Dedicated in 1901, this was an institution created by and for Black women, though it had financial support from some of Pittsburgh’s wealthy White families. After the Home closed, it was a Baptist church for a while; but now it is vacant and slowly decaying. We hope something can be done to rescue it, because it has a fascinating story to tell—in fact, many fascinating stories.
The home was a comfortable place for women who had no family to support them: it had beautiful appointments inside and spacious grounds outside. A long article in the Pittsburg Post for August 25, 1901, described the institution and its new home, and introduced us to some of the ladies who would be living there. We’ll transcribe the whole article down below the pictures.
Caring for the Aged.
The Good Work That Is Being Done by the Colored People for the Infirm of Their Own Race.
How Affairs in the Home Are Conducted
Up to 15 years ago old age for a colored woman who had no family to support her was a burden indeed. To-day this old age has become a time of rest, thanks to the good work done by the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Women. This society, since its establishment in 1882, has been unceasing in its efforts to relieve the sufferings of aged and infirm colored women. Their work has been carried on so earnestly that the home now in use has become too small for their needs, and a larger and more suitable building is being erected in the East End on Lemington avenue, near Lincoln. When finished next month the new home will be one of the finest in the State. The building is a two-story model brick, strictly fire-proof and erected according to the new requirements of the city building inspectors. A two-story porch runs across the front and one side of the building. The front door is flanked on either side by handsome bay-windows. A large hall runs from the front door back to the dining room. To the right of the front door as you enter are the parlors; to the left is the reception room, and back of it the chapel. Beyond these rooms two pairs of stairs branching off to the right and left lead up to the second floor. Back of the stairs on the first floor is situated the dining room. This room is undoubtedly the handsomest in the house. It extends the full length of the building—70 feet—and is lighted by eight windows.
Back of the dining room are the kitchens, butler’s pantry, and a few sleeping rooms. The second floor is taken up mostly with bedrooms. One room half the size of, and directly over the dining room, has been fitted up as a hospital. Five bathrooms an elevator, and clothes shoot will add to the comfort of the inmates. In the cellar are the furnace room, laundry, and drying room. Steam heat will be used throughout the building but natural gas will also be installed, as well as electricity and illuminating gas. The part of the immense lot, 100×270, not covered by the house will be made into pleasure grounds for the inmates. The total cost of the grounds and building when completed will be about $40,000.
The capacity of the new building will be 50, against 15 for the old. The old building is already filled, and as the society has a waiting list of 10 women desirous to get in the home the need of a new and larger building is apparent.
The Present Home.
The present home is located on Laplace street near Soho, and just off Center avenue. The building is a small two-story frame, entirely too small and dingy for the needs of the society. A laundry and a public dump in the rear make the site undesirable as a home for the aged.
In 1882 Mrs. Mary Bond, Jane Gardiner and Nancy Williams saw the need of a home for aged women of their race and by public solicitation and small entertainments soon raised enough money to purchase the present house. In 1885 a charter was granted to the home. Mrs. Bond served as the first president, and has been succeeded by Mrs. Hawkins, Grandison, Baltimore, Richards and Dorsey. The officers for the year 1901-1902 are: President, Mrs. S. J. Dorsey; first vice president, Mrs. M. Regins; second vice president, Mrs. C. V. Washington; treasurer, Rev. G. B. Knox; secretaries, Mrs. R. Jones and L. Dorkins. The matron at the home is Mrs. E. Canaan.
The State appropriates $1,500 a year for the home. A sum of $150 is charged each inmate upon her entry. After paying the entrance fee, the inmate must be fed, lodged and clothed the rest of her life time, and burled when dead. The required age for entering is 50 years or over. Upon entering into the home she agrees to live up to the rules and to transfer any property or effects she may have over to the home. Should she come into possession of any property after having joined the home and still desire to remain an inmate, she must transfer the said property over to the home, to be used by it for its own maintenance. Every member of the society which manages the home pays an initiation fee of $1 and a yearly due of $2.60. All of this money goes for the benefit of the home.
The living rules are few and simple, The inmates must arise at 7, breakfast at 8, and retire at 10 in the evening. The day is spent by them in performing whatever duties they are able. Some wash the dishes, others make up the beds and clean the house, while others sew or knit. Every one is called upon to do what she can. Should any be sick, one of her companions waits upon her. In case of sickness, the attending physician must treat the case unless permission is given by the board of managers for another doctor. In this case the patient must pay her own bill. Dr. G. W. Turflee is the attending physician and up to date has yet to accept any remuneration for his services.
