For Norman Doty and others interested in the Children's Home: I picked this up from the clip files in the wonderful genealogy collection at Herbert Wescoat Library in McArthur yesterday while visiting the area, because I remembered someone on the Vinton County list asking about it. It's a newspaper clipping dated 1-25-1968, not sure which paper. Full text follows exactly as it appears in clipping, warts and all. Please note that I did not look at the newspaper microfilm, only the clip, but as far as I can tell, the missing text marked below was also missing in the original -- no obvious breaks in the clipping at these points. I hope it is of use to you. I have no additional information on this topic, and as far as I know, no family connections to anyone mentioned here. Barbara Eggleston Denton ___________________________________________________ First Children's Home Opened in Vinton County in 1885 The Children's Home in VC was built in 1884 and opened for admission of orphans and indigent children in March 1885. Prior to this date the children had been housed in the Infirmary or County Home. About this time a law was enacted which prohibited the housing of the county children with the county adults of the Infirmary, thus the new building known as the Children's Home came into existence as one of the permanent institutions of the county. The first Supt was J. S. KEETON and his sister, Mary K. KEETON was the first matron. Mr. Keeton acted as Supt. of the Infirmary at the same time and his wife. [sic] The next Supt. and matron were Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. HUDSON. Mr. Hudson acting as Supt. and teacher of the children. Mr. and Mrs. GRATEHOUSE were in charge a short time after the resignation of Mr. Hudson. Then Mr. and Mrs. Lafe HAYS had charge for about 14 years and in turn were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Charles SALTZ, then a second term for Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas GORSUCH, whose services terminated in November 1919. Mr. and Mrs. J.P. WITHERSPOON were appointed. There were 16 children in the home for which a regular school with the county superintendent was maintained in the home with Miss Marie SPECHT, McArthur, teacher. The products of the farm in the summer of 1925 were 180 bushel of wheat, 400 bu. of corn after the silo was filled, 125 bu. of potatoes and about 25 tons of hay which is required to maintain the home and farm. For the meat supply they butchered about 2500 lbs of pork or two beefs. Two employees, Mrs. Nora THOMPSON, the cook, who has been employed by the home for 10 years and Mrs. Phoebe BURROUGHS, nurse employed for two years Mrs. WITHERSPOON, matron, did all the sewing making all the dresses for the girls. All children go to Sunday School every Sunday. Mr. John HOWELL and Mr. Charles LOWRY helped to [missing text in clipping, appears to have been missing in original] Sherman PHILLIPS gave them free passes to the picture show, when ever they could arrange for them to come into town. Since the establishment [more missing text] Sister St. Andrew NYTES will [more missing text] After the training session [more missing text] [more missing text ] of the home in 1885 up until 1926 there has been around 400 children cared for. Following the WITHERSPOONS at the home were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. BECKLEY and working for them was Lena POLING. In the early thirties the children started going to school in McArthur. Their clothing was made by Penal Institution Industries and were the cause of much comment by other children. In Sept. 1934 the home was destroyed by fire, believed to be from a faulty flue. It was first noticed by men working on a new addition. The old structure was built from soft brick. The thirty seven children were all in the building when fire was discovered, but all were taken out in plenty of time. The children were sent to temporary homes in McArthur, at Camp Vinton and the Wrightsel home. They later moved into the old Lyons property on E. Main St. The loss was set at $25,000 covered by $15,000 worth of insurance. Following the BECKLEYs were Mr. and Mrs. Pearl McKIBBEN who supervised the home until 1946 when the Harold STEELs were in charge for two months. Then the Nelson WYKLEs took charge for one year, 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Howard WEYAND; 1951- Mr. and Mrs. Fred MITCHELL; also Mr. and Mrs. L.J. MURPHY served in 1951. In 1957 Mr. and Mrs. Fermin BORING were appointed superintendent and matron and served until 1963. This was a typical American happening, since Fermin was once in the home when he was a small boy, and the idea never crossed his mind, that he would ever be in the driver's seat. His kindness to the children was apparent, since all seem to enjoy their home. Having the largest number of children in the home at one time. The BORINGs left in 1963 and Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow ZINN of Hamden took charge. In 1966 Bill and Leora Brown were in charge for about three months until a superintendent could be secured. Mr. and Mrs. L. W. McLAUGHLIN are now Supt. and Matron over 14 children. Thirteen of which are school age. ______ There is a handwritten note on the clipping (likely made by Mrs. Hunter, who compiled the clip files) -- " The Childrens Home was closed July 1971 for the lack of money"

