San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 133, 12 April 1901 — WOMEN MANAGERS RECEIVE GUESTS [ARTICLE]

WOMEN MANAGERS RECEIVE GUESTS

Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of Protestant Orphan Asylum.

Many Friends of California's First Organized Charity Entertained ¦ : by a- Programme of Songs by Children. • , , £,_

The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum was celebrated yesterday, afternoon. I . The institution and the children were in gaga, day attire and hundreds of friends were received between the hours of 3 and 5 o'clock. : '•.

The rooms' of the asylum, presented their usual appearance, except that the ordinary routine was suspended. Flowers brightened the reception room and flaming bunches of popples lent color to corridors and dormitories.

' The members of the board of management and the. matron,' Mrs. E. A. McNear, received the guests. The managers present were the following named: Mrs. William Alvord, president; Mrs. William Ashburner, first vice president; Mrs. C. O. Gerberding,' second vice president; Mrs. Kirkham Wright, treasurer; Mrs. Frederick MacCrellish, . secretary; Mrs. Albert ' T. Spotts, assistant secretary; Miss Agnes Center, Mrs.- Horace Davis, Mrs. Charles P. 'Eells, Miss Anna P. Greer, Mrs. Henry Haight, Mrs. D." W. Horsburgrh, Mrs. Louis F. Monteagle, Mrs. John Moss, Mrs. Charles W. Slack, Mrs. William R. Smedberg and Mrs. A. N. Talbot. • ••-• •¦.¦¦-( Miss Nellie Stow, the only member not present, is traveling In Europe. < Visitors were shown the building from cellar to garret. Evidence of excellent system in management, scrupulous cleanliness and" wholesomeness of irifluence was to be seen everywhere. The nursery, the kindergarten,- sewing rooms, kitchen, storerooms, dining rooms, dormitories and the infirmary on the . top . floor were all inspected with interest by the guests. One lone little tot, sick in the infirmary, was the oiily visible evidence that the children cared for by the institution ever have ills.;.

Keith Makes a Gift.

The hearts of the women managers were gladdened early in the day by the arrival of a beautiful landscape-, daintily framed, the gift of Keith. It was hung in the schoolroom.

The boys were dressed in their best suits and the girls from the smallest tots up to those of 14 and even older wore their neatest dresses. ¦• Collectively they presented as pretty a picture of happy, healthy childhood as one need long to see, and guests departing beamed with happiness and gratitude that such an institution exists to make the present bright and the future hopeful for unfortunate children, whom death has deprived of parents. During the afternoon the children sang choruses and solos and marching songs and went through the simple dances in the schoolroom for the entertainment of the visitors. The programme began with kindergarten songs and ended with a duet, "Jerusalem," by two of the older boys, the older boys and girls joining in the chorus. It was excellently done, the effect approaching that of the singing of picked and trained boy choristers.

Refreshments were served at tables at one end ¦ of ¦ the schoolroom during and following the children's songs. Mrs. Horace Davis had immediate charge of that portion of the entertainment.

Fifty Years of Noble Effort.

The San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum was actually founded February 10, 1851, when a constitution was adopted and a board of managers elected. This action followed a preliminary meeting at the First Presbyterian Church on Stockton street January 31. This was the inauguration of the first organized charity in California, ...

Donations were solicited and • a cottage in "Happy Valley," now near Natoma and Second streets, was occupied as an asylum March 19. Five boys and four girls were the first inmates and a Mrs. Wilson was matron. In the following December the asylum was moved to a house on Folsom street, near Second. .

The present site, on Haight street, between Laguna and Buchanan, was purchased from the city February 28, 1853, for the nominal sum of $100. A solid foundation was found beneath the sand of the hills that formed the site, stone was quarried near by and a building begun whlch now forms the center of the substantial main structure. It was completed in March, 1854, and the sixteen children of the asylum were moved into it.

Additions to the building were made in 1859 and 1862. The main wing, begun in 1862, was the gift of the Sansome Hook and Ladder Company, made on the disbanding of that organization of volunteer firemen. The ground for that wing was given by James Lick. All gifts to the institution have been carefully preserved intact, only the income being used, and in consequence a considerable endowment fund has been collected. The present managers and trustees feel that the wisdom of those first in control made the institution what it is.

During the existence of the asylum 3520 children have been sheltered and educated in it and have gone out through its portals to lead in the main useful lives.

At present there are 165 children in the asylum, of whom severity-two are girls and ninety-three boys. The cash receipts for 1900 were $34,845 66, and the expenditures were $758.62 less than that amount. Expenses included the building of a new steam laundry. Gifts aggregating nearly $6000 were made to the asylum last Christmas.

The board of trustees is composed of Samuel T. Bigelow, William Babcock. Charles R. Bishop, William B. Hooper and S. Prentiss Smith.