USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Womelsdorf > A history of Bethany Orphans' Home of the Reformed Church in the United States : located at Womelsdorf, Pa. > Part 6
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"We recommend its future keeping to the mothers and daughters of the Reformed Church. To them it appeals with special force. We pray that under their tactful care and the blessing of our Heavenly Father, all the children brought here may become the children of God and heirs of eternal life."
The cottage was opened for the reception of children on January 11, 1897.
During this period also the new water works and reservoir was built, in 1897, at a cost of $1,400, and two years later the steam laundry was equipped and the Home connected with long-distance telephone.
Thus ended the second period of expansion.
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BOYS BUILDING RETAINING WALL.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE THIRD PERIOD OF EXPANSION-THE NEW SCHOOLHOUSE.
A NOTABLE improvement at the beginning of the third period of expansion was the erection of the retaining wall back of the buildings, along the bank of the woods. It is about six hundred and fifty feet long and on an average, including the foundations about seven feet high. The work of excavating, hauling the ground, digging and hauling stones was done mostly by the farmer and the boys. Four ob- jects were attained by this work; ground was secured for filling up and grading the front yard ; the unsightly bank back of the houses was removed; a larger level space for work and playground secured, and the stones were removed from the woods.
At the Board meeting, in October, 1900, the Com- mittee on Property was instructed to inquire into the necessity of erecting a separate school building, and, if possible, to propose some plan to the Board at the following meeting. The same committee was also in- structed to erect a suitable spring house. This was done during the following quarter, and the present building, eighteen feet square, with an open frame pavilion over it, is the result. The work was mostly done by the farmer, the caretaker and the boys. After- wards it was found necessary to make some improve-
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ments about the spring, both to protect it and to im- prove the general appearance of the place. The total cost of these improvements was $795.61. The Mrs. Louisa Heidenreich legacy was used to pay for the erection of the spring-house. About this time also a new steam heating plant was introduced, at a cost of about $700.
But the most important improvement during this period was the erection of the new school house. The old school rooms in the main building were de- ficient in light and ventilation and no longer adequate to the needs of the Home. Besides this, they were needed for other purposes. Accordingly it was "resolved that we hereby decide to erect a suitable school building, to meet the wants of the Home," and the committee on property was directed to get plans and specifications, and if possible, proposals for the erection of such a building. At the special meeting, on June 11, 1901, bids for the erection of the new build- ing were opened, and after full consideration, it was decided to give the contract to George W. Beard & Co., of Reading. The contract price, not including the item of plumbing, was $7,275.
The work of building was pushed vigorously and the school room was ready for occupancy in the spring of 1901. It is a two-story brick building, with four large school rooms, together with two smaller rooms, which can be used as a library and museum. The building was paid for with undesignated legacies left to the Home by the following persons: Caroline Santee, of Philadelphia, Pa .; John Bruner, of Coopersburg, Pa .;
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
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Daniel Black, of Easton, Pa .; William Keller, of Easton, Pa., and John Heilman, of Lebanon, Pa. The furniture, costing over $500, was paid for by Mr. Eugene and Miss Mary Santee, of Philadelphia. W. R. Lawfer & Co., of Allentown, donated all the window shades and shade fixtures, and Mr. Owen Hess, of Nazareth, Pa., donated slate blackboards for one room. The building was dedicated on anniversary day, Aug. 22, 1902. Rev. Dr. Bausman delivered a brief address, in the course of which he said that the before-mentioned legacies could not have been put to better use than that of paying for a beautiful modern school building. "In this way the money of the donors will be trans- formed into Christian character." The total cost of the new school house, with equipments, was $9,485.13.
Following the erection of the new school building, there was another period of quiet growth and internal improvement, as well as an extension and deepening of the interest of the Church in the Home. This is indicated by the more comfortable condition of the finances and the growing balances in the treasury.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE RESIGNATION OF SUPERINTENDENT YUNDT . ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF REV. W. F. MORE AS HIS SUCCESSOR.
A T the April meeting, in 1904, Superintendent Yundt presented his resignation to the Board. His reasons for so doing are stated in the following words:
"I feel that the time has come when some change is necessary for the welfare of my own family. After living for eighteen years right in the midst of a large family of orphan children, without the privacy which is the priceless boon of every true family circle, I feel that we need some more quiet place of residence and that we ought no longer to deny to our own children that for which I have always plead as the ideal lot of any child, namely, the private Christian family."
