A
Century of Caring
The Story of The New Brunswick Protestant Orphans’ Home
The
house shook with each gust of wind from the Nor'easter that was raging
through the valley. The accompanying snow was quickly being formed into
high drifts.
To keep us entertained, Mum gathered us near her and commenced to read
from her ‘Anne of Green Gables’ book.
Within moments all ears were tuned in.
I could visualize the busybody, Rachel Lynde, sitting on her porch
watching Matthew Cuthbert, who was dressed in his best suit of clothes
and white collar, drive by in the horse and buggy.
The visit to Marilla Cuthbert, who was sitting in her kitchen knitting
showed just how nosey Rachel Lynde was. Of course the first thing she
spotted was the table set for three, which really sparked her
curiosity, especially since Marilla was using her everyday dishes and
there was only crab-apple preserves and one kind of cake.
I could even see the look of surprise on Rachel’s face when she heard
Matthew had gone to the Bright River train station to pick up a little
boy from an orphan asylum in Nova Scotia.
By the time Mum finished reading the first chapter, I had cuddled close
to her with tears in my eyes as I thought how terrible it would be to
not have a mother. I wondered what it was like for poor Anne to live in
an orphanage and now to be taken to an unknown house with strangers.
I asked Mum, “Are there orphanages in New Brunswick?”
“A Century of Caring - The Story of
The New Brunswick Protestant Orphans’ Home” by Harold McCullagh
tells about the province's largest one.
After the Cholera of 1854, a group of 15 ministers of Protestant
churches set about collecting funds for an orphan asylum to assist
children who had lost their parents. In January 1855 a proposal was
presented and shortly afterwards a house was rented on Pond Street in
Saint John with an elderly husband and wife engaged to act as
house-parents – of what was then called the St. John Protestant
Orphans' Asylum.
The number of orphans being cared for in the early years was small.
There were 13 in the care of the matron Miss Caroline Sarah Frost when
the Great Fire broke out on June 20, 1877. At that time the home was
being operated in the Millidge Building at the corner of Carmarthen and
Britain streets. This structure was razed in the fire after the orphans
had been evacuated to the General Hospital, which had been built in
1865. When those in charge of the “Home for Little Wanderers” in Boston
learned of the New Brunswick orphans' plight, they offered to take them
in on a temporary basis. The matron and children accepted the offer and
took free passage to that city, where the orphans lived for several
months, until they could again be accommodated in Saint John.
The earliest building still associated in the public mind with the New
Brunswick Protestant Orphans' Home was located on Britain Street in the
South End of the city, the cornerstone of which was laid on September
2, 1880. A period of growth in admissions and charitable support
followed. An 1895 report reveals the generous donations that were being
made at that time. One gift mentioned was the annual picnic sponsored
by Mr. Manchester. It was also noted that E. G. Nelson had supplied
slates and that Mrs. R. Hunter had contributed two barrels of apples.
Not all Protestant orphans in the province were welcomed, however.
Incredible as it seems today, for the first 60 years of its existence,
illegitimate children were barred from the Home.
In 1919, a building for orphans was opened in West Saint John. The next
year, 40 of the older children were being housed there and 44 of the
younger ones at the Britain Street location. The acquisition of the
spacious Manawagonish West Side property paved the way for numerous
improvements and innovations. For example, a small farm was
established, and a three-classroom school was built.
In 1945 there were 200 children in the care of the Home. It continued
to meet a need for many more years, but by the 1970s, the winds of
change were blowing. With government assuming more and more
responsibility for child care, and the public no longer being so
supportive of orphanages, the doors of the institution were closed –
and a charitable foundation created in its place.
In “A Century of Caring - The Story of
The New Brunswick Protestant Orphans’ Home” (1986) author Harold
McCullagh describes the institution's rise and fall – and about its
founders, directors, operators, buildings, programs, etc., in great
detail. There are no children's names or stories in this book, however,
except for some quotes from one former resident, Ralph Doherty.
Copies are found at libraries throughout the province.
By the way, the Saint John Branch of the New Brunswick Genealogical
Society, will meet Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at
the Lion's Den, Loch Lomond Villa. The program will feature Anne Baker
speaking on: "Up
Walker Creek without a Paddle - the story of the Walker family of South
Bay as told through art, artifacts and letters". The meeting is
open to anyone interested in genealogy.
* *
Query 1442
Bowes: I am
seeking information on Mary A. Bowes, born 1860, and her parents James
and Catherine Bowes who lived at Golden Grove.
ROBERT V. CROWLEY
E-mail BJCONCC@COMCAST.NET
Query 1443
O'Donahoe - Sheehey:
Cornelus O'Donahoe and wife Nancy had sons Michael born 1844 and
Timothy born Dec. 1846 in New Brunswick. Cornelius married for a second
time to Catherine Sheehey 14 Feb 1847 in New Brunswick. I need
information on Nancy O'Donahoe and her children.
CAROL THOMAS
2217 Tracy Ln.
Sioux Falls, SD
57103-0768, USA
E-mail catthomas2@msn.com
Query 1444
Smith - Brown - Gass:
The Family Bible gives the place of birth for John William Smith as St.
John, British Possession New Brunswick on 10 Oct 1821. His parents were
James Henry Smith and Julia Brown. He came to Australia about 1854
where he married Henrietta Gass in Bendigo Victoria, Australia. He was
of black descent and his father's occupation given as ship builder.
CLARE VIVIAN
10 Meldrum Court
Narre Warren South, Victoria
Australia, 3805
E-mail clarev7@bigpond.com
Query 1445
MacNichol: The MacNichol
family moved from L'Etete, New Brunswick to Eastport, Maine in 1880 and
founded the MacNichol Packing Company. I seek information of
marriages and siblings. JOHN A. MacNICHOL
2904 Broadview Dr.
Huntsville, Alabama
35810, USA
E-mail sandman4872@comcast.net
Query 1446
McKew -McCue - Walsh - White:
James Mckew was born in 1860 in New Brunswick and married in Wisconsin
in 1884 to Mathilda Walsh born also in New Brunswick (possibly the
daughter of Luke Walsh and Margaret White). The McKews are both
buried in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Does anyone have any information on the
families of this couple?
TIM GONNERING
599 Upper Paradise Road
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada, L9C 5P5
E-mail totimgonnering@hotmail.com or gonnering@quickclic.net
