History of the Children's Home

On the night of February 28, 1859, ten-year old Jimmie and his eight-year old sister Mattie were orphaned. Their mother, a widow of Patrick O’Donnell who lived in a small house on Beebee's Island (Mill Street cuts across the island today), fell down a flight of stairs, breaking her neck. On March 1, 1859, a group of local women placed the children in a home at 2 Woodruff Street. The event provided the catalyst for establishing an orphanage that would eventually become The Children’s Home of Jefferson County. This house, at 2 Woodruff Street, became the first Children's Home in the county.

On May 11, 1859, the Home was incorporated under the name, "The Watertown Home for Destitute and Friendless Orphans and Children." The Home on Woodruff Street quickly became overcrowded. The Home moved to a house owned by George C. Sherman on the corner of Sterling and Goodale Streets. Overcrowding yet again forced the Board to move the Home, this time to lower Franklin Street, not far from Public Square. It wasn't long before it became apparent that this third facility was insufficient. An October 1861 report indicated that 42 children had been cared for during that year. The Board decided to campaign for funds to build a new and permanent Home, one that would adequately meet all needs for years to come. Rev. Peter Snyder, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church on Factory Street, was asked to head the fund raising. He was assisted by Willard Ives.

The fourth Home was completed in 1864 at a cost of about $14,000. On land donated by and purchased from Rev.Richard G. Keyes, it was located at the current intersection of Keyes Avenue and Franklin Street. St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church at 502 Franklin Street now occupies that location. Fifty children from the lower Franklin Street Home moved in on April 20,1864. On May 11, 1864, the name of the Home was changed to "Jefferson County Orphan Asylum."

The fourth Home, now the Orphan Asylum, served the community for the next 65 years.

The current site at 1704 to 1760 State Street, occupying about 15 acres, was purchased in February 1918 at a cost slightly over $16,000. This site was part of the old Harland P. Dunlap farm and the big, brick farmhouse was included in the purchase. Later it would be converted to quarters for the staff and Superintendent as well as housing the infirmary. The building has been referred to simply as "The Dunlap."

The new Home was designed in 1925 and constructed at a cost of $250,000, raised by a public subscription in a campaign that began in late 1923. Rather than a single building housing all the children, four "cottages" were built, two on either side of the Administration Building. These bright, fresh, new, airy cottages made it possible to split the roster of children in to comparatively small groups under the supervision of a "housemother," thus providing more of a family atmosphere that could have been achieved at the single large building of the previous facilities. Additionally, there was, and is, a large athletic field at one time holding three baseball diamonds and a "jungle gym." The first cottage cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1927. On March 1, 1929, the buildings were opened and occupied with the children from the Franklin Street site. The name "The Children’s Home of Jefferson County" was legally adopted on January 25, 1930.

The first residents were orphans and that tradition continued for many years as scores of children without parents benefited from the caring environment provided by the Children’s Home. As the years passed and fewer orphans needed placement, the Children’s Home began to host a new group of children. By the mid-1950s, there were no orphans but children from broken homes and wards of Jefferson County or those whose parents were not in a position to care for them.

Around 1972, the philosophy of the Children's Home changed. Since then, The Children’s Home has been serving court placed residents.

The campus has had many additions since those early days. In 1974 the recreation building was added; in 1980 the learning center; in 1987 a gymnasium; in 1998 a new garage and maintenance shop; and the dining hall in 2003.

Today, The Children’s Home of Jefferson County is still serving the children who are in crisis and need the opportunity to live in a new environment. During the time a child is a resident at the Children’s Home, emphasis is placed on school attendance and achievement, developing life skills, and pursuing career goals. As it carries out its mission, The Children’s Home of Jefferson County offers a stable environment for youth and provides them with the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive, and positive life.