By Alison Barnet
I recently became interested in the Home for Little Wanderers, the oldest child welfare organization in the US. According to a 1899 directory, “It receives children over age 2 of any race or creed, legally given up, sound in body and mind and places them in families where they are treated like sons and daughters.” Back then it had numerous sites and still exists today.
Here are a few of the other Homes of the time:
Home for Aged Men
Home for Destitute Catholic Children
Home for Intemperate Women
Home for Aged Couples
Home for Incurables
Home for Mental Treatment
Home for Aged and Friendless Women
There were also many charities with similar missions and names starting with Association, Asylum, Church, House, Refuge, Wayward, Dispensary, Industrial. Three of my favorite names are Lend A Hand Society, House of the Good Shepard, and House of the Angel Guardian.
I was fascinated that there were so many Homes helping so many people in the late 19th century, early 20th. Amazing how many homeless children and women there were after the Civil War! So many needy people! Sounds like Gaza. From today’s perspective, it seems strange that there was so much concern, so much good will and so many wealthy benefactors.
Boy, could we use Homes—and homes— today, as well that kind of compassion and support! But how many wealthy benefactors would want to sponsor them? And how many new neighbors would tolerate a Home next to them? But, if we were lucky enough to have Homes, their names would probably be:
Home for the Homeless
Home for Grown-Up Wanderers
Home for People Without Tents
Home for People Throwing Their Arms Around
Home for Migrants
Home for the Addicted
Home for the Evicted
Alison Barnet is a longtime South End resident and author of five books on the neighborhood’s history.