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Erway Welfling, MaryE Haven for Homeless 19621212 PottEnt

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The Potter Enterprise (Coudersport, Pa) 12Dec1962, Wed, page 3. Harrison Valley Home.

Wednesday, DEC. 12, 1962 THE POTTER ENTERPRISE
Haven For Homeless Children In 47th Year as Christmas Fund Drive Begins
Ed. note: In conjunction with the Northern Tier Childrens Home annual Christmas appeal, the Enterprise is pleased to announce that a history of the home has been written by Mrs. Mary Welfllng, secretary of the Potter County Historical Society. Following is the first Installment of her work. BY MARY E. WELFLING
In the compilation of this work much credit is due to Mrs. Alma Whipple of Ulysses for her untiring assistance in the research. She has obtained early pictures, persistently tracked down clues and has traveled miles to verify unrecorded information. Also to Mrs. Delilah Tormey, of Harrison Valley, who was closely associated with the Home for several years, and to many other persons who have contributed aid in various ways. No other institution within the boundaries of Potter County has won the interest, respect, sympathy and support as has the Northern Tier Children's Home at Harrison Valley, now in its 47th year of existence. In these times, characterized by competitive speeds, expanding mechanisms and rapidly changing methods of operations, when old standards, traditions and sentiments are being swept away in the name of Progress, it may be well to recall the purposes and the principles on which the Home was founded, all of which are embodied in its charter, and to follow its unique but highly successful operation and development as it earnestly and faithfully exemplified the objects for which it was established. To fully appreciate these purposes and their development one must know something of the character, experiences and background of its founder, the late Miss Jennie Van Dusen. To quote from her obituary and from her two sisters who are still living: she was born at Farm-ington, Tioga County, Pa., October 12, 1836, the eldest of three daughters of Charles and Alice (Seeley) VanDusen. On January 1, 1940, she became the second wife of Dr. Nathan W. Church, of Ulysses, Pa., who passed away October 16, 1946. Her death occurred September 4, 1957, in a nursing home in Wells-boro, Pa. When she was five years old her father died and she afterward lived with an aunt in Westfield, Pa., where she attended the high school after which she taught for some time in rural schools. Her inherent de.sire to become a missionary was not satisfied in the profession of teaching which she left to take a course in social welfare in Cornell University. After this training she was employed as a teacher in the Elida Orphanage, on the outskirts of Ashville, N. C. Here she broadened her activities to include the organizing of Sunday Schools in the mountain districts and welfare work among the children of the moun- j taineers. After three years spent in this labor she returned to Knox- I ville where her mother and two sisters were living. An eye witness I reports that when she left the or- I phanage the children wept bitterly and cried to her to "come back." Miss VanDusen's health was never very good and she was obliged to undergo several operations. Nevertheless she recognized a divine call to improve the lives of neglected and homeless children, together with a profound faith that God would provide the means for her to accept the call. She was frequently invited to be a guest speaker before various groups and organizations and everywhere she spoke she made fervent pleas to enlist sympathy for deserted and unwanted children. Thus was laid the foundation for, a realization of her vision of a real home in which to care for such children. While on a speaking visit to Blossburg, Pa., she was approached by an elderly woman, Mrs. Jennie Shepherd, who had assumed the care of five young grandchildren whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Smith, of that town had separated, leaving no provision for six children, with the exception of the youngest whom the father had placed in a foster home. Their maternal grandmother came to their home and attempted their care and upbringing, but finding that she could not cope with such a heavy task she appealed for advice and assistance to Miss VanDusen who visited the home and appraised the situation. Here she found the opportunity to express a realistic answer to her divine call, to minister to unwanted children, and to test her faith in God's help in whatever means she might employ to obey His call. She made a solemn promise to the grandmother that she would provide a home for little Mildred, age four, and Harold, age six, and support and care for them. In this critical "situation she prayed earnestly for guidance in the step she was about to take and was moved to come to Harrison Valley and speak in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where she stirred the hearts and souls of many who felt an earnest desire to grounds a thorough cleaning, as shown in the accompanying picture. The cleaning corps having accomplished their tasks, a call was sent