McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 32: Soldiers' Orphans' Home, 1924

HAD INCEPTION HERE - ESTABLISHED IN 1865 - LOCATION CONTESTED - TEMPORARY HOME OPENED IN 1867 - EARLY SUPERINTENDENTS - RALPH SP AFFORD - MANAGING OFFICER.

Aside from the Normal university, the only state institution in McLean county is the Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home, located about a mile northeast of the center. of Normal. It had its inception in a public meeting held January 19, 1864, in which the people of Bloomington sent a memorial to the legislature calling attention to the need of an institution to care for the dependent children of civil war soldiers. This memorial from McLean county found a ready response throughout the state, and on Feb. 7, 1865, the legislature passed an act establishing such a home and empowering the governor to appoint nine trustees. A commission of five persons was appointed by the governor to secure a location for this institution. At first there was no appropriation of state money to establish or maintain such a home, and consequently various counties made voluntary donations for it in the earlier days. In 1867, an amendment to the original act was made, whereby a sum of $34,000 in the state treasury left from the "deserters' fund" was turned over to the trustees. A further appropriation of $70,000 was appropriated for buying grounds, etc. The act released the counties which had voted voluntary contributions to the Home.

In 1869, further amendments were made to the act, granting enlarged powers to the trustees. But the chief feature of this act was the appropriation of $45,000 per year for the next two years for the expenses of the Home, besides certain other sums for buildings, etc. In the law of

April 15, 1875, the name of the institution was officially made the "Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home." By an act of 1897, the age limit to which children could be kept in the Home was extended from 14 to 16 years, and in certain cases of peculiar need to 18 years.

A law was passed in 1899 which removed the restriction of the admittance of only civil war orphans, and made the Home accessible to orphans of the soldiers or sailors of any war. Under this act, many orphans of Spanish war veterans were received, and lately even orphans of World war veterans.

The location of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal was the result of liberal offers made by the citizens of Normal, under the leadership of Jesse W. Fell, who had previously been so largely instrumental in locating the Normal university there.

Under the act of the legislature of 1867, the governor appointed a commission to locate the Home, of which Dr. H. C. John of Decatur, Col. W. Wiles of Bellville, Major J. M. Beardsley of Rock Island, Col. J. H. Raymond of Geneva, and Col. T. A. Marshall of Charleston were the members. This led to a lively contest, and the citizens of Normal organized and made pledges of money and lands estimated at $50,220. David Davis gave 80 acres of land, valued at $12,000, Jesse W. Fell gave ' 2,000 acres valued at $10,000, Kersey H. Fell gave 160 acres worth $2,000, W. H. Mann gave $1,000 in land, H. P. Taylor 20 acres valued at $2,400, W. A. Pennell gave $1,000, N. Dixon gave land worth $1,000, F. K. Phoenix gave 20 acres worth $2,500, while W. H. Allin, G. Diedrich and C. G. McClure gave $1,000 each. The Chicago & Alton donated freight haulage to the amount of $10,000.

When the commission met, it was found Normal's offer amounted to $50,220; Springfield pledged in cash and land $60,000, and Rock Island gave cash and land worth $15,000. Decatur offered 22 acres of land and Irving 40 acres. After due consideration, On May 3, 1867, the Normal offer was accepted. The contracts were awarded and buildings erected, which were dedicated on June 17, 1869. The cost of this first main structure was $125,000. It still stands, being four stories in height, 140 feet long and 80 feet wide. In 1872 more room being needed, a kitchen, and boiler house, were built back of the first structure, costing $6,000, and a steam heating plant installed at a cost of $12,000. The school house was erected soon afterward costing $15,000, and the hospital in 1881 for $5,000. In 1889 the legislature appropriated $66,618 for a new chapel, dining hall, new heating plant and other additions, which were soon erected. In 1891 an electric light plant was erected at a cost of $4,000. In 1895 an industrial training building for boys was erected and in 1899 a new hospital was built west of the main structure costing $10,000 and the old hospital was changed to an industrial building for girls. A few years ago the cottage system was installed, and a row of cottages erected along the driveway south and east of the main building. In each of these cottages there live about thirty children in charge of a house mother, who has all care of them except for their schooling. There are six of these cottages at present.

The Orphans' Home was first opened in a building secured for temporary use on Main street in Bloomington on August 5, 1867, nearly two years before the main building at Normal was completed. Mrs. Ira Merchant had charge of this temporary home. A second temporary home became a necessity in a few months, and another house was secured at Prairie and North streets, where Mr. and Mrs. B. V. Sharp were placed in charge. The third house was opened in February, 1868, at Springfield, in charge of Mrs. Virginia C. Ohr, who later became general superintendent of the new Home when opened at Normal.

