The Home for the Aged Men and Women also sometimes known as the Home for the Aged, Poor and InfantsThe Daily National Republican - General City News - July 24, 1873 was a charitable organization located on H Street NE, between 2nd Street NE and 3rd Street NE, next to the train line running down I Street NE, in Washington, D.C. This was a working-class neighborhood next to Swampoodle. It was organized and managed by the Little Sisters of the Poor and provided housing, food and care for elderly men and women (over 65 years of age) who had no relatives to take care of them, regardless of religion or race. The Sisters would beg for their needs as well as for those of their residents as prescribed by their order. It opened on March 19, 1873, and expending for the rest of the 19th century. It became a place of life for many older destitute individuals with the yearly distraction of the high society of diplomats and socialites of Washington, D.C., visiting the home on Saint Joseph's Day. It survived the 1968 riots but was a victim of the 1970s urban movement focused on freeways and cars. Today, it is a luxury apartment complex off of H Street and its many restaurants and bars.
History After the Civil War, the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., was still relatively rural. An Irish Catholic neighborhood known as Swampoodle had developed in the vicinity of the railroad tracks running from the New Jersey Avenue Station, located next to the Capitol and heading North to Baltimore. It was in this new developing area across the tracks that the Little Sisters of the Poor had acquired a tract of land. The land was said to have once been owned by Thomas Law who had married the eldest granddaughter of Martha Washington and step-granddaughter of George Washington.A Pioneer Citizen - The Evening Star - December 5, 1900
The First Home
The cornerstone of the building was laid on Sunday, July 23, 1872, on square 751 on H Street NE between 2nd and 3rd Street NE following a procession.Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser - June 21, 1872 In attendance were the Knights of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Benevolent Society.Evening Star - June 22, 1872 During construction, the Sisters were temporarily staying in a house next to Saint Patrick's Church thanks to the hospitality of Father Walter. That house later became the meeting place of the Carroll Library Association'''s meeting place.The Daily National Republican - The Carroll Library Association - October 4, 1873 The sisters move in their new home on March 19, 1873. That date was symbolic as it was Saint Joseph's Day, their patron saint.Evening Star - March 14, 1873 Archbishop Bayley visited the Home soon after its opening on May 20, 1973.Evening Star - Local News - May 21, 1873
The Home was funded by private donations as well as fund-raising events held by various organizations. One such event took place on May 6, 1873, called the Grand Promenade Concert at the Masonic Temple and was organized by the Diplomatic Corps. The Marine Band played as instructed by Secretary George M. Robeson. All proceeds went to the Home.The Evening Star - Local News - April 23, 1873The Evening Star - Local News - May 1, 1873 On July 17, 1873, It also received $750 from the Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia under an appropriation for charitable organizations.The Daily National Republican - Acts and Regulations - July 17, 1873
On July 24, 1873, a new well and pump were inaugurated on the premises of the Home. The Society of Saint Vincent paid for it and it was blessed by Father Walter.
By April 1874, the Home housed about sixty residents. The building had reached its capacity and it was obvious it needed to be enlarged with an additional wing. The organization was several thousands of dollars in debt. Events were being organized to help with this funding but many other elderly men and women could not be accepted. The additional wing would be planned once the current debt was repaid.The National Republican - The Aged Men and Women's Home - April 13, 1874
The Chapel The Sisters were given $25,000 by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia on June 23, 1874.The National Republican - District Appropriations - June 23, 1874 That same year, the construction of the new chapel started. Archbishop Bayley came to lay the cornerstone with the local Catholic clergy on October 18, 1874, at 4 PM. The Chapel was to be 24 feet by 60 feet and sit on the rear of the center building to which it will be connected. The cornerstone was made of Brownstone and inscribed with J.,M.,J. - Jesus, Mary, Joseph, 1874 and contained several papers setting forth the date of the laying of the cornerstone, by whom it was laid, the name of the President of the United States (Ulysses S. Grant) and copies of the daily papers of the city. The Center Building will be , four stories high and house 100 poor elderly residents. The cost was estimated at $26,000 and the $25,000 obtained from Congress (via the Commissioners) in June would cover this cost. The architect was E.F. Baldwin and the contractor T.C. Wilson. Completion of the project was expected by June 1, 1875.Evening Star - Chapel of the Little Sisters - October 19, 1874
1874 was also the year when the Sisters received lots 9, 10, 11, 12, 1 and 2 on their square. The lots were acquired on July 29, 1874.Evening Star - Real Estate Transfers - July 29, 1874 That same year, the Home received an unusual but useful long term donation. On June 8, 1874, Great Falls Ice Company's board decided to donate to the Home as well as to several other Christian charities free ice.The National Republican - A Generous Donation - June 8, 1874