The Board of Managers reluctantly accepted the resignation, recording on the minutes with reference thereto:
"The Board of Managers of Bethany Orphans' Home deeply regrets the resignation of Rev. Thomas M. Yundt and his estimable wife, for many years the efficient and faithful superintendent and matron' of this institution. Eighteen years ago they came to us as a young and newly-married couple. To them the superintendence of an orphans' home presented a
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unique and untried field of labor, upon which they seemed to enter not without some misgivings. In a comparatively short time, they adjusted themselves to their novel environments and fully measured up to the requirements of their new calling. Endowed by nature and education for their difficult duties, they succeeded to a remarkable degree practically to take the place of natural parents to our large fatherless family. Kind, tender-hearted and sympathetic in their intercourse with them, wise and humane in their discipline, parental in their religious nurture and training, under their fostering care hundreds of or- phan children grew up into useful manhood and womanhood.
"As the official representatives of this orphanage, they won multitudes of liberal friends and supporters of the Home throughout the Church. To many such they have endeared themselves through abiding per- sonal attachments. To the members of the Board, through years of goodly fellowship, in laboring in the common cause dear to our hearts, they have become friends, loving and beloved, to whom we are attached by bonds sacred and abiding.
"But for their decided and repeatedly urged sense of duty to retire from their official and laborious re- lations to the Home, the Board would, under no con- sideration, have accepted their resignation."
At this same meeting, Rev. Yundt was elected" a member of the Board of Managers, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Louis Kraemer, and Mrs. Yundt was elected a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary Board, in place of Mrs. S. E. P. Mosser, re- signed, and a committee, consisting of Rev. B. Baus- man, D.D., Rev. Thos. M. Yundt, James T. Reber and H. M. Housekeeper was appointed to canvass the
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Church and suggest some one for Superintendent, reporting to the Board of Managers either at a regular or special meeting when ready to nominate a person for the position. After considering a number of names, the committee unanimously decided to place in nomination the Rev. Wilson F. More, of Catasauqua, Pa., and the Board, by a rising vote, unanimously elected him Superintendent of the Home and Mrs. More matron of the same. These persons were duly notified of their election and accepted the positions. The new Superintendent was installed in connection with the Board meeting, on July 14, 1904; the fol- lowing being the order of service: Invocation by the Rev. Thos. M. Yundt; hymn, No. 379; Scripture Les- son, John 10: 1-14, by Rev. Yundt; prayer by Rev. W. F. DeLong, Annville, Pa; hymn, No. 292; instal- lation service, by Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., President of the Board of Managers; address by the retiring Superintendent and handing over of the keys to the new Superintendent; response and inaugural address by Rev. W. F. More, the new Superintendent.
The form of installation used on this occasion may be of interest to those who may be called upon to conduct such a service hereafter. It is as follows:
"My Christian Friends: At a meeting of the Board of Managers at Bethany Orphans' Home, held on April 7, 1904, Rev. Thos. M. Yundt resigned as Superintend- ent of the institution-an office which he faithfully filled for a period of eighteen years. At a special meeting of the Board, held June 1, 1904, Rev. Wilson F. More was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Yundt. He has con-
REV. WILSON F. MORE SUPERINTENDENT
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sented to accept the call. As the Board is at this time holding its quarterly meeting, and Mr. More being here for this purpose, we will now, in the name of the Lord, proceed to install him as the official head of this institution.
"The superintendency of an orphans' home is an extremely difficult and responsible office. It has to do with a class of children whose homeless and or- phaned condition appeals to us with peculiar tender- ness. They crave and need the love and sympathy of natural parents. All that is combined in the best parents is needed for this office, most of all needing the help of God's special grace every day.
"And now, dear brother in Christ, in view of the grave responsibility and great solemnity of the trust involved in this office, are you willing and ready to accept your call to it and to take charge of this posi- tion as the father of Bethany Orphans' Home?
"Do you promise and engage that you will, by the help of God, endeavor faithfully to discharge the duties of your office in the nurture and training of the orphans under your charge and care, in a judicious discipline and orderly and Christian government, and in a faithful direction of the temporal, intellectual and spiritual interests of the Home, in due and obedi- ent subjection to the authority of the Board of Man- agers ?