out for donations of secondhand furniture, outgrown children's clothing, bedding, and garden vegetables. On the first of June when the house was in order and a supply of food on hand Miss VanDusen went to Blossburg and brought Mildred and Harold Smith to become the first children to occupy the first home. Mildred, who is now Mrs. Howard Rowley of Mills, Pa., has been of inestimable assistance in obtaining many facts relative to the founding of the home. Although only four years of age she has a distinct recollection of that trip to Harrison Valley and of some events that preceded it and of some that followed it. She lived in the home until she was 16, the age limit, when she found employment elsewhere but afterward returned as an employee. She relates that Harold remained in the home until he was 12, when his father persuaded him to run away and return to him at Blossburg. He visited the home occasionally to see his sister and Aunt Jessie. He now lives in the state of Washington from which place he corresponded with Mrs. Jessie Church until shortly before her death. During the twelve years that Mildred lived in the orphanage there were frequent requests to adopt her, but Miss VanDusen refused to part with her until legally compelled to do so. Shortly after the opening of the home, Miss Gertrude Greenlee, a telephone operator in Galeton, daughter of Elmer U. Greenlee, superintendent of Sykes' lumber mill, volunteered her services to the home without salary. She and Miss VanDusen were one in purpose and endeavor, devoted to the interests of , J 1 v 1 it t .UllJ'.'11- km ! "" -net KMlii w V - -my not recommend it for a home, possibly because it stood so close to the road with no grounds attached. Home Fire Takes Lives Of Nine Former Residents A former Potter County couple and seven of their 10 children lost their lives in late November when a night-time blaze destroyed their home. Funeral services were held Dec. 1 for Mr. and Mrs. Walter N. Brown of Keating and children, Marlene Kay, 15; Leona Elaine, 13; Daniel, 10; Susan Gail, 8; Linda Faye, 7; Nancy, 5, and Bradley 3. Until four years ago the family lived on Berge Run, below Wharton and a number of their relatives are county residents. Mr. Brown's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Lester N. Brown of Austin RD 1, and Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Z. Peters, Austin RD 1, are the parents of Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Milton Hunsinger and Mrs. Robert Cooney of Austin are her sisters. The three surviving children, not at home at the time of the fire are Gloria Jean of Tamarack; Sandra Joan Brown, 17, a senior at Renovo High School, and Charles Brown, 20. -i Man Bitten By Suspected Rabid Cat FOUNDER OF the Children's Home, Miss Jennie Van Dusen, holding Richard Bell, age six months. man took Richard Bell, the six-month-old son of Mrs. Grace Bell, with a view to adopting him. Mrs. Bell was a deserted wife, staying with he r parents, Mr. and Mrs. Proctor, of Mills. However, it was thought best to place the child in the orphanage. In the illustration he is seen in the arms of Miss Van Dusen. About the middle of August Miss VanDusen gave an address in Ulysses describing her work in a southern orphanage and explaining how the Harrison Valley Home came to be organized. The four children Gary Gotschall was scratched and bitten by a possibly rabid cat in the Herman Hildebrandt home Monday night. The family is still aw?itinr the arrival of a member of the SPCA from Wellsboro to get the cat and check for rabies. The stray cat had entered the. Hildebrandt cellar and for some time the family had been trying to get it outT Monday night, Gary, using a piece of meat for bait coaxed the cat to him. It would eat a little, then back away. Each time it came to get some of the meat, Gary would pet it. Finally, it came to eat and didn't back away. He then picked it up and was immediately attacked by the cat. He was taken to the hospital and received a penicillin shot and tetanus booster he said. Saturday Eddie Hildebrandt was j bitten by a horse said a family spokesman. 180 flp "Mail Early For Christmas," Urges Postmaster Golden FIRST HOME, purchased in 1916 and the crew that readied it for occupancy, from 1. to r. Howard Hubbard, 12, a son of Floyd Hubbard; Orpha Chapin; a niece of Miss Van Dusen; Miss Van Dusen; ? ; Dorothy, Everett and Rudolph Reichel (with rake) ; Hannah Hauber, (holding Mah-lon, son of Clarence Hauber) ; Ina Hauber, (wife of Clarence Hauber) ; Sadie Reichel, (holding Helen Reichel); Madie Outman; tall girl in front of her is Vera Hauber (daughter of Clarence) ; Bernard and Maynard Hauber (his sons) ; are in front of doll carriage; Eleanor Hubbard (daughter of Floyd Hubbard) with doll carriage.. (She still has it). the children and united in their efforts to contribute to their welfare. The following year Miss Greenlee's parents and four brothers moved to Dolgeville, N. Y., often returning to visit the home where Mr. Greenlee's sister, Mrs. Elmina Broughton, was seamstress for several years, finally moving from" Jamestown, N. Y., to make her permanent home in Harrison Valley. Gertrude Greenlee was born in Tidioute, Pa., July 23, 1894. She left the Children's Home' in 1931 and became superintendent of the "Home for Aged and- Children" at Meadville, Pa., where she remained until 1938 when she became the take part in whatever means Miss Hfo nf th nv wain w Sfpvpns VanDusen might suggest to provide , pastor o the Baptist Church in a home, noi only for Mildred and j willseyville, N. Y. (formerly of Harold, but for others wno might , Westfieldj pa ). Sne died in June, fllow- ! 