On June 21, 1847, a group of women from Poughkeepsie churches met to form the Female Guardian Society to help the poor and neglected in..Read More

Having decided that “the only true way to arrest the evils of poverty and crime would be to save the children,” the women changed the..Read More

By November 1854, the Board of Managers had raised $4,500. In May 1855, the Board purchased a lot at the corner of South Hamilton Street..Read More

The Poughkeepsie Orphan House and Home for the Friendless was dedicated on February 23 1857. The building had no water except from rain, no blinds,..Read More

On June 17, 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. B. Morse donated $500, which was used for “a well, to finish the bathing-rooms and plumbing,..Read More

There were 9 women and 64 children from age 2 to 12 at the Home in 1861. Of the children, 32 were county charges, 26..Read More

An 1876 law stated that judges could no longer commit any child over age 3 or under age 16 to a county poorhouse. That same..Read More

A perforated pipe was installed in one of the bathrooms, enabling a number of children to wash their hands simultaneously. On a donated 36-acre farm..Read More

In 1893, a four-story addition was constructed on the northwest corner of the building. The cost, including plumbing and heating, was $6,000. Children were vaccinated...Read More

Health continued to be a problem in confined quarters. Scarlet fever hit in 1900 and diphtheria in 1902 and 1911. The number of orphans was..Read More

The Home began a policy of camping out in tents for the whole summer in 1912, first at a berry farm near Freedom Plains, and..Read More

At this time the staff of the Home steered away from an “institutionalist” approach to care, and moved towards “the cultivation of homely joys and..Read More

The Home purchased a school bus, its first vehicle, in 1930. More emphasis was placed on a home-like atmosphere: the assembly room was redecorated with..Read More

In 1937, Margaret Garrison, who would serve for decades under that name and later be known as Mrs. Race, assumed leadership of the Home. Her..Read More

Many recreational activities were provided for the children. Observance of established holidays provided opportunities to teach or have fun. On Valentine’s Day, the children got..Read More

World War II caused considerable economic adversity for the Children’s Home, with state aid not being sufficient to support the services the Home provided. It..Read More

Children and staff were fed for 50½ cents each per day, thanks to food donations from friends, government surpluses, and vegetables from the garden. The..Read More

Since expenses had increased 14% in five years and an aging building needed repairs, the Board instituted the first of its annual fund drives in..Read More

Since expenses had increased 14% in five years and an aging building needed repairs, the Board instituted the first of its annual fund drives in..Read More

Children still came to the Home due to family illness, death, or separation, but admittance cases involving desertion or abuse increased.  By 1963 the Children’s..Read More

A capital campaign allowed the Home to expand its very successful cottage program. A larger house served girls, and one was also opened for boys,..Read More

On October 1, 1974, Dr. Paul Bainbridge joined the staff. Affectionately known as “Doc”, this would begin a 31-year career caring for children at the..Read More

Children entered the Home with more serious social and psychological conditions stemming from family problems that were more resistant to change, including violence, homelessness, substance..Read More

Judy Harford, one of the Home’s most highly valued and longest serving child-care workers, retired in 1990 after 47 years of loving dedication to the..Read More

Recognizing the fact that contact between children and families facilitates reunification, the Home established an 800 number to encourage families to phone their children and..Read More

In 2000, the two Alvin F. Rauscher Cottages on the main campus were completed for twenty-eight boys. The new cottages were made possible through the..Read More

In July 2010, Dr. David Crenshaw, Ph.D., ABPP,  was hired as Clinical Director. Dr Crenshaw is a nationally known presenter and leader in play therapy...Read More

In 2012, the Board of Managers voted to change its charter, becoming the Board of Directors, and opening membership to men and women. Six members..Read More