" The orphanage" as an Institutuion Waterloo Co.

The orphanage as an institution in Waterloo County began in Kitchener, on Nov 5-1895 Mrs A Stoltz the wife of a United Church minister took a number of children into their home on Fredrick St. in Kitchener. It soon became evident that there was much more to this venture that they could have imagined, or carry on by themselves.

On May 30-1896 a meeting was held at the Kitchener YMCA decided to establish a children's home, and $1500.00 was raised to that end. A building at King and Victoria St. was purchased, and the official shelter was opened in Dec 1896.

Miss Mary Snider was appointed first Matron at a salary of $8.00 per month and given 2 assistants each receiving $6.00 per month, who helped take car of the 15 children in residence, with a monthly budget of $30.00.

By May 1901 approximately 100 children had gone through the shelter. While there seems to have been no serious health problems to that time, Dr. Jerome F Honsberger, and early President of the Board gave the children free medical attention, and Mr Thoms a local Shoemaker repaired the children's shoes free of charge.

In 1904 the Bell Telephone Co installed a telephone, and halved its charge, by making an annual donation of $12.50. That year the orphanages annual income was $1100.00 and with it's expenditures a balance of $386.00 was left.

In 1908 the statistics for the orphanage were, 107 admitted, 80 left, 2 died and 38 remained. The orphanage operated at that location for more that 20 years before it became clear than a larger building was necessary. An eleven acre property on Sheldon Ave. was purchased but not used because of a conflict with the YMCA, which campaigned for another property.

The second shelter was the home of George Lang Sr. on Francis St. and Water St. This was used until 1938 when the nine acre, Segram property at 22 Willow St in Waterloo was purchased for the sum of $10,000.00, from the Segram estate, an interesting coincidence, because Joseph Emm, and his brother Edward Frowde Seagram were orphaned in their teens and lived 6 years in Galt in a boarding school for boys, but the property was reduced to $9800.00, when it was decided that 112 Ft. frontage on Willow St. was to be retained by the Seagram Estate. The reason for the retention of the 112 ft. frontage on Willow St seems to have been to get around a hastily enacted Bylaw 1206, which went into effect July 28-1938 an stated that Willow St was reserved for "detached private residences" as a result of objections, by some influential members of the community to the orphanage being located there one of the chief objectors was Mr Clayton Snyder whose family lived next door at 14 Willow St,

As a result of a complaint by Mr Clayton Snyder of 14 Willow St, next door neighbor, a charge was laid by the Bylaw Officer , in that contravention to Bylaw 1206, and because Mr Snyder had seen children playing around the house, a "Fraudulent evasion" had occurred. The local people were more worried about an invasion of children, more than the "evasion" the Children's Aid Society was charged with.

An interesting Article appeared in the Waterloo Chronicle Nov 4/1938

Gaming House Raids net Fines Cash Totalling $1416.00
Three operators Assessed $200.00 Each, another $250.00 by Magistrate Blake.
Found ins pay $20.65.
Recent raids by Provincial Police on Kitchener and Waterloo betting establishments had their sequel in Police court here Wednesday morning when fines and confiscated money totalling $1416.00 poured into the coffers.
Three operators Clayton Snyder, Joseph Hemmerly, and Wilfred Bowman were each fined $200.00 and costs amounting to $11.75. Francis C Martin was fined $250.00 when it was charged that he had been operating in both Kitchener and Waterloo. The found ins were each assessed $10.00 and costs. Money found by the police on the operators totaling $273.00 was ordered confiscated by Magistrate Blake.
I suppose we'll never teach the world not to take chances, observed the magistrate in giving judgement.

Appeals were launched and complicated legal arguments ensued but eventually the Children's Aid Society prevailed.

In March 1939 the Children were moved from the home in Kitchener and 22 Willow St became the official orphanage of Waterloo County.

K&W Record Nov 1939
Hanover woman orphanage head
Miss Lydia Dankert takes charge Nov 15-1939
Miss Lydia Dankert formerly of Williamsville N.Y. was appointed matron of the K&W Orphanage at the regular monthly meeting of the orphanage board last night, Miss Dankert succeeds Miss Emma Good retiring matron of the institution.
Miss Dankert will begin work Nov 15-1939 at an initial salary of $50.00 per month.

The new matron is a Baptist and was recently in charge of a Methodist home for children in Williamsville N.Y., where she was employed for ten years . She was forced to give up her position there because she lacked United States Citizenship. In a letter of recommendation the head of the Williamsville institution closed with the following.
" I hope that no one will hire her [Miss Dankert] for 20 days from this date as I am trying to obtain her entry into the United States."

Miss Dankert was found to have the exact requirements the board wanted and was hired.