Hi, I think this is the place you are referring to. It was called the Loretto Home,it is in the Christian Hill district of Alton, I believe it is located on Prospect St. It was originally the Lea home, built in the 1850's and was converted to an orphanage in 1883 by the Alton Roman Catholic Ursuline Convent. Several major additions were constructed and in 1907, the original residence was replaced and a rock wall erected for the protection of the children. In 1928 the Sisters of the Precious Blood opened the doors to young women working in the area. The younger residents of the Loretto Home for Working Girls were gradually replaced by older ones (they didn't want to leave as they got older), and in 1961 the Loretto Home was licensed as a shelter care facility for the elderly. It continued until 1973 when it was purchased by the Morrissey Corporation. The house still stands but I don't know if it is in use. Hope this helps! Sharon

To add a little to your history, the Morrissey's (Patty & Eddie) lived in Loretto for a while after they purchased it. They now live across the street. Loretto Home is now Loretto Towers and has been converted into condominiums. There is covered parking in the back. The original orchard that is adjacent to Loretto Towers to the south has recently been sold by the Morrissey family to Mike Lefferson, who owns a local design company. He now lives at the corner of State & Fourth Street and plans to build a very large home on the property. Loretta Towers is in wonderful condition at the present time. The orphanage was then farther up on State Street. Although no longer an orphanage, it houses about sixteen children with problems. Sharlene ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 10:44 AM Subject: Re: [ILMADISO-L] Old Ladies Home > Hi, I think this is the place you are referring to. It was called the Loretto > Home,it is in the Christian Hill district of Alton, I believe it is located > on Prospect St. It was originally the Lea home, built in the 1850's and was > converted to an orphanage in 1883 by the Alton Roman Catholic Ursuline > Convent. Several major additions were constructed and in 1907, the original > residence was replaced and a rock wall erected for the protection of the > children. > > In 1928 the Sisters of the Precious Blood opened the doors to young women > working in the area. The younger residents of the Loretto Home for Working > Girls were gradually replaced by older ones (they didn't want to leave as > they got older), and in 1961 the Loretto Home was licensed as a shelter care > facility for the elderly. It continued until 1973 when it was purchased by > the Morrissey Corporation. The house still stands but I don't know if it is > in use. Hope this helps! > Sharon > > > ==== ILMADISO Mailing List ==== > LDS Family Search Engine: > http://www.familysearch.org/ > Illinois State Archives Databases including pre 1900 IL marriages and Civil War soldiers: > http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases.html >