The Association’s first home was in Georgetown, where
the Ellington School of the Arts is now located (35th St. NW). The
home belonged to a man named Richard S. Cox, a clerk in the office
of the Paymaster General of the Army, who joined the South during
the war in 1861. His property, in accordance with policy,
was confiscated by the state, and was readily granted to the Association
by the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton.
The conditions under which they had to work were difficult
at best when they began in 1863. With a budget of only $3,476
from donations and memberships, the center cared for a total of
64 “inmates” as they were called – 62 children
and 2 elder women. 12 of the children were infants. There
were 13 deaths that year, partly stemming from the desperate conditions
under which the children were brought to the home, and partly due
to the issues around the home itself. The 1864 Annual Report
noted that a lack of water supply on the premises was contributing
to illnesses, and that work was in progress to introduce water
from the reservoir.[1] Still,
the accomplishments under the circumstances were commendable.
In June 1866, President Andrew Johnson granted
a pardon to Richard Cox, allowing him to repossess his land, but
not before General O.O Howard provided a new site for the home,
on Eighth St., where Banneker High School now stands. The new location at that
time was outside of the boundary of the city.
The move is a difficult one. They were
forced from the property in the harsh winter month of December,
as Cox dismantled doors and windows, making the building unsafe
for them to stay. In
addition, he retained 100 bushels of corn and hay they raised
the past summer, then sued them for $10,000 in damages. By
1869 they had recovered somewhat, caring for a total of 153 inmates
over the course of that year.
In 1882 they began to discuss replacing the
frame building they were using, mainly because of the danger of
fire. They have
in their care at this time 120 children and 7 women. They made
an appeal to the Senate for $20,000 for a new building, which
is granted. Construction of a new brick building is completed
in 1886. They also created an endowment fund to acquire
three lots on the north side of the Home between the building
and Irving (now Euclid) St. belonging to the estate of Marshall
Brown. The lots were purchased in 1886 for $2,250.
The new building allowed for the care of
more inmates, but the annual allocation from Congress would have
to increase in order to make this happen; many applicants were
turned away. In
1891 the budget does increase and the total cared for by the home
was 157.
An Infant Department began in 1891 which cared
for approximately 91 children. The death rate was high – 51 children – but
it was not believed that this rate was higher than other asylums. The
Commissioner of Charities, Amos Warner recommends an additional
appropriation of $4000 for this department.
In 1893, concerns about building improvements
arise once again. An
open sewer ran behind the building presenting risks of typhoid
and malaria. Water was being pumped from wells underneath
the house. The heating system, a configuration of five furnaces
needed to be replaced by one that would heat by steam or hot water. In
1894, 20 cases of diphtheria got the attention of the Board of
Health. After two visits, they could not find issue with
the sanitary practices inside the home, and ordered complete renovation
of the plumbing, involving the whole line of pipes through the
grounds to the sewers. This involved a great expense to
the Association. By 1899, other building improvements are
made, including a steam heating plant replacing the hot air furnaces.
As of the last report of the Association (1927),
they were caring for more than 40 children each month. The
Board of Children’s
Guardians had withdrawn many of the children in 1919 because the
facilities were inadequate. Those who remained were paying
board at a rate of $10 to $15 per month. This was a significant
reduction in their capacity from the 115+ women and children they
had been caring for. A study on child welfare in the District
conducted in 1923 noted that, “The building is very much
out of repair and has a very dark and gloomy aspect. On
February 28, 1923 there were only 21 children in a building intended
for more than 100. It was impossible to keep it in proper
condition for lack of the necessary help. Either this building
should be abandoned altogether or it should be thoroughly repaired.
Apparently there is no need for a building of this size to provide
for the class of inmates that are sent tto it.” [2]
Following the close of the First World
War, the District government purchased all of the property on
Eighth St. for Banneker Junior High School and in September 1930,
the property across the street at 733 Euclid St. NW was purchased
by the Association from Lillian P. Sterling and Joseph Greene
for a grand total of $10. The relationship the Association
had at the time with Ms. Sterling and Mr. Greene is unknown. It
is possible the Association transitioned to 733 Euclid earlier,
and the transfer of the property was made to make the arrangement
official. Two additional investment properties were purchased
at that time which allowed the Association to be self-supporting.