"On the ground of this solemn engagement, ex- pressed before God and this congregation, I do now, by the authority of the Board of Managers, solemnly install you, Rev. Wilson F. More, as Superintendent of Bethany Orphans' Home, committing its inmates to your parental care and spiritual oversight, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
CHAPTER XV.
THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION-IMPROVEMENT.
T "HE new Superintendent and, matron entered upon their work August 1, 1904. It was a new ex- perience for them, but they found the work of the Home well organized, the children, for the most part, tractable and appreciative; the employees efficient and loyal; the Board of Managers and the Ladies' Advis- ory Committee kind and considerate and the Church disposed to stand by the Home at this crisis with kindly encouragement and liberal support. Especi- ally helpful at this time to the new Superintendent was his predecessor in office, who gave him the full benefit of his ripe experience. All this helped to make the transition to the new regime as easy as possible, both to the orphan family and to the Church support- ing it. It was the policy of the new administration to make as few changes as possible and these only after experience had proved them necessary.
Some improvements of the property were made. A covered passage from the wash house to Santee Hall was built and a separate heating system for Santee Hall was installed. Additional bathing facilities were provided for the boys and for the girls. In 1905, the Bricker property, consisting of a two-story brick dwelling and almost two acres of land was bought for $1,285, and in 1906, the farm house was very greatly
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NEW COTTAGE.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
improved, by the addition of a two-story kitchen for the farmer and the building up of the shoemaker's kitchen, to make it two-story also. A large hen house was built, with a view to securing a larger supply of winter eggs'and the mill dam has been re-stocked with 600 rainbow trout, furnished by the United States government.
Having made these internal improvements at con- siderable expense, it was felt that the next move ought to be to increase the capacity of the Home. This feeling found official expression in the minutes of the meeting of April 12, 1906, in the following words:
"Whereas, The crowded condition of the Home compels the Board, at almost every meeting, to turn away children for whose admission application is made; and,
"Whereas, The liberal offerings of the Church indi- cate a willingness to support a larger work; therefore,
" Resolved, That the capacity of the Home should be increased as soon as possible by the erection of an- other cottage as a home for about twenty or twenty- four little boys and girls."
At the July meeting of the Board of Managers, Mr. James T. Reber reported that there was very good prospect of a liberal contribution for building pur- poses from the widow and daughter of the late George Leinbach, of Reading, Pa. Mr. Leinbach had willed two thousand dollars to the Home, but died within thirty days after making his will. This invalidated his bequest for charity. However, his family waived
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all technicalities and honored the memory of the hus- band and father by carrying out his charitable inten- tions. Encouraged by this report, the Board decided to begin at once the erection of a cottage, and ap- pointed Mr. James T. Reber as chairman of the build- ing committee. Associated with him on the com- mittee were H. M. Housekeeper, Jacob Ranck, Thomas M. Yundt and Wilson F. More. Mr. Alexander Smith, of Reading, was chosen architect.
On July 25th, the location and grades were finally determined, and after a picture of the site had been taken, ground was broken on July 27th, Master Walter McIlvain a Home boy, wheeling out the first barrow load of ground. By September 24th, the foundation and the retaining walls for the paved terrace were finished.
At the Board meeting of October 11th, Mr. Reber reported that he had received estimates of labor and material for the new cottage, indicating that, exclu- sive of cellar walls, it would cost about nine thousand dollars. It was decided that the Superintendent of the Home and the farmer, Mr. Miller, should jointly serve as superintendents of construction. The con- tract for the carpentering was given to Mr. Adam Spatz, who began work on October 15th. The brick- laying, plastering,tin work and painting were done by local mechanics.
At the time of this writing, December 31, 1906, the building is under roof and ready for the plasterers ; the cellar is concreted; the boiler erected and much of the grading is done. If favorable conditions con-
THE FARMER.
BOYS AT BARN.
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tinue, the cottage will probably be ready for occu- pancy by the time of the April Board meeting.
As compared with the other structures comprised in the Bethany group, the new building will have the following distinguishing features : its consistent colonial style of architecture, the fire-proof stairway, the large open fire place in the reception hall and the vapor system of heating.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE HOME AS IT NOW IS-ROUTINE OF DAILY SER- VICE AND WORK.