Thank you so much for this article!! I have been trying to somehow verify that Mr. and Mrs. L. W. McLAUGHLIN were in charge of the Children's Home towards the end of it being open. I also needed to know the date that it closed. My guess was way off because I thought it was in the late 70's. The whole article has helped me greatly in some research that I am doing. Thanks again! R. Fenter ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:58 PM Subject: [OHVINTON-L] Childrens Home In McArthur - 1968 newspaper article > For Norman Doty and others interested in the Children's Home: > I picked this up from the clip files in the wonderful genealogy collection at > Herbert Wescoat Library in McArthur yesterday while visiting the area, > because I remembered someone on the Vinton County list asking about it. > It's a newspaper clipping dated 1-25-1968, not sure which paper. Full text > follows exactly as it appears in clipping, warts and all. Please note that I > did not look at the newspaper microfilm, only the clip, but as far as I can > tell, the missing text marked below was also missing in the original -- no > obvious breaks in the clipping at these points. > > I hope it is of use to you. I have no additional information on this topic, > and as far as I know, no family connections to anyone mentioned here. > > Barbara Eggleston Denton > ___________________________________________________ > > First Children's Home Opened in Vinton County in 1885 > > The Children's Home in VC was built in 1884 and opened for admission of > orphans and indigent children in March 1885. Prior to this date the children > had been housed in the Infirmary or County Home. > About this time a law was enacted which prohibited the housing of the > county children with the county adults of the Infirmary, thus the new > building known as the Children's Home came into existence as one of the > permanent institutions of the county. The first Supt was J. S. KEETON and > his sister, Mary K. KEETON was the first matron. Mr. Keeton acted as Supt. > of the Infirmary at the same time and his wife. [sic] > The next Supt. and matron were Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. HUDSON. Mr. Hudson > acting as Supt. and teacher of the children. Mr. and Mrs. GRATEHOUSE were in > charge a short time after the resignation of Mr. Hudson. Then Mr. and Mrs. > Lafe HAYS had charge for about 14 years and in turn were followed by Mr. and > Mrs. Charles SALTZ, then a second term for Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas GORSUCH, > whose services terminated in November 1919. Mr. and Mrs. J.P. WITHERSPOON > were appointed. > There were 16 children in the home for which a regular school with the > county superintendent was maintained in the home with Miss Marie SPECHT, > McArthur, teacher. > The products of the farm in the summer of 1925 were 180 bushel of wheat, > 400 bu. of corn after the silo was filled, 125 bu. of potatoes and about 25 > tons of hay which is required to maintain the home and farm. For the meat > supply they butchered about 2500 lbs of pork or two beefs. > Two employees, Mrs. Nora THOMPSON, the cook, who has been employed by the > home for 10 years and Mrs. Phoebe BURROUGHS, nurse employed for two years > Mrs. WITHERSPOON, matron, did all the sewing making all the dresses for the > girls. All children go to Sunday School every Sunday. Mr. John HOWELL and > Mr. Charles LOWRY helped to [missing text in clipping, appears to have been > missing in original] > Sherman PHILLIPS gave them free passes to the picture show, when ever they > could arrange for them to come into town. > Since the establishment [more missing text] > Sister St. Andrew NYTES will [more missing text] > After the training session [more missing text] > [more missing text ] of the home in 1885 up until 1926 there has been around > 400 children cared for. > Following the WITHERSPOONS at the home were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. BECKLEY > and working for them was Lena POLING. > In the early thirties the children started going to school in McArthur. > Their clothing was made by Penal Institution Industries and were the cause of > much comment by other children. > In Sept. 1934 the home was destroyed by fire, believed to be from a faulty > flue. It was first noticed by men working on a new addition. The old > structure was built from soft brick. > The thirty seven children were all in the building when fire was > discovered, but all were taken out in plenty of time. The children were sent > to temporary homes in McArthur, at Camp Vinton and the Wrightsel home. They > later moved into the old Lyons property on E. Main St. > The loss was set at $25,000 covered by $15,000 worth of insurance. > Following the BECKLEYs were Mr. and Mrs. Pearl McKIBBEN who supervised the > home until 1946 when the Harold STEELs were in charge for two months. Then > the Nelson WYKLEs took charge for one year, 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Howard WEYAND; > 1951- Mr. and Mrs. Fred MITCHELL; also Mr. and Mrs. L.J. MURPHY served in > 1951. > In 1957 Mr. and Mrs. Fermin BORING were appointed superintendent and matron > and served until 1963. This was a typical American happening, since Fermin > was once in the home when he was a small boy, and the idea never crossed his > mind, that he would ever be in the driver's seat. > His kindness to the children was apparent, since all seem to enjoy their > home. Having the largest number of children in the home at one time. > The BORINGs left in 1963 and Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow ZINN of Hamden took > charge. In 1966 Bill and Leora Brown were in charge for about three months > until a superintendent could be secured. Mr. and Mrs. L. W. McLAUGHLIN are > now Supt. and Matron over 14 children. Thirteen of which are school age. > ______ > > There is a handwritten note on the clipping (likely made by Mrs. Hunter, who > compiled the clip files) -- " The Childrens Home was closed July 1971 for the > lack of money" >