St. Mary's Orphanage in Metamora
TRANSFER
ORPHANAGE TO PEORIA BUILDING
ISSUE OF METAMORA HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1914
ORPHANS AND SISTERS LEAVE METAMORA TUESDAY
LOCATED HERE 36 YEARS LACK OF
FACILITIES HERE GIVEN AS CAUSE OF COSTLY MOVE
TALK OF INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR METAMORA
St. Mary’s Orphanage of the Catholic
diocese of Peoria, located at Metamora since its establishment about
the year 1877 by Archbishop John L. Spalding, was this week
transferred to Peoria, to occupy the new building recently built for
the purpose at a cost of about $100,000.
The
furniture and other effects of the institution were shipped the
first part of the week over the C. & A., and on Tuesday a dozen
automobiles, furnished by citizens of Peoria, came out and conveyed
the 55 children and ten sisters of the institution to their new
home.
The
decision to move the orphanage was made more than a year ago by
Bishop Dunne, who as head of the diocese has direct charge of the
institution. Bad train service and inability to get sufficient
water at this point were assigned as reasons in part for the removal
as well as the desire to have the institution at the seat of the
diocese. Conveniences afforded by the city also made the change
desirable.
Six
years ago Archbishop Spalding, who was then in charge of the
diocese, caused part of the original structure to be torn down and a
new main building was erected, at a cost of over $20,000. Last year
the institution was again confronted with a demand for more space,
and upon due consideration it was decided to save this expense and
purchase a site in Peoria. This was done and the local property has
since been on the market for sale. The buildings and grounds are
probably worth $50,000 and there is a farm of 200 acres adjoining,
which is also offered for sale. Offers have been received, it is
said, but none has been accepted. The farm and buildings will be
sold separately and among those who have their eye on the former is
said to be the Order of Franciscan Fathers of the Cincinnati
province. There is also a probability that the diocese industrial
school may be established here at some time in the future if the
diocese retains the property.
The
orphanage property was purchased in 1915 by the Metamora School
Board and became a four year high school.
The following local news item appeared
in the issue of the Metamora Herald, August 31, 1906:
A
three-month old infant died at the Orphange Monday. The child was a
little girl and was brought here about six weeks ago from St.
Francis Hospital, Peoria, where it had been born, the mother dying
soon after. The child was not expected to live when brought here,
being very sickly. For a time it seemed to improve, but for the
last week it was gradually dying and nothing could be done for it.
FROM THE 1890 DIRECTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF METAMORA
BY W. H. HENNEY
THE FOLLOWING WERE RESIDENTS OF ST. MARY’S ORPHANS’ HOME, METAMORA
SISTER MARGARETTA WAS THE SUPERIOR AT THE HOME
ALL RESIDENTS WERE UNDER THE AGE OF FOURTEEN YEARS
NANCY COLLIGAN JOSEPH
GELLISPE
FREDDIE MEISTER A. G. HAGERTY
ANNA MORAN JULIA SULLIVAN
AGNES SULLIVAN JOHN NESTLE
KATIE FLINT JAMES FLINT
JOSEPH ADONNALL SAMUEL DAILY
JOHN FITCHEREL KATE FARRILL
ANNA GALISTER JANE
GALISTER
LIZZIE GALISTER
TERESE PHILLIPS
LIZZIE PHILLIPS GENEVA BEALS
HENRIETTA BEALS
MAGDELENA WEIR
JOSEPH STEVENS HENRY STEVENS
THOMAS PEARL
MARY PEARL
History and photos submitted by
Shirley A. Adams.
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