
“A Times reported visited the institution Thursday, and found the little rooms of the old Infirmary building which are now occupied as a home, filled with children from 1 1/2 years of age to 13. There are sixty-two inmates, thirty-six boys and twenty-six girls. Thirty-one of the boys and twenty-three of the girls are enrolled in the school taught by Miss Addie Vigus in one of the rooms. A visit to this school was of unusual interest. The children show marked progress in their studies, the greater number being able to read now who were unable to do so when first admitted to the Home. After listening to some of the recitations, the children sand some beautiful airs. THey were very obedient and looked to be contented.”

“A Sunday school is held in the school room every Sabbath afternoon at 2 o’clock; it is conducted by the ladies of this city.”
“The Home is still under the directorship of the ladies, who, through their committees, pay almost daily visits to it. It is gratifying to know that since the inception of the Home there has been but one death, and that of an infant constitutionally weak, and whose health was seriously impaired when it was admitted. On account of the large increase of the inmates, the help has been increased. It consists of a matron, teacher, two nurses, one cook and one laundress. Two sisters, girls of ten and eight, have been very ill with lung fever, but with close medical attention on the part of Dr. McDowell, the Home physician, and the constant care of kind nurses, they are not convalescent.”

“The new building cannot be ready for occupancy too soon, as the ceiling of the present building is low and forbidding. The school room is small, the ceiling is low, and ventilation very poor. It will be a close place for over fifty children in the warmer months. The teacher, however, does not confine the smaller children to the full scholastic day, but gives them intermissions. It is a pleasing sight to watch the homeless foundlings gamboling on the green sward, enjoying themselves in their gleeful plays.”
“A visit to a County Infirmary, where children are reared amidst disease and immorality, in rags and ignorance, should be compared with a visit to the Home, where humane treatment and education influences combine to make orphan children respected members of society.”
The New Home

“The Children’s Home, new building, is rapidly going forward. The brick work is completed, and the tin roofing will no doubt be finished today. The building is built on an elevation of the old Infirmary enclosure, which contains about ten acres of ground. It is a fine looking building, not ornamental, however, with basement, two principal stories and attic. The main building is 52×81 feet, with 3 an 3 3/4 feet wings. Ground was broken on the 16th of October last, the foundation of solid freestone place in the excavation, and about the 1st of December the brick work was commenced and industriously prosecuted. On account of the cold season the basement walls were laid in cement. The bad weather of last month has much delayed the work, but as the contract does not expire until the first of November, the contractor is not uneasy, as he expects to be able to hand over the keys not later than the first of October.”

“The basement will contain kitchen, dining room, large pantry, two play rooms, wash room, three rooms for cellar purposes, besides two corridors- one east and west. There is an entrance on the west side, and one in the rear, to which a double stairway of stone runs from the ground surface. There are two stairways in the basement, one a box stairway and the other an extended rail or circular stairway, both of which lead to the attic.”
“The main or first floor will be divided into reception rooms, which is in the tower, parlor, chapel, two school rooms, matron’s room, lavatory, and corridor running north and south.”
“The second floor is divided into three dormitories for children, three large bed chambers, two bathrooms, four large closets, three water closets, and corridor extending north and south through the building.”

“The attic story is not to be completed at once, the contract calling only for the finishing of two rooms for servants, and three water closets. The unfinished portion of the attic will be used for drying purposes, and one apartment for a linen room. On the fifth floor of the tower is the observatory. It will have three windows on each side, and from this eminence a fine view can be obtained of all the surrounding country.”
“All the fireplaces are trimmed with Henderson’s patent fire clay, for the better protection of the joists. The grates will be marbleized iron mantels, ten in number, and cost $500. They are to be furnished by C. Gerlach, who will furnish the range.

“The corridors, reception room, the first chamber above and the play rooms are to be heated by a furnace in the basement. Two five hundred barrel cisterns are being sunk, and a force pump will be used until the water mains are extended to the building. The building is furnished with gas throughout. The structure will comfortably accommodate two hundred inmates, and will prove to be a happy home for many a poor orphan.”

“When it is completed, the ladies will be succeeded, under the law, by a Board of Directors appointed by the County Commissioners.”
‘the contract was awarded to JW Purdum, by whom the wood work was done. He sublet the rest of the work as follows: Kaps Brothers, the brick work; Reitz & Bode, stone work; Adam Hosse, painting and glazing, and JC Crouch, plastering. The carpenters commenced laying the flooring last Thursday, and the plasterers expected to commence work on or about the 20th.”

“The County Commissioners deserve not only the thanks of the poor, whose children are or may be thrown upon the world’s cold charities, but of all charitable and humane people. In the face of a factious opposition they have commenced and are prosecuting to an early completion, what will be a monument to the christian men and women of Scioto county, as it will be a landmark to those who may come after that no dogmas of false economy or malicious slanders of paltry politicians could swerve Nicholas Schackert or James Lodwick from their purpose, under the law, to establish a home for the weak and friendless.”1