of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 444-445
GERMAN LUTHERAN ORPHANS' AND OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. South of the city is located a home, conducted by the German Lutherans, for orphans and superannuated adults. This most worthy benevolent institution was founded in 1894 by Rev. Reinemund, who began his labor of love by taking into his home three children bereft of their natural guardians. Through this reason reverend philanthropist the Lutheran home was made possible, and by reason of his adaptability and persevering spirit, the institution is today on a firm foundation. From a small beginning it has grown to a home of importance and is under the control and fostering care of the German Lutheran synod of Iowa, from which the home derives considerable financial support. Mrs. Elizabeth Hershey, a woman of large heart and liberal purse, was a prominent and influential factor in the founding of this orphanage, for such it was in the beginning. The home is the gift of Mrs. Hershey. The building, now sheltering the orphans and old people, was intended as the summer residence of the Hersheys, but they never used it, and after Benjamin Hershey's death, his widow donated it as a home for the orphans and five acres of land went with it. The modern structure, which is the old people's department, was erected in 1905, at a cost of $35,000. In the orphanage an average of forty children prevails during the winter months, and in the old folks' department possibly twenty-five. The matron is Miss Louisa Wittig. Rev. H. Reinemund is general superintendent.
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