Kelso Home for Girls facts for kids
The Kelso Home for Girls was a special place for girls in Baltimore, Maryland, during the 1800s and 1900s. It started as the Kelso Home and Orphan Asylum. This home was a school and a safe place for girls who needed care. It was located in the Jonestown/Old Town area, near the Jones Falls river.
A kind businessman named Thomas Kelso (1784–1878) founded the home. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The home first opened its doors in January 1874. Today, the building that was once the Towson Family YMCA is now the Y of Central Maryland Towson Family Center.
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A New Home in Towson
In 1925, the Kelso Home for Girls moved to a new location in Towson, Maryland. This move happened on September 27, 1925. At first, people thought the new campus would be for both boys and girls. However, a different property was given in Eldersburg, Maryland, so the boys went to the Strawbridge Home for Boys instead.
The land for the Towson home was bought for $300,000. It was a large, natural area of about 17 acres. The address was 600 West Chesapeake Avenue in Towson.
Designing the Towson Building
The design for the new Towson facility was created by Otto Eugene Adams, a Maryland architect. The main building was made of brick and looked like a Colonial-style house. It was built to hold 80 girls.
Inside, it had an assembly hall, a place for sick children (an infirmary), play rooms, and other useful areas. There were plans to add more buildings later, but these were never finished. The company Thomas Hicks & Son Inc. was hired to build the home. The first cost was estimated to be $100,000.
Opening Day
The completed home was officially opened in 1925. Bishop William McDowell of the Methodist Episcopal Church led the dedication ceremony. Many important Methodists and friends of the home attended. These included Revs. Dr. F. R. Bayley, Dr. J. B. Gillum, and Dr. E. T. Mowbray. They were district superintendents for the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Other guests included Louis Moller, who was the president of the home's board of trustees. Walter Kirwan, the secretary to the board of managers, and Mrs. Ella J. Kilcourse, the home's superintendent, were also there. Milton W. Gatch, who helped raise money for the new home, officially presented it to the bishop.
People who visited described the inside of the home as very nice. It had wide hallways and a bright living room with special curtains. This living room opened into a sunny sitting area. The dining room had sturdy Windsor chairs and tables. The younger girls slept in dormitories with light-colored wood and beds. The older girls had their own single or double rooms with darker, mahogany-colored furniture.
The Home Changes Hands
In 1958, the Kelso Home for Girls had been helping children for 85 years. At this time, the campus and building were sold to the Baltimore YMCA organization. W. Gibbs McKenney, the president of the home's board, oversaw this sale. The YMCA used the property as its Towson Family YMCA branch.
The Kelso Home organization moved from Towson after the sale. The girls' orphanage was named after its founder, Thomas Kelso (1784–1878). He started the charity in the eastern downtown Baltimore neighborhood of Jonestown/Old Town.
Future Plans for the Site
In 1995, the Y of Central Maryland made a plan for the Towson site. By 2000, they had a study and design for renovating the 60,000 square foot facility. However, in January 2008, these plans changed. A new plan was made to tear down all the buildings on the site.
The Baltimore County government and the Y of Central Maryland are working together. The county plans to buy about 4 to 5 acres of the property. This land will be used for sports fields.
The YMCA of Central Maryland revealed plans for a new 45,000 square foot facility. This new building was designed to be very energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The plans include tearing down all the old buildings once the new facility is finished.
