San Francisco Call, Volume 112, Number 71, 10 August 1912 — Prelate Lays Cornerstone Of New Home for the Aged [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Prelate Lays Cornerstone Of New Home for the Aged

Archbishop Riordan Officiates for Little Sisters Of the Poor at Oakland

OAKLAND. Aug. 9.—The desire of the Little Sisters of the Poor for a building adequate to shelter their charges was brought another step toward realization today when the corner stone of the Home for the Aged, the new structure at East Fourteenth street and Twenty-seventh avenue was laid by Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco. Realizing the value of the organization as a charitable body, a large number of persons, including contributors and the general public, attended the ceremonies, which were simple, but impressive. Archbishop Riordan blessed the stone after It had been lowered into place and then used a silver trowel in placing the first mortar around it. He was assisted in the ceremony by the following clergymen from both sides of the bay: Rev. Peter C. Yorke of the St. Anthony's church of East Oakland: Rev. Father Thierry of the French Catholic church of San Francisco: Rev. Michael Murphy of Our Lady of Victory church of San Francisco: Rev. T. J. Rrennan of St. Mary's Cathedral of San Francisco, Rev. Father Kiely of St. Louis' church of Elmhurst. nnd Key. Father Mcliugh of St. Jarlath's church of Fruitvale. PROCESSION FROM HOUSE Rev. Father Yorke, with Archbishop Riordan. led the procession from the old Crockett house, on the rear of the grounds, to the spot where the stone hung suspended in the front of the new building. The archbishop read from the scriptures, the responses being given by the assembled priests. All present remained standing with bared heads.

At the conclusion Archbishop Riordan made a brief address. "Charity remains with us throughout all eternity." said the prelate. "It is the thing that binds us together. It is possibly the greatest of all the virtues. In contemplating charity one finds th3t there are two classes of persons most in need of it. They are at the beginning and end of life—children and old people. This building has been designed to assist the latter class.

"It will house the aged of both sexes who are unable to work and who have no means of support. As such it will be one of the most important buildings in the city. It is with a feeling of pleasure that I hear how loyally the citizens of Oakland have contributed to the fund which makes it possible." FUNDS PROVIDED BY PUBLIC The new structure will be four stories high, will have a frontage of 300 feet in East Fourteenth street and will cost $200,000. This money has been raised by public subscription. The construction is to be of brick and steel. The building will contain 18 dormitoriea which will be heated by a modern system of direct hot water radiation. The structure will be adquate for the present needs, but it is planned to add two wings when needed. Property belonging to the Little Sisters of the Poor at Twenty-second and Webster streets has not yet been sold.

The site is a pleasing one for a home for the aged. The grounds on all sides are spacious and the carline is close at hand. The property is that formerly owned by Joseph R. Crockett. He built the house that stands on the rear of the lot.

Archbishop Riordan ct laying of cornerstone of Little Sisters of the Poor Home for Aged at Fruitvale.