meeting, W. S. Ladd, William Wadhams, Miss Helen F. Spaulding, F. K. Arnold, C. E. Sitton, L. L. Hawkins, W. B. Gilbert, Dr. P. T. Keene, Rev. T. L. Eliot, F. E. Beach, F. B. Pettingill, H. W. Scott, H. W. Corbett and Dr. Chance.
A committee of five was then appointed to perfect organization. W. S. Ladd was elected chairman of the meeting and F. E. Beach, secretary.
The first meeting of the board of trustees of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society of Oregon was held on the 7th day of October, 1885, and consisted of the following: L W. Pratt, Miss Helen F. Spaulding, F. E. Beach, H. W. Corbett, W. S. Ladd, L F. Powers, W. B. Gilbert, P. T. Keene, and L. L. Hawkins.
The first officers elected were H. W. Corbett, president; F. E. Beach, secretary and L. L. Hawkins, treasurer.
During the first ten years of the life of the society, Mr. Ira F. Powers, acted as superintendent, without compensation, and did a large amount of good work for the organization.
The present board of trustees consists of W. B, Gilbert, president; F. E. Beach, secretary; J. C. Ainsworth, treasurer; Dr. T. L. Eliot, Robt. S. Farrell, Chas. E. Wolverton, Fredk. H. Strong, Wm. F. Woodward and Mrs. Levi White.
The Boys' and Girls' Aid Society was organized for the care and disposition of homeless, neglected and abused children and to receive first offenders, caring for them until suitable homes or employment was found for them, and thereafter to continue systematic attention to their condition and treatment. The society at that time was entirely supported by voluntary contributions, and the first bequest made to the society was in 1889, by Miss Ella M. Smith, who left the society the handsome sum of $40,000.00. This was of course an irreducible fund and was loaned out on note and mortgage.
The first appropriation made by the state of Oregon was in the year 1895, to the amount of $2,500.00. Then followed other bequests from friends of the society until the society had received as bequests the following:
- Miss Ella M. Smith $40,000.00
- Levi C. Millard 5,000.00
- Lindsley Estate 2,134.55
- Mrs. Rosa F. Burrell 9,000.00
- H. W. Corbett 10,000.00
- Mrs. Amanda W. Reed 1,000.00
- Henry W. Weinhard, 1,000.00
- Making a total of $63,134.55
Besides which a farmer named W. L. Justice, residing in Fox valley. Grant County, Oregon, recently died leaving all his real and personal property to the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, which will in all probability amount to about $2,000.00 after the debts outstanding against the estate are liquidated.
As may be seen by the present names of the board of trustees, there are still three of its organizers members of the board. While Dr. T. L. Eliot was not a member of the first board of trustees, yet, he always took an active interest in the work, and was instrumental in raising the funds for the erection of the present receiving home, which is built on a beautiful site donated by Mrs. Rachael Hawthorne, on the corner of East 29th and Irving streets, one block from the line of the Rose City Park cars.
In addition to the donations for the site the Ladd estate donated nine lots at the back and immediately adjoining the grounds of the receiving home and the society purchased the next nine lots adjoining these, making the grounds four hundred and fifty feet long by three hundred and thirty feet wide. These grounds are beautifully laid out with roses and ornamental trees. The children's play