The conduct of the inmates must be satisfactory, For this reason before being accepted every applicant has to serve a probation of six months. The society reserves the right to refuse entry at the end of that time to any applicant, and deducts $3 a week board from the $150 previously deposited. No liquor is allowed in the house. The matron must be obeyed in all things, but the right to appeal to the board of managers is given to the inmates. The matron is responsible to the board for her orders and conduct. Before leaving the home for a visit the permission of the matron must first be gotten. This is only given after the destination is known. The object of this is that the society may always know where the inmates are. No inmate is allowed to receive visitors without the permission of the matron.
The Inmates.
Since its foundation in 1883 the Home has had 42 names on its registry. Of these 28 have died and 14 still live. The birth places of the inmates range from Louisiana to Massachusetts, but most of them hail from the North. Pennsylvania leads with 33 per cent of the total number taken care of. Virginia comes next with 25 per cent, and Maryland follows with 13 per cent. Thirteen per cent never knew where they were born. while the remaining 16 per cent claim Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, Louisiana, Kentucky and Massachusetts as the place of their early lives.
Mrs. Canaan, the matron, says that she has no trouble at all with her guests. All are kind to one another, and in case of sickness vie with each other in showing attention to the ailing one. All seem to appreciate what is done for them and realize that the home is their best friend. Some few say that they would like to go back to the scenes of their childhood, but immediately add that they would not want to go if they could not get back into the home. The home is where they wish to spend their last hours, as they have seen how their friends that have gone before them have been treated by the society.
Probably one of the most interesting inmates that the home has ever had was Aunt Peggy Donaldson, who died about seven or eight years ago. This woman, who reached 110 years before dying, was born in British Guinea. When about 4 years old she came to New Orleans in a slave vessel with her mother. After spending a few years in Louisiana her fortunes brought her to Pittsburg. Here she supported herself by cooking and washing until her health gave out, when she entered the home. Although an old woman when she entered the home, she never allowed anyone to wait upon her, and up to within a short time of her death used to clean up her own room, wash her own clothes, and even bring up her own coal from the cellar. One of the oldest members now alive and one that does not show her age is Miss Mathilda Ware. Born in Martinsburg, W. Va., in 1813, she spent her early life there and in Carlisle, receiving the education which was to fit her for her life work of teaching. In 1837 she came to Pittsburg, and from that time to 1886 she taught colored public schools in Pittsburg and Allegheny. After leaving the school work she was matron of the Home for Colored Children in Allegheny, resigning that position to enter her present home. She shows with great pride a prize received in the early 20’s from the Wesleyan Avenue Sunday school, of Carlisle, for having learned 1,900 verses of scripture. As she was the only colored child in the class the awarding of the prize to her raised a little disturbance in the church. The pastor, however, was obliged to award it to the best pupil. The nearest rival to Miss Ware lacked tying her by 1,000 verses.
While teaching school Mrs. Ware taught the husband of the present president of the home.
Mrs. Sally Fisher, when asked as to her age, replied that she was just 17 when General Harrison was inaugurated. This would make her 77. Mrs. Martha Simms, of Ohio, aged about 80, was asked how she liked the idea of moving into the new home. Her reply was that she was willing if the Lord was. As she is hale and hearty for her age, it is very likely that she will move. Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis is a woman that saw service on the Union side in the civil war. While a passenger on a boat bound for Memphis during the war the boat was pressed into service by Uncle Sam and she remained on board as a chambermaid, while the boat ran between Memphis and Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg she came North and finally settled in Pittsburg. When asked as to how she spent her days in the home she replied that she spent her days trying to lead a good life and at night saw how she could have led a better.
Mrs. Harriet Dowery, who has been in the home about eight years, is the youngest looking women in the house. To look at her you would put her age at about 55. Her real age is 68. She was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, of a free mother. Her father, however, was a slave and was left by his old master to a friend in Cumberland. The mother and daughter, accompanied the father to his new home and after many years the father purchased his freedom. After the death of all her relatives, Mrs. Dowery moved to Pittsburg. A broken wrist about 9 years ago necessitated her stopping work and as she had enough money saved up to join the home, she did so.
A good many of the women remember when Pittsburg was but a large village and some acknowledge that they would get lost were they now to venture on the streets alone. A good many are anxious to see the new home in the East End as when they were young the East End was like a separate place, and only reached by omnibusses and horse cars.
—“Caring for the Aged,” Pittsburg Post, August 25, 1901, p. 26.
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