The "The Home For Friendless Children" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Searching the LancasterOnline archives to find out a bit more about what was at one time the Home for Friendless Children.  It allegedly opened in 1860, but the first trace I can find of the home is on February 19, 1861 in a story titled "Sons of Temperance Exhibition".  The newspaper article talks about an exhibition given by the Sons of Temperance which gave such satisfaction that they have been requested by a number of Lancaster citizens to hold one for the home for Friendless Children.  The next story I can find is from April 18, 1861 in an article which says the last Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania passed an act incorporating a Home for Friendless Children for the city and county of Lancaster.  It has since received the approval of the governor and is therefore a law.  It goes on to say that the affairs and concerns of the Home are to be conducted by a Board of managers, consisting of twenty-four ladies, and Board of Trustees, consisting of sixteen gentlemen.  The members are to meet in May and elect the Managers and Trustees, according to its provisions.  These managers and trustees, thus elected, may in their discretion, take under their guardianship, all children to be placed under their management as follows:  First: White children under 12 years of age will be committed to the care of the managers and trustees by the Judges of the county or by the Mayor of the city.  Second: White children under 12 years of age will be committed to the care of the managers and trustees by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas or by the Mayor of the city.  As you may notice, only White children were allowed to live in the Home.  Was this the start of discrimination in the city of Lancaster?  Probably not, but it certainly was discimatory.  The Daily Evening Express on Saturday, July 7 said The Home for Friendless Children of the City of Lancaster will be opened for the reception of children on Monday next, so evidently the home opened on July 9 of 1860.  One of the larger contributors to the home was Thaddeus Stevens.  And, when the Honorable Thaddeus Stevens died on August 12, 1868 his will provided for the sum of $50,000 for the orphans of Lancaster.  I found in an article on February 28, 1880 in the Semi-Weekly New Era that the home colored line was then abolished.  Appropriations to the Children's Home is to be contingent on receiving children without regard to sex, race or color.  Changing the guidelines took place on January 23 when the Board of Trustees voted to admit all children.  A petition stated that The Home was incorporated on March 29, 1860 with only white children under 12 to be admitted.  These provisions have been changed to all children without regard for sex, race or color.  

The Home for Friendless Children in Lancaster, PA

The four-story brick children's home sat on an 8-acre lot bounded by Ann St., East End Ave., Marshal St. and Dauphin St.  Another champion of the Home for Friendless Children was the Honorable Frank B. McClain, the Republican member of the State Legislature who constantly proposed money for the Home for Friendless Children. Then on Wednesday, December 12, 1923 I found a heartwarming story in the Lancaster New Era that said a Christmas Party at the Home for Friendless children will be given by Mr. Frank McClain.  He continued the party for many years and played Santa at each party he sponsored.  In the article he told the citizens of Lancaster that in the year 1910 we started having a Christmas Party at the Home for Friendless Children and we will have one every year as long as I am on earth and able to dress up as Santa Claus.  He said the children are already sending letters to Santa telling him what they want and are getting their stockings ready by darning all the holes in them to be hung up the night before Christmas.  He knew what each Child wanted and he was getting ready to fill his pack.  He said his headquarters, until Christmas, will be at 628 Woolworth Building and you can send your contribution by mail or bring it in person.  He went on to say that he would rather have 10 cents from a child's toy bank than ten dollars from a grown up's fat wallet.  I'm sure he would have taken the ten dollars if it was given.  He had plans to buy toys to break, drums to burst, dolls to nurse and candies and cakes and turkey and cream, too.  

He wished that all could be there when he opened his sack to see the expressions on the faces of the children?  I also found an article from the Sunday News on July 24, 1927 that said in big letters, "Oliver Twist Would Not Tremble To Ask For Second Helpings Here" meaning The Home for Friendless Children.  Photographs of the children accompanied the article. Then in 1941 the home stopped serving its original purpose and the state abandoned its operation.  In 1955 the county sold the children's home to the state who in turn sold the property to developers who demolished it in 1966 and built the Garden Court Apartments complex on the site of the original Home for Friendless Children.  A piece of history that was lost forever.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.