"History of Grand Rapids, Michigan"
Baxter, 1891
Page 351

This institution was established May 1, 1884, on West Bridge street, in a small house hired at $25 per month, and a few months later at $40. May 1, 1885, the present beautiful location on South Lafayette street was secured, and soon after the capacious and substantial edifice, built of brick, in good style, and handsomely furnished and equipped for its purpose, arose upon the site. The old Canton Smith residence was occupied from May 1, 1885, until the completion of this Home attached thereto. Though only a part of the projected building, it will accommodate eighty or ninety inmates. The funds for the Home and for the support of its charitable work are solicited in the city from house to house by the Little Sisters, who go on this errand daily. Any indigent aged person, regardless of religious belief, is received upon proper recommendation. Twenty-two old ladies and thirty-eight old gentlemen enjoyed this care in 1889. A debt of $15,000 remains upon the building, which, with ample grounds extending from South Lafayette to South Prospect street, and 250 feet wide, has cost about $40,000. The Home contains an elegant Roman Catholic Chapel. Mother Septime is Superior, and has five Sisters associated with her, and this force attend to the housekeeping and all the work and care connected with this charge.

"History of Grand Rapids"
Goss, 1906
Pages 1288 - 1289

Among the many charities of the city none do better and more effectual work than the Little Sisters of the Poor. It is a Catholic order, instituted in France more than sixty years ago. They form a congregation of nuns-hospitallers, converted by vow to the care of infirm and poor aged people. Since its organization the order has founded and built nearly three hundred homes for old people in different countries of the earth, which have sheltered nearly two hundred thousand inmates. There are two requirements for reception into their homes: old age and poverty. Old age begins at sixty; poverty is inability to obtain a livelihood and lack of means for support. Admission is not limited to any religion, sect, race or nationality. The Little Sisters give themselves up to the work of hospitality. They have no servants, no paid employees. They do all the work of their homes, aided by the inmates who can do service. The houses are built and maintained entirely by alms solicited by the Sisters themselves. Anything which can be used directly or indirectly to support the inmates is thankfully received.

In 1868 the Little Sisters first came to the United States, since which time homes have been founded and built in nearly all the large cities of the country. May 1, 1884, five Sisters came to Grand Rapids to engage in this work. One was directly from France; the others were from various American cities. They began their duties with headquarters on West Bridge street, near St. James Church, where they remained for one year, and then, on May 1, 1885, moved to a stone house that stood on the present site of their fine building, at 158 South Lafayette street. In 1888 a substantial edifice was built and occupied on the feast of St. Anne. The Home then had sixty inmates, cared for by a Mother Superior and five Sisters. In 1898 an addition was built and the buildings and grounds assumed their present aspect and condition. The grounds are two hundred and fifty feet wide, extending from South Lafayette to South Prospect streets. The building is five stories high, built of brick, faces South Lafayette street with two hundred and sixty-one feet front, and is one hundred and fifty-six feet wide. It has a fine chapel sixty-two by twenty-eight feet, and contains dining rooms, dormitories, infirmaries, and all modern facilities for taking care of the sick and the infirm. The Home now has one hundred and forty inmates, with beds for one hundred and sixty, provided for by a Mother Superior and fourteen Sisters. The inmates are well cared for, with donations of provisions and fuel and about five thousand dollars per year in cash. The building of the Home, at a cost of about one hundred thousand dollars, and its support, has been entirely done with funds raised by the Sisters themselves in the diocese of Western Michigan. The citizens of Grand Rapids can do no better charity than to assist the Little Sisters walking modestly about the city and asking alms for their old people.