The Chapel was dedicated on Sunday, November 14, 1875, at 3pm by Archbishop Bayley in the presence of several representatives of the local clergy and worshipers. Part of the main building was opened as well as the broad veranda. The interior of the chapel was very plain with the walls and columns covered in pure white. A small gallery for singers and worshipers was located above the entrance. Over the altar, standing in a small niche was a life-size statue of the Virgin Mary and over the side altars were figures of Christ. For the occasion, a profusion of flowers had been brought in and the various figures were wreathed with them. It was said that the flowers' arrangement were influenced by the French heritage of the Sisters. One side altar had red flowers, the other was covered in white flowers and the main altar was covered in rare flowers.The National Republican - Dedication of a New Chapel - Remarks by Archbishop Bayley - November 15, 1875
Expansion While the Home was already well sized, it was unable to provide for all those in need of many of the poor in the area. It had already expanded dramatically in only a few years but the cost was high. A report is published in December 1875 in which the property is broken down by cost. The lot cost $12,000, the wing and stable cost $20,000 and the main building also cost $20,000. At this point, the Home has 80 residents.The National Republican - December 2, 1875 - House of Aged Men and Women - page 2
The sisters were working to improve the comfort of its residents and its operation. On July 7, 1876, the Sisters receive a permit from Inspector Thomas Plowman to erect a smoking room that would be one story high providing a place for residents to smoke.The National Republican - December 8, 1876 - Local Miscellany On October 21, 1878, they receive a permit to build a carriage house from Inspector Entwisle.The Evening Star - October 21, 1878 District Government Affairs
A new wing was planned to house more residents. On August 25, 1879, Father Walter awarded the contract for the wing to Wade & Herlihy. The wing would match the existing east wing and would cost about $11,000.The Evening Star - Condensed Locals - August 25, 1879 Construction started on September 1, 1879, with the goal of having it roofed by December 1 of that same year. The addition would be long, wide and four story high. It was made of red brick and trimmed with Connecticut brownstone as the other buildings with a sloped roof. It had fifteen spacious rooms with light and ventilation, closets and bathrooms. On each floor a large airy hall ran the entire length of the building on each floor.The National Republican - Enlarging an Asylum - August 28, 1879 - page 4
Basement: high with the laundry room (), a furnace room, an iron room (), closets, bath rooms and an dumb-waiter. 1st floor: high with the men's siting-room (), shops (), closets, bath rooms and an dumb-waiter. 2nd floor: high with the sitting room for the infirm (), a dormitory (), a pharmacy (), closets, bath rooms and an dumb-waiter. 3rd floor: high with two rooms () (). Attic: high with 2 rooms () ().
The 1880 District Appropriation Bill was taken by Congress and awarded $5,000 to the organization to assist in the construction.The District Appropriation Bill - The Evening Star - May 5, 1880 The 47th Congress passes an act allowing the closing of an alley in square 751 based on a petition by the Little Sisters of the Poor on August 7, 1882.47th Congress Session I, Chapter 435
Community By that time, the Home was a major part of the community. It had a capacity to care for 200 residents and housed 150 by May 1882.District Charities - The Evening Critic - May 25, 1882 It was obvious that this ministry was here to stay. The same year, three of the Sisters entered their intention of becoming United-States citizens by making a statement to the clerk's office at the City Hall on May 17, 1881. They were: Emilie Armance Boussion, sister of "Germaine de la Croix" from Anjou, France Marie Caroline Schmitt, Sister of "Pacifique de St. Joseph" from Alsace, then part of Prussia (now in France) Sophie Fraisse, Sister of the "Hyacinth Therese" from Dauphiné, FranceThree of the Little Sisters of the Poor - The National Republican - May 18, 1881
Until 1882, the Home had been exclusively housing White residents. It opened a section for Black residents in 1882 and by 1883 had 28 residents.Religious Notes - The Evening Star - April 7, 1883
Further Expension In 1884, the Sisters received $25,000 from Congress as part of the District appropriations.The District Appropriations - The Evening Star - December 16, 1884 Earlier that year in March, Samuel J. Randall, a Democrat from Pennsylvania had asked Congress to appropriate $50,000 toward the construction of another wing .The District in Congress - The Evening Star - March 29, 1884
On November 6, 1884, several lots are transferred over to the Sisters: lot 3, 4 and part of lot 5.Transfers of Real Estate - The Evening Star - November 6, 1884
Notable events On May 1, 1885, the Sisters were granted permission from Interior Secretary Lamar to stand in the corridors and by the front door of the Department of the Interior and solicit contributions from the employees. Two Sisters were stationed that same day at noon holding a basket to receive monetary contributions.Soliciting for the Poor - The Evening Star - May 1, 1885
The solicitation of money in public sometimes caused issues. One incident took place in November 1889. Two Sisters had been soliciting donations at the Pay Office in the Pension Building where all the clerks would go twice a month to collect their paycheck. However, on November 20, 1889, the United States Commissioner of Pensions General Raum determined that it was not proper for these collections to take place in a public building where all collection of money is prohibited. He considered it unfair that this charity would be able to collect there while others could not. He stated this to the Sisters upon their visit. However, he would continue his monthly contributions as he had done previously.Pension Office Changes - The Evening Star - November 20, 1889