Butler Orphan Home

This Home is situated on one of the many beautiful hills that surround Butler, the county-seat of Butler county.

Notwithstanding the many fine residences in and about the borough, the Home on the old McCall hill, with its beautiful lawn shaded with trees, surpasses them all. The main building is of brick, very substantially built forty years ago by Mr. McCall, father of the well-known General McCall, a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia, for a summer residence for himself and family. Tradition says that the "natives" looked on with gaping astonishment as the carpenters toiled at the great wonder. Philadelphia, at that day, was a long ways off, and mountains and forests intervened between that city and the rude little log-built town; and it is not surprising that its people looked upon the gray-haired old man, building a mansion of unheard-of dimensions, with feelings akin to the antediluvians who ridiculed Noah and his ark. The aged McCall, however, having in view his own comfort and that of his family, and also the improvement of his extensive landed property in the country, completed his work. He was building wiser than he knew, though he lived but a few summers to enjoy this home. The property, passing through several hands, finally became a home for the homeless. Truly man proposes, but God disposes.

The property was bought by the St. Paul's Classis of the Reformed Church; and on December 10, 1867, was dedicated as an Orphan Home, on which occasion the Rev. Geo. B. Russell presided, and performed the act of dedication. Addresses were also delivered by Revs. T. J. Barkley, F. K. Levan, and Wm. M. Landis.

The object of its founders was to provide for the maintenance and Christian training of orphan children-- principally of the Reformed Church; and also to care for destitute orphans of every class. Applications for admittance are made to the Board of Directors, and children are received by indenture--the boys to twenty-one, and the girls to eighteen years of age. This enables the authorities of the Home to again indenture them, when suitable places can be found, and to retain the guardianship over them till of age.

This Home has had under its care, from its origin, a goodly number of soldiers' orphans, for whose education and maintenance the State has provided under its noble soldiers' orphan system. Thus it will be seen that there have been supported in this institution, hitherto, two classes of children -- the soldiers' orphans, supported by the State, and other orphans, supported by charity; and yet no distinction is made, except it be that the State children are not required to work during school hours.

The government here is mild, yet firm. The importance of self-government is earnestly impressed upon the minds of the children, and with encouraging success.

Though this Home is owned and sustained in great part by the Reformed Church, yet many valuable contributions are made by members of other churches. Thus far it has been nobly sustained. It has been necessary to do little else than to let its wants be known, to insure the assistance needed.

Rev. C. A. Limberg, of Butler, was its first Superintendent. In the spring of 1871 he resigned, and Rev. J. B. Thompson, of Dayton, Ohio, the present incumbent, was elected his successor in April, and entered upon his duties on the 1st of June of the same year.