Figure 1.-- This was a photo postcard sent by A Metzler at the Mennonite Orphn home to Miss. Viola Yontz in Topeka, Indiana. (Notice the German names.) It was mailed June 16, 1909. Viola was apparently related to baby John. He may the child of one of the care takers rather than an orphan himself. The message on the back read, "Dear Sister: Received your card. You see John with his finger in his mouth, but he did not hold still so his face is blurred, I am sorry to say. Fanny is holding him under the tree. All Well." The children all look well cared for. And we good a good idea of popular styles, at least for boys and the younger girls. The older girls wear dresses and of course headwear more influenced by Mennonite teachings.

The Orphans' Home to be known as the Mennonite Children's Home was founded as a private act of charity by David Garber and S. K. Plank on their farm near Weilersville, close to Orrville, Ohio (1896). The Home became an official Mennonite charity when the Mennonite Board of Charitable Homes was established (1896). The Board operate the Orphan's Home and the Old People's Home at Rittman, Ohio. With more financial support, the children to better facilities in West Liberty, Ohio (1900). The new Home was formally opened a year later (1901). Abram Metzler (1854-1918) was the first and long-time superintendent of the Home. You can see him here in the photograph. The Board was merged into the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (1906). The image here show the children and care givers in 1909. (figure 1). The Mennonite Orphan Home was operated as a standard orphanage for several decades. We are not sure about the children. We do not know if they were all Menniite children or if other needy children were taken in at the Home. As attitudes toward orphan care changed, the emphasis became orphan placement in private homes. It was closed as an orphnage, but reppened as the Adriel School for mentally handicapped children (1957).

Sources

Swartzentruber, L. L. The Child, A History of the Mennonite Orphans' Home, West Liberty, Ohio (Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931).

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 5:16 AM 5/5/2010
Last update: 6:42 PM 5/11/2010