All the children from the three temporary homes were transferred to the new buildings at Normal on June 1, 1869, and Mrs. Ohr assumed charge as first superintendent. Mrs. Ohr's management of the Home continued nearly twenty years, or until the spring of 1887. She conducted the institution with a minimum of friction. She introduced humanitarian methods of treatment which come down among the wholesome traditions of the Home.

When Mrs. Ohr retired, the Home was in charge of Capt. Edwin Harlan, one of the trustees, for a short time, until Harvey C. DeMotte, who had been president of Chaddock college, was secured as superintendent. Mrs. DeMotte, who had taught English and literature at Chaddock, assumed the duties of matron. They took charge in June, 1887. Dr. DeMotte and his wife served for six years in their respective positions, during which time the plant was partly reconstructed and improved. Thirty acres of additional ground was secured at this time, and the Home then owned a farm of 96 acres in a rectangular form. The school was put upon a higher plane, as might have been expected in the hands of trained educators.

Charles E. Bassett was the next superintendent, he having been appointed by Gov. John P. Altgeld after a political landslide had changed the state administration to democratic. The new board of trustees ap- pointed by Gov. Altgeld decided to put in a superintendent of the same political faith as the governor, although they admitted Dr. DeMotte's administration had been satisfactory. Supt. Bassett assumed charge in August, 1893, with his wife as matron. When in 1896 the state administration had again become republican, the Home saw another change, and J. L. Magner succeeded Capt. Bassett. The administration of Supt. Magner was brief, owing to complaints of conditions while he was there. Col. Isaac L. Clements of Carbondale was appointed, with his wife as matron. Col. Clements did not stay long, for he received appointment to the Soldiers' Home at Danville. The next superintendent was Major R. N. Mc- Cauley of Olney, and Mrs. McCauley came as matron. Major and Mrs. McCauley remained in the Home for fourteen years, and their administration was marked by many changes and improvements. The new hospital was erected, a new and adequate sewerage system installed, and the internal management of the Home improved in many ways. The system of cottages for the better housing of the girls was also completed during Maj. McCauley 's regime, in the year 1904. Maj. and Mrs. McCauley continued in charge of the Home for fourteen years, retiring in 1913, and being succeeded by Edwain M. Van Petten, who had formerly been superintendent of schools in Bloomington. Mr. Van Petten remained only six weeks, for he accepted a federal government appointment and gave up the work at the Home. His successor was W. H. Claggett of Lexington, who with his wife took charge of the Home. They remained for about four years, and the conditions at the institution were very satisfactory during their regime. On Dec. 15, 1917, John W. Rodgers of Bloomington, a well known business man, was appointed to the superintendency at the Home. He and Mrs. Rodgers remained in charge of the Home for four years. There was considerable progress in the modernizing of the buildings and the addition of new features that were needed for the comfort and convenience of the children.

In April, 1921, the appointment of Ralph Spafford of Bloomington to the position of managing officer of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home was announced from the office of Gov. Small. Mr. Spafford was sheriff of McLean county, and inasmuch as he could not well resign that position on short notice, he did not take charge at the Home until June 6 of that year. He is the present managing officer, being assisted in the work by Mrs. Spafford. The Home now accepts not only orphan children of sol- diers and sailors of all wars, but under an amendment to the law made a few years ago, the children who would otherwise be sent to county alms houses in counties of Illinois are received here to be wards of the state and to receive a good education. This has increased the population of the Home to a great extent, there being over 500 enrolled at the present time.

From the time of its establishment to the present, the Soldiers' Orphans' Home has housed and taken care of, and educated, more than 5,000 children who would otherwise have become inmates of alms houses or left to drift to the whim of fate. Under recent provisions of the law, many of the children left to the care of this institution have been placed in private homes, where their foster parents have legally adopted them.

One of the changes of recent years is that of supervision. When the state departments were consolidated under Gov. Lowden, the general oversight of this and several other charitable establishments were put in the hands of the director of public welfare, the position being now (1923) held by Judge C. H. Jenkins of Sangamon county. The title of the resident manager is changed from that of superintendent to "managing officer."

One of the most appreciated additions to the physical equipment of the institution is that of a fine modern gymnasium, which was first used some three years ago. This gives facilities for all kinds of athletic exercises and indoor games, such as are in vogue in all modern schools. The children of the institution have competent leadership in this line, and their health is accordingly conserved.