Feature Article

ALBERTA PROTESTANT HOME FOR CHILDREN

Written By: Lawrence Herzog
Published By: Real Estate Weekly
Article © Copyright Lawrence Herzog
2004-02-26

When it opened its doors in 1934 in the depths of the Great Depression, the Alberta Protestant Home for Children was a little place of hope for needy and forsaken children. The home at 10621 92nd Street was operated by the Orange Association in Alberta and dedicated to, as its bill of incorporation stated, providing for the maintenance, care (and) education of children who were either orphans, destitute or in needy circumstances.

For the next 32 years, the Home was a haven for thousands of children and, when the Alberta government closed the facility in October 1966, it brought an end to a chapter in history that likely wont be seen again. Today when we hear of orphanages and homes for children, recent stories of abuse cloud the way we regard such facilities. But in the early decades of the 20th century, these homes were common in Canada and, for the majority of the kids they served, they were the difference between a terrible life and a pretty good one.

The story of the Alberta Protestant Home for Children goes back to 1920, when the Grand Lodge of The Ladies Orange Benevolent Association ( L.O.B.A.) was instituted in Calgary. The Lodge supported the original Protestant Home for Children in Alberta, which was first located at Olds and later moved to Bowness Park in Calgary.

A history of the home, written by Orange Lodge member Rhonda Wiltzen in 1977, explains that in 1926 the members began to look forward to the time when they could operate their own Children"s Home. They formed a committee they called the Home Trust Fund to raise money and make plans for the project.

Even though the depression was in full force, money began to trickle in from donations, teas, card parties and tag days, held in different parts of the province. In 1934, the organization was able to purchase for $10,000 the Wardens Home on the grounds of what had been the Edmonton Penitentiary and which eventually became the home for Clarke Stadium.

After the purchase of the property, members of the Loyal Orange Lodges in Alberta were invited to join in the operation and financing of the home. The first Board of Directors was elected with Mrs. H. H. Quick as chairman, Mr. W. G. Walford as Secretary and Mrs. E. Trussler as Treasurer.

Rev. and Mrs. W. E. Sieber were hired on as Superintendent and Matron and arrangements proceeded rapidly and culminated in the official opening day on July 24, 1935. Mrs. H. Murray, the presiding Grand Mistress of the L.O.B.A. of Alberta, cut the ribbon and declared the Alberta Protestant Home for Children open.

Children soon began to arrive and, for the next ten years, beds were usually filled to overflowing. The old Wardens House became home for 40 children at a time and, propelled by a spirit of generosity from the members of the Loyal Orange lodges in the province, they survived some tumultuous times. An exceptionally dedicated staff cared for needy children the best they could. A committee called the Ways and Means Committee correlated all the money-raised activities and remained active until the mid-1950s, when the Home at long last became self-supporting and required less financial assistance.

Through the 1940s, contributions from the province allowed the Home to accept children who were unable to pay and those who were only to contribute a small portion of their expenses. But by 1951, the government was referring more and more children to the Home and many were being refused admission because there just wasnt any space for them.

The Orange Lodges in Alberta, the Ways and Means Committee and the Home Trust Fund Board met to try and solve the crunch and decided to build an addition to the Home. The Ways and Means Committee contributed $1,5000, while the Home Trust Fund kicked in $10,000. Work commenced in 1953 and the two groups also provided furnishings, floor coverings and drapes to help complete the project.

The new wing, with a suite for the matron and superintendent, a study room for the children, a large playroom in the basement and a dormitory on the second floor for 55 children, was dedicated March 15, 1954. While the Home was caring for needy children, just a couple of blocks away the Edmonton Eskimos were on their field of glory at Clarke Stadium, winning Grey Cup after Grey Cup in the heady days of the mid-1950s.

Money was being received from the estates of deceased individuals and so an Endowment Fund was established in the Alberta Orange Foundation for Children. By 1966, the fund had grown to more than $88,000.

The beginning of the end came in early 1960, when the Government of Alberta formulated a new policy to place children who were wards of the government in foster homes. The Home was to be used only in an emergency until permanent accommodation could be secured.

The Home was also told to limit its admissions to 35 at one time. In 1963 the Social Credit government announced that all Children"s Homes in Alberta would receive some relief on their taxes. But when the lawyer for the Home applied for this tax grant he learned that the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association, as an auxiliary organization, was not permitted to hold property.

The grand Executive of the L.O.B.A. was approached and agreed to sell the property to a committee comprised of Mrs. J. Adamson, Mrs. Rhoda Wiltzen, Mr. Jack Myler and Mr. R. E. Willis for one dollar. In 1964, an entity known as The Alberta Protestant Home for Children was incorporated, governed by the same rules as before except that no one who was not a member of the Orange Order could be a member of this new company.

Mrs. Wiltzens report chronicles the twilight days of the home this way: In 1965 and 1966 problems with the staff began to arise and it became more difficult to obtain competent help. At the same time we were informed that much more staff would be needed such as nurses, clerical staff, a welfare worker. and dietitian.

Besides this the Home was required to be remodeled which would have cost in the neighbourhood of $40,000. The salary for the increased staff would have been about $4,000.00 per month. Within 12 months all the reserve capital would have been used up and so, with a great deal of regret, it was decided to close the Home and use the money in other projects. The property was sold, the contents of the Home were auctioned and the doors were closed in November 1966.

No mention is made of allegations of beatings and assaults, reported in the media during the mid-1960s. But the end of the home, sadly, was not a happy one.

The old Wardens House was demolished some time later and now not even a physical trace remains of what was a place of hope for needy and forsaken children right in the heart of Edmonton.

Special thanks to Ian Symthe of Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1654 for digging up the information for this feature and forwarding it along. If youve know of something that would make an interesting future article, please drop me an email at lawrenceherzog@hotmail.com