T HE internal workings of the Home continue about the same as heretofore. In this connection it may be of interest to give an account of the regular daily life in the Home.
During the months of May, June and July, the rising bell rings at five o'clock; during April, August, Sep- tember and October, at half-past five o'clock, and during November, December, January, February and March, at six o'clock. The children rise promptly. The girls make their toilet, the larger ones assisting the smaller, and then, while some air the bed rooms, the others go down stairs to the dining room and kitchen to help in preparing breakfast and do work in general. The boys, after having washed, in the clear, cold spring water, and combed, go to their regu- lar early work-some to tend the horses, cows, chickens and pigs and others to various chores that have to be attended to early in the day. Thirty minutes after rising bell the morning chapel bell rings. The children assemble in their play rooms. The boys engage in a morning prayer, after which all the children proceed, two by two, to the large chapel on the second floor.
The morning service consists of the singing of a
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INTERIOR OF CHAPEL.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
hymn, a free prayer and the benediction. After the regular service four of the larger girls leave the chapel to put the breakfast on the tables, while the Superin- tendent and the other children employ the time by reading the Bible, committing and reciting Scripture, catechism and hymns and such other exercises as may be helpful in impressing upon the children lessons on morality and religion. When they leave the chapel they proceed directly to the dining room, two by two. Here, after they are all seated at the tables, folding their hands and bowing their heads, they offer this prayer: "Heavenly Father, bless this food now before us. May it strengthen us to do Thy will, for Christ's sake. Amen." This before every meal.
After breakfast, the girls go to their appointed work, as indicated in a schedule posted conspicuously in Santee Hall. This schedule may be of interest, as showing the system of division of labor, change of em- ployment and fixing responsibility. Here is the pres- ent work schedule of the Bethany girls (October, 1906) :
Rosa Shaffer, assistant cook.
Dora Calwell, baker and cleans sewing room.
Emma Ehrle, chambermaid in Main Building.
Group One. Group Two.
Effie Berkenstock, Beatrice Reed,
Lizzie Witmer, Addie Saltzman,
Mary Winemiller, Florence Zug,
Alma Trumbore, Minerva Baer,
Group Three.
Mabel Hackman,
Anna Drissell,
Ada Fralich,
Cora Wary.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
During First Two Months.
Rosa Shaffer, Mary Starr and group one will wait on tables.
Group two will do Santee Hall work.
Group three will do kitchen work.
Marguerite Shank will be chief waitress in private dining room.
Mary Cassell will be assistant waitress in private dining room.
Mary Starr will clean passage and chapel.
Mary Knepper will clean boys' and girls' reading rooms.
Pearl Mottern will have care of spoons and clean corner playroom.
Ethel Latshaw will clean large playroom.
During Second Two Months.
Dora Calwell, Mary Knepper and group two will wait on tables.
Group three will do Santee Hall work.
Group one will do kitchen work.
Mary Starr will be chief waitress in private dining room.
Mary Knepper will clean chapel and passage.
Marguerite Shank will clean boys' and girls' reading rooms.
Ethel Latshaw will have care of spoons and clean corner play room.
Mary Cassell will clean large play room.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
During Third Two Months.
Emma Ehrle, Marguerite Shank and group three will wait on tables.
Group one will do Santee Hall work.
Group two will do kitchen work.
Mary Knepper will be chief waitress in private din- ing room.
Ethel Latshaw will be assistant waitress in private dining room.
Marguerite Shank will clean chapel and passage.
Mary Starr will clean boys' and girls' reading rooms.
Mary Cassell will have care of spoons and clean corner play room.
Pearl Mottern will clean large play room.
The younger girls will do work as indicated below:
Anna Zimmerman, second lower girl in children's dining room.
Rebecca Moyer, first lower girl in children's dining room.
Hattie Fegley, second assistant in Frick Cottage.
Ada Bonser, third assistant in Frick Cottage.
Emily Stine, first assistant chambermaid in Main Building.
Florence Haines, second assistant chambermain in Main Building.
Esther Zetty, first hall work in Santee Hall.
Lizzie Zetty, assistant, first hall work in Santee Hall.
Mabel Reinhard, assistant chambermaid in Santee Hall.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
Ruth Peters, middle cellar, steps and bake house.
Marguerite Hildebrandt, assistant in cleaning sewing room.
