Emma C. Nason Children's Home
A Children's home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
When I first met Tom and was telling him about my family, I said that I had 22 sisters and brothers. But I went on to explain that I lived with my parents at a children's home where they were the directors.
For our first year there, I lived right in the large bedrooms with the girls-about 10 of them. Then I was given my own bedroom. My parents had an apartment in the building but my sister Susie was the only one who stayed in it with them.
The Emma C. Nason Home has a wonderful history in the Soo. Emma C. Nason was a woman who moved to the Soo in the early 1900's from New York. Her goal was to start a home for wayward sailors. I'm sure there were many of them in the Soo during that time. Nason's vision for this home must have changed over time and she actually established a home for unwed mothers on Ridge Street.
So when the city leaders started a children's home, they named it the Emma C. Nason Home in her honor.
We lived there and have great memories of the children whose lives brought them there. The children at the beginning were mainly orphans or motherless children but over the years as medical care improved, the number of orphans decreased and the main clientele at The Home were children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. Most of these cases came from downstate mainly from Saginaw and Calhoun counties.
The Emma C. Nason Home was eventually closed as the trend in social services was to put children in foster homes rather than a large institution. It was torn down in the late 70's and a Pizza Hut now sits on the property.
I have many great memories of the Home although it was also a difficult way to live as you can imagine. I'll probably be sharing more with you as I take this trip down memory lane.
Does anyone know Alvin Whalen, Jimmy Cochren, George and Orval Kiernan, George Mattson?? It would have been in the 1950's....
ReplyDeletealso does anyone know ed miller
ReplyDeleteyes and ithink he had a sister debbie.1970's
Deletei knew ed miller and i think he had a sister debrah/debbie/deb? 1970-73 ?
DeleteYes I do
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me exactly where this children's home was in Sault Ste Marie and when it was opened? My mother who is now deceased told me a story about her being in a children's home in the S.S.M. for three years in 1935. She was nine when she arrived there. I think this may be the one because she lived for a while on Ashmun Street with an aunt of hers. Any help would be appreciated. I would love to be able to look at any records that my exist but I'm doubting any exist now.
ReplyDelete2205 Ashman st. I lived there as a child the people who ran then were mr and mrs alexsander
DeleteWhere pizza hutt is
DeleteI lived there from about Dec 24, 1934 until the latter part of Jan, 1935. A very short period of time, but I was a newborn and was quickly adopted by two great parents, who also had adopted a son (my brother) from there. He also lived there for about 3 weeks after his birth, in October, 1930.. .
DeleteI also lived there from sometime after birth (Dec 24, 1934) until @ the end of Jan, 1935. My mother was an unwed mother from the Carp Lake to Alpena, Michigan area. Being a newborn I was fortunate to be adopted by very loving parents, My adopted brother also lived there for @ 3 weeks after his birth in Oct 1930.
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Seems to me that this used to be called Mary Lawson
DeleteWas this home ever known as Mary Lawson's Home for little children in need?
Are there any records from Emma C. Nason CH? I know my birth mother's name and have the letter written to my mom (adoptive) by the Home's contact lady. I also know my original birth name was Mary Ellen Rhea, a fake name and my birth mother used the false name of Dorothy. I also have letters from my birth mother to my mother. Any records would go into My Family Tree, with the adoption records that I possess. The travelling judge used the St Ignace court for the adoption. . . .
children
Anyone interested in seeing the letterhead of a 1935 letter of Emma C Nason Children's Home, check out my cover photo on facebook: URL address for facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/sewilliams1
Deleteit was 2205 ashum street , there was a car selling place across from the home then kfc bought it. I was raised there when the alexander's ran it the had 3 daughters noel ,join cant remember the other one. I was 3 when I was put there my sister is sony
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother used to work there in the early 70s. I remember her bedroom and the long table where all the kids sat to eat
ReplyDeletei sat at that table many many times in the 70's the ringing of the dinner bell
Deletei sat at that long table for meals many times. waiting for the dinner bell to ring. 1970-72
DeleteI lived there for 2 years and yes the dinner bell. Jack Hoath ran it while I was there. Flicia Graham was one of the girls I room with.
DeleteMy sister and I were there in the 50s. John and Connie Carr!
ReplyDeleteO was there 9 yrs, from 1954 thru 1963!! My name wasEarl Bergeron (now;Crebo!!)
ReplyDeleteDid you know my mom Colleen Smith?
Deletemy mom was from this place adopted out at 14
ReplyDeleteit was still open when I moved to the Soo in Nov 1972, but closed shortly there after I believe. I was a state ward, and met a couple of clients from the Nason home.
ReplyDeleteWhere elwere the children baptised from here
ReplyDelete