for a new building, and soon reported the subscription of three thousand dollars
for that purpose. And that is the way the ladies got the first home for the
orphan children.
The society records states that "all the members and many citizens entered heartily into the work of furnishing that first home, and on the 27th of Septem- ber, 1872, the home was formally opened under the charge of Miss E. Davison, the first matron. The home was soon filled with children, and ten years later was too much crowded for health."
Early in 1883, the need of a larger building, still farther out of town, was felt. A block of land in South Portland was donated by Henry Villard of New York; and through the liberality of the citizens in subscribing the necessary funds, the large and handsome building in South Portland was erected and completed in 1884, free from debt, and the matron, Mrs. George Woods, with her numerous family were removed to their new quarters in season to celebrate the national thanksgiving on the 22d day of November, 1884.
THE WORK OF MRS. WOODS.
No notice of this worthy charity would be just or complete, that did not specially recognize the great work of Mrs. Woods, the matron, affectionately called "Aunty Woods" by the thousands of poor children she has "mothered" for more than a score of years. It is the universal testimony of all who visited the "Home," as well as the officers of the society, that Mrs. Woods could not have bestowed more care, labor, and affection on the unfortunate waifs brought to the home if they had been the children of her awn f^esh and blood — her very own children. When it is remembered that she had on her hands and responsible for their welfare, from forty to sixty children for all the term of her service for more than twenty years, it is seen what a task was hers. And if it had not been a labor of love, she never could have carried the burden.
PRESENT OFFICERS OF LADIES' RELIEF SOCIETY.
President, Anna M. E. Mann; vice-president, Mrs. T. L. Eliot; second vice- president, Mrs. W. B. Ayer; secretary, Mrs. Ellis G. Hughes; assistant secretary, Mrs. C. W. Burrage; treasurer, Mrs. A. E. Butterfield.
BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Mrs. W. H. Skene, chairman; Mrs. M. C. George, secretary; Mrs. Julius Lowenberg, Mrs. Max Fleischnqr, Mrs. W. R. Roberts, Mrs. R. Koehler, Mrs. H. L. Pittock, Mrs. A. F. Biles, Miss Sallie Lewis. Honorary, Mrs. A. J. Meier.
THE PATTON HOME.
The Patton Home for the aged, located in the upper Albina district of the city, is the outgrowth of the Ladies' Union Relief Society, of old Albina. The relief society was organized December 9, 1887, by a number of ladies for benevo- lent purposes, and commenced its work with only twenty-nine members, assist- ing the poor, the friendless, the orphan, the erring, and whosoever else needing the willing hands and kind hearts of these noble women.
The kind-hearted ladies found their self-appointed work rapidly increasing on their hands. It would be impossible to relate in the space given to this sub- ject, all of the calls, and the kinds of calls which came to them for assistance. One of the first was a poor woman who had lost her husband by death, and had nothing but small children left for help. A little house was rented for the widow and children, and the house rent provided for by the relief society. In two years' experience, the ladies found they must plan something permanent and