Hettie Saltzman, first flight front steps, Santee Hall. Anna Fralich, first flight back steps, Santee Hall. May Rupert, matron's chambermaid.
After a similar plan, and serving the same purpose, is the
WORK SCHEDULE FOR THE BETHANY BOYS.
Barn Boys.
Isaac Schifflet and Percy Mottern, feed and curry the farm horses.
Victor Becker, feeds the cows.
George Hoffman, curries the cows.
Rufus Ulrich, assists in milking the cows.
Ralph Conrad, tends family horse and feeds pigs and chickens.
House Boys.
John Badger, first boy in large boys' bed room.
Charles Pulfrich, second boy in large boys' bed rooms
Harry Snook, David Shellhammer, Lewis Master. and Abram McDannel, assist in making beds and scrubbing.
Horace Miller, first boy in small boys' bedroom.
William Saltzman and Preston Reed, assist in mak- ing beds and scrubbing.
Harry Snook, Lewis Masters, David Shellhammer, John Badger and Charles Pulfrich, clean third story hall and stairways.
BEDROOM FRICK COTTAGE.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
Paul Wetter, Paul Donecker and Paul Steinkomph, clean second-story hall, front porch and laundry.
Russell Garlin and Oliver Shellhammer, clean first- story hall.
Leon Schueck and Walter McIlvain, clean large boys'. play room.
Luther Hoffman and Alfred Delancy, clean small boys' play room.
Harold Beck and Thurman Witmer, clean large boys' bath room.
Clinton Masters, cleans small boys' bath room.
George Angstadt and John Ehrle, clean small boys' wash room and wash towels.
George Miller and Charles Kistler, clean porch and cement walks.
John Plasterer, Gregory Holcombe, Robert Benner and Ralph Snyder, sweep and dust school rooms every morning and scrub every two weeks.
Outside Boys.
William Saltzman carries the mail morning and evening.
Horace Miller assists mailboy in the evening. 1
Paul Wetter and Paul Steinkomph carry ashes from Main Building boiler.
Harold Holcombe and Roy Sherman, carry ashes from Santee Hall boiler.
Harry Snook and Abram McDannel, carry ashes from Frick Cottage boiler.
Luther Hoffman and Thomas Althouse, carry ashes from schoolhouse.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
David Shellhammer and Oliver Shellhammer, carry ashes from laundry.
Joseph Knopp, carries fuel and ashes for Santee Hall kitchen.
James Ruth carries fuel and ashes for Frick Cottage kitchen.
George Trumbore and Harold Knopp, carry fuel and ashes for bake house.
Thurman Witmer and Harold Knopp, mind cows, first period; Horace Miller and Alfred Delancy, second period; John Plasterer and Clinton Masters, third period, and Thomas Althouse and Harold Beck, fourth period.
Paul Fegley, minds chickens, first period; Ray Van- devere, second period; Earl Knoll, third period, and Howard Sholley, fourth period.
Small boys, nine years old and less, under the direc- tion of a larger boy, keep the lawn and grounds around the buildings clean.
Charles Kistler, Thurman Witmer, Harold Beck, William Saltzman, Alfred Delancy and Thomas Alt- house, attend to the slop cart.
Dinner is served at a quarter before twelve o'clock. In order that the children may be properly served while at their meals, the officers and the employees do not eat at the same time with the children but wait on them. After the children are satisfied, the others take their meals.
Supper is served at a quarter past five during the entire year. The same order being followed as at breakfast and dinner.
GIRLS' BEDROOM.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
After supper, comes the children's hour of play, which continues until seven o'clock, in winter, and seven-thirty in summer, when they are called in for evening worship. The service consists of singing, re- citing of Scripture, hymns, etc., after which all kneel in a common prayer, closing with the Lord's prayer. Immediately after evening service the smaller children go to bed, while the larger boys and girls repair with the teachers to the school room, where they spend an hour in preparing their lessons for the following day. Immediately after study hour the intermediate school children retire, while the rest spend some time in read- ing, sewing and various other kinds of work or play until nine o'clock, when all are expected to go to their night's rest. Before the employees retire, one of them in each house goes through the dormitory, and sees that it is properly ventilated and that all are in the room and each child in its proper place. So ends the ordinary day with the family at the Orphans' Home.
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