Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Twenty-First Fractional Biennial Report Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities of the State of Illinois July 1, 1908 - December 31, 1909 Printed: Illinois State Journal Co., Springfield, ILL 1911 pages 371-372 THE HARRIET BEECHER STOWE INSTITUTE Normal, Illinois, On February 8, 1907, I received a letter of complaint from Mrs. Nannie M. Dunkin, superintendent of Associated Charities, Bloomington, Illinois, to the effect that the children of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Institute, a regu- larly incorporated institution for the care of dependent and delinquent colored children at Normal, Illinois, was improperly managed and the children neglected. I made an inspection of said institution, Feb. 20, 1907, and found the house and surroundings in a dilapidated condition. I found the house almost destitute of furniture; beds poorly furnished with clothing; window lights broken; carpet nailed over the front door where the glass had been broken. There was only one stove in the house which was very small; no fuel to be found on the premises, and in the cupboard no provision. It was the noon hour and no preparations, apparently, had been made for the noon meal. The cellar was used as a chicken house, containing a large number of ducks and geese. The whole premises were in an exceedingly unsanitary condition. At the time of my visit, Mr. Brown was not at home, but later he called to see me at the of- fice of the State Board of Charities. At the time of his call he was under the influence of liquor. He promised to clean up the place and place it on a better basis. On October 30, 1908, another complaint was received from the same source, at which time the State agent, with Dr. Meyer, and Mr. William Gregory of the health depart- ment, of Bloomington, made a thorough inspection of the institution and premsises with the following results: Mr. Brown was sick in bed. Mrs. Brown showed us through the institution. The house was dilapidated and insanitary, the furniture, old and unfit for use. Beds were made of old wornout quilts, old mattresses and discarded clothes. At least three of the beds were so soaked with urine that the odor in the sleeping rooms was almost unbearable. In one of the beds we found a dog sleeping. The rooms were littered and very dirty and old clothes were scattered about. The walls and beds were infested with vermin. The sitting room of the house was the only room in which there was a semblance of order. Mrs. Brown said that three chil- dren occupied one bed. An examination of the children's bodies and heads revealed the fact that they had not been recently bathed, as their bodies were dirty and their heads contained both nits and lice. There were three dogs in the house, including one big "Great Dane." One of the three, Mrs. Brown explained belonged to a neighbor. There seemed to be very little food in the house and that was poor and unwholesome. The shed adjacent to the House was filled with old clothing and mattresses, and another shed about 40 feet away contained old broken bedsteads, dis- carded mattresses, cast off clothing and refuse of all kinds. A water closet was located at the end of the yard and was found to be in a most filthy condition. The whole yard was littered with pieces of old furniture, bones, rags, etc. On the west side of the house the weather boarding was loose, and in places partially removed. Behind the loose places old rags had been stuffed: examination of the rags showed they were indescribably filthy. A petition of dependency was filed in the McLean county court, for the children and the case was heard by Roland A. Russell, judge of the county court, November 14, 1908. Twenty-seven witnesses were examined and the evidence brought out many interesting facts. The children were sent to the meat market for scraps of spoiled meat and bones. This meat was cooked and fed to the dogs, and the children ate the soup. The children were often sent home from school because of their filth and lice; that the house was not a fit place to keep these children; that Mr. Brown, the superintendent, was an unfit person to have the custody of the children. Mr. Brown stated that he was an evangelist of the African M. E. church; that he held revival services in many places; that the people gave him a collection and that he used this money for liquor. At 12:07 p.m. on the day of the trial, the State agent and the Rev. Ernest Hall, pastor of the colored Baptist church followed Mr. Bashom, Mr. Brown's attorney, and Mr. Brown to a saloon at 110 South Center street, Bloomington, where they were found drinking whiskey at the bar of the saloon. The court in its findings found the children dependent and permitted them to return to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Institute with the understanding that they were to move into another building or to remodel the present home as to cleanliness and to provide proper food and clothing for the children; that the superintendent, Mr. George A. Brown, sign a pledge to desist from intoxicants and from drinking in any form; that a regularly appointed probation officer have supervision of the children; that the State agent aid in such supervision as far as he may consider it practic- able and that the Home be supervised and inspected by the officers mentioned together with the members of the board of health of the city and their reports of inspections be submitted from time to time to Judge Russell. On November 21, Mr. Wm. Gregory, health officer of the city called at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Institute and found Mr. Brown in bed and under the influence of liquor. Upon his entering the Home, Mr. Brown ordered him from the house and premises; whereupon, on being informed that he had been sent there in an official capacity by the judge of the court, the Rev. Mr. Brown told the health officer to "tell his honor, to go to hell." Subsequently, the judge removed all the children from the home, except the children of the Browns, to the county poor farm to await further action of the court. Later, they were either sent to other institutions, returned to friends or placed in family homes. January 4, 1909, quo warranto proceedings were instituted and the charter of the institution was revoked and the place closed. ===========================================================================