Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/634

460 of this home to the memory of Peter John Mann. This home has now been completed.

The Sisters of Mercy have had for some years a home for the aged, and about ten years ago the work assumed such importance that more commodious quarters were required. In consequence the building and grounds formerly known as the Portland hospital were purchased by the sisters in June, 1901. By this purchase the sisters came into possession of the brick building erected several years before by the Methodists as a hospital, and five acres of ground surrounding it. The place is admirably adapted to the use to which the sisters have put it.

The home was dedicated September 15, of the same year by Most Rev. A. Christie, in the presence of a great gathering of Portland people. More than 500 aged persons of all denominations and nationalities have been cared for at Mt. St. Joseph's in the eight years of its existence. At present there are 110 inmates. Of these 80 per cent are men. This proportion has been usual from the beginning. On account of sickness or extreme old age (several are over 90) very few of the men are able to perform any labor.

This is not a charity, but a wise provision of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for providing and taking care of their aged and disabled members. The annual dues paid into the treasury of the order by the membership constitute the fund from which this institution is supported. It is the only secret society (so-called) here at this city, that has made this provision for its membership; and this fact attests in the very highest and effective way the benefits and brotherhood merits of this fraternal order.

The grand lodge of the order took the necessary steps in 1883 to establish this home near the village of Fairview, some fifteen miles east of this city. And after erecting a building on the tract of land owned at that place by the order, it was never used or occupied as a home. Its inaccessibility, and distance from the city, rendered the selection inappropriate, and it had to be abandoned, and the land sold to found the present home in the southeast part of East Portland.

In carrying this benevolent work through to success, the late Richard Scott of Milwaukie (sic), and Dr. Williamson, trustees for this purpose, rendered most efficient service. The ladies connected with the order — Mrs. Mary Tomlinson, vice-president ; Mrs. Emma Galloway, of McMinnville, secretary, and Mrs. Lizzie Howell of Oregon City, treasurer, together with Robert Andrews, president, have the care and management of the institution. The corner stone of the home, which is a substantial brick structure, was laid May 25, 1907, and the building completed and dedicated on January 4, 1908. At last report, there were eleven men, four women and thirteen children, beneficiaries of the institution, of which Mrs. Viola Crawford, was superintendent and matron, and Miss Irene Bemar, governess. They have ample funds, and do not solicit aid.

In the early part of April, 1885, Dr. T. L. Eliot of the First Unitarian church, Dr. A. L. Lindsley, of the First Presbyterian church, and Harvey W. Scott, editor of the Oregonian, met in the office of the last named gentleman and spoke of the needs of a society whose duty it would be to care for dependent and delinquent children of Portland. A letter framed by these three appeared in the Oregonian on April 6, 1885, setting forth the needs of such a society, and inviting those who were interested in the uplifting of children to formulate some plan of organization, and on July 3, 1885, a meeting was called to consider organization in the office of the Hon. W. B. Gilbert, and there were present at that