, which fill up the residue of this story. The chapter room proper, is fifty-one by twenty-eight feet. The finish of these rooms, especially the ceilings and cornices, are truly elaborate. The exterior of the edifice is rough-cast, and the roof slate.
The furniture of the chapter room is of mahogany, with Gothic open panel work, on a rich crimson satin ground. That of the Masonic Hall is of bronzed work of the same character, excepting that the satin is of mazarine blue. The carpets are of ingrain, of the best quality of Mosaic work pattern, with tesselated borders. Seven splendid Gothic chandeliers ornament the various halls-these are lighted with gas.
ODD FELLOWS.
THE Hall of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is at the north-west corner of Third and Walnut.
Grand Lodge of Ohio, meets in Cincinnati on the 1st Wednesday in January and July. Grand Encampment of Ohio, meets on the 1st Saturday, after 3d Wednesday in July, October, January and April. Ohio Lodge, No. 1, meets Monday evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Washington Lodge, No. 2, meets Tuesday evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, meets Wednesday evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Franklin Lodge, No. 4, meets on Thursday
161
PUBLIC HALLS.
evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Wm. Penn Lodge, No. 56, meets Tuesday evening, at their Hall, corner of Eighth and Western Row. Fidelity Lodge, No. 71, meets on Monday evening, north-west corner of Western Row and Wade. Magnolia Lodge, No. 83, meets on Monday evening at Magnolia Hall. Eagle Lodge, No. 100, meets Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows' Hall. German Lodge, No. 113, meets on Thursday evening on Court street, between Main and Wal- nut. Metropolitan, No. 142, meets on Tuesday, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Mohawk, 150, meets Tuesday, at Richardson Hall, near Mohawk bridge. Woodward, No. 149, meets Tuesday, at the Hall on Court street.
ENCAMPMENTS.
Wildey, No. 1, meets at Odd Fellows' Hall 1st and 3d Fridays. Washington, No. 9, meets on Western Row, 28th, 1st and 3d Thurs- days. Cincinnati, No. 22, meets at Magnolia Hall, 2d, and 4th Fridays. Mahketawah, No. 32, meets at Odd Fellows' Hall, 2d, and 4th Friday. Hesperian, No. - , meets between Western Row and Wade street. Schiller, No. 42, meets Monday evening, north side of Court, between Main and Walnut.
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