1944, at their home in Waterloo, N. On the first day of May of that ; y., following a serious operation, year, 1916, she came to Harrison 1 Not long after, the Rev. Stevens re- Valiey where tne ionowing laaies, tired to Ithaca, N. Y., where he died all devoted members of the Mission Church, cooperated with her to the from the home were with her on the platform. This was the first of the numerous talks given by Miss Van Dusen in the interests of the home. A small contribution was made by the audience. ' In November County Commissioner Henry S. Bartoo brought Henry and James Gardner, ages five and seven, having been deserted by their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph-us Gardner, of Austin, whereabouts unknown. About the middle of November announcements were made from the pulpits of the three churches in Harrison Valley that a pound party, or donation would be held on a certain day. The response brought large quantities of food, supplies and cash contributions. On the 29 th of November there was published an application for a charter for the home wh'h ws granted December 21, under the title "the Northern Tier Children's Postmaster Francis P. Golden put his "Mail Early for Christmas" Campaign into high gear today. The Postmaster said, "We're ready for an all-time record Christmas mail. Every facility of the post office is being expanded to render maximum service. Extre trucks and personnel have been added, and special mailing schedules will be set up to insure prompt handling of the tremendous flood of both incoming and outgoing mail." "However," the postmaster continued, "the vast volume of Christmas mail is only a part of our problem. When names and addresses are carelessly written and packages are poorly wrapped or have insufficient postage on them, such oversights result in delays and disappointments, most of which can be avoided if everyone will follow these simple suggestions : Be sure your Christmas card and gift mailing lists are iip-to-date. stamps on your greeting cards. Use the new 4-cent Christmas Pack your Christmas gifts securely in sturdy containers. Use complete addresses include street number, rural route or post office box number. Be sure street names are complete with avenue, parkway, road or drive. Avoid abbreviation of street or state names. Use zone numbers. And most important of all Mail your cards and gifts within the next few days. Each person in the U.S. receives annually the total output of 7.4 acres. wedding of and Lord . was veil. drop was Bradford, in and net they gifts of Bradford. N. was corsage g fullest extent in establishing an orphanage in Harrison Valley: Mrs. Tnamas Rsichel (Sadie Hubbard), Mrs. John K. Outman (Madie Hubbard, twins), Mrs. D. D. Chapin (Orpha Hubbard, sister), Mrs. Clarence L. Hauber (Ina), and Mrs. G.aorge Hauber (Hannah). Home," and recorded in D. B. Misc. in 1958. i K-407. The directors were John K. The first of August Miss VanDu- Outman, Mills; L. W. Sillman and Truman Gardner, Ulysses; G. E. Terry, Coudersport; the Rev. George Burroughs, Harrison Valley. Harry commissioners about i Wright was secretary and George some Potter County Michelfelder, treasurer. sen, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs John Outman and L. W. Sillman, of Ulysses, went to Coudersport to see the county transferring children from Erie to the Harrison Early in December it was reported Valley Home, which would receive that eight homeless children, ages some 'recompense from the county lo years to a few months, were be- They obtained the use of a vacant , ior their care: they also took steps ing cared for while several more house on the west side of the ex- . to have the institution incorporated, were in want of care. When the tie.iie end ci Church Street, north, j A week later Mrs. Outman and Miss need for larger quarters became drowned by Mrs. Fred L. Harrison j Lulu Thompson of Galeton went to culated, the old "Hemlock House" (Ellen White), deeded to her by her Erie and on an order from the (hotel) at Mills, unoccupied for f.,aui, Hamilton White, in 1888. 1 county commissioners, brought back some time, was offered for sale at Mrs. Chapin paid ten dollars to Arthur Boyd, 13, and Gladys Reedy, an extremely low figure by its own-cover rent for two months. The 10, who were in an orphanage in ers, Messrs. Jones and T. A. Eng-following day the ladies with their that city. lish. Misses VanDusen and Green-children, came to give the house and At this time Mr. and Mrs. Out- lee examined the building but did GEE 1D 'iss tnu3i 'Rcmr Out a s
Clipping location on The Potter Enterprise page 3
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The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
12 Dec 1962, Wed • Page 3

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