NJDARM: Archives Collection Guides: Soldiers' Children's Home of New Jersey, Administrative Records, 1865-1877

Institutional History

The Soldiers' Children's Home of New Jersey wa first established by an association of prominent Jersey City women in January 1865, with the object of providing support for the destitute children of New Jersey Civil War veterans. It immediately became apparent, however, that supporting the large number of needy children would far exceed the means of the association. Consequently, an appeal for support to the state legislature resulted, first, in the incorporation of the Jersey City association as a body politic on 23 March 1865 under the name of "The Soldiers' Children's Home." The charter authorized the corporation to receive under its care any minor child of any soldier if placed in its charge by a parent or legal guardian, and granted the home the same legal rights over such children as would be held by their parents.

With the decision of the managers to locate the Children's Home in Trenton, the institution was given $5,000 in state aid by an act of the legislature two weeks after the charter. Later the same year, the home received an $8,000 donation from the Camden and Amboy Railroad, out of the balance of the company's $30,000 contribution to the state in 1863 for promoting the raising of volunteer soldiers.

In Trenton, the home found temporary quarters first in Millham, and then at 92 Warren Street. In March 1866, the legislature set up a commission to choose a permanent location for the Soldiers' Children's Home, with costs not to exceed $10,000 for the land and $20,000 for construction. This act also provided the home with ongoing monetary support in the amount of $37.50 per child, quarterly, for a period of ten successive years. The location selected by the commission was at Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues; construction was completed in January 1867. The two-story, brick building was described by Raum as "exceedingly plain in its external appearance," but with spacious and well-arranged school rooms, dining rooms, dormitories, and play rooms. From 1865 to 1876, the Soldiers' Children's Home cared for and educated over three hundred boys and girls. Children could remain at the home until the age of sixteen, at which time they were dismissed. At termination of its ten-year funding in March 1876, the institution still supported seventy-five children (for whom the managers found homes or suitable situations). With the closing on March 7th, the managers were authorized to distribute the home's bedding to the destitute, and the building was turned over to the governor. In 1882, the site became the "New Jersey Institution for the Deaf and Dumb."

Many of the managers of the Soldiers' Children's Home served the institution and the state without pay from the establishment of the home in 1865 to its closing. In addition to several vice presidents and directors, those perhaps of special note were the following four Trenton women who served as officers: Margaret E. Dayton (Mrs. W. L.), President, 1865-1876; Miss Mary A. Hall, Treasurer, 1865-1876; Miss Mary F. Johnston, Secretary, 1865-1870; and Miss Mary G. Abbott, Secretary, 1870-1876. A joint resolution of thanks was passed by the legislature on 6 April 1876 citing that the home had been "successful in accomplishing so much good, the success of which has been largely due to the able and judicious management, and great care exercised by the late officers of the home, who have given their time, and without pay, fee, or hope of reward, used much self-denial, untiring and unselfish in their devotion for the welfare of the children connected with the home, and have sought, also, the best interest of the state." The 1876 joint legislative committee on the home also reported that "for ten years these devoted Christian women have given their time and attention to this labor of love for these children, and this work will no doubt meet the approval of all good people of the State."