Lincoln Colored Home facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Colored Home
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Illinois |
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| Built | 1904 |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000985 |
| Added to NRHP | August 6, 1998 |
The Lincoln Colored Home was a special place in Springfield, Illinois. It was one of the very first homes in the United States for African American children who needed a safe place to live. It also cared for elderly people. The home opened on March 8, 1898, and helped many people until 1933.
The building itself is still standing today. It was recognized as an important historical site in 1998. This means it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The home is located at 427 South 12th Street in Springfield. The building you see today was built in 1904, replacing an older one on the same spot.
Contents
History of the Lincoln Colored Home
How the Home Started
The Lincoln Colored Home was founded by a determined woman named Eva Carroll Monroe. She moved to Springfield in 1896. In just two years, she saved enough money to buy the property. Many people thought her idea was silly. But Eva Monroe really wanted to open a home for black orphans. At that time, the other orphanages in Springfield did not accept children of color.
A Helping Hand from Mary Lawrence
Eva Monroe's hard work caught the attention of Mary Lawrence. Mary Lawrence was the wife of a former mayor of Springfield. Eva Monroe was in danger of losing the home because she couldn't pay the mortgage. Mary Lawrence stepped in and paid off the debt. She also used her connections to bring more attention and support to the home.
Mary Lawrence encouraged Eva Monroe to tear down the old house. People used to call it the "Haunted House." A new, better building was then constructed. This new house even had doors, windows, and beautiful stained glass from Mary Lawrence's own home. She and her daughter, Susan Lawrence Dana, had hired a famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, to remodel their mansion.
Dedication and Continued Support
On March 11, 1906, the new Lincoln Colored Home was officially dedicated. This day was chosen to honor Mary Lawrence, who had passed away suddenly a year earlier. At that time, Eva Monroe was caring for 29 children and eight elderly women.
The home continued to do well thanks to Susan Lawrence Dana. She was Mary Lawrence's daughter. Susan continued her mother's support for the home. She helped both with money and by using her influence in the community.
Why the Home Closed
In the mid-1920s, ideas about caring for children began to change. Many people started to believe that foster parenting was a better way to raise children without parents. Also, some felt that people running such homes should have a college education.
Because of these new ideas, the Lincoln Colored Home lost its license to care for the elderly. Then, in 1933, the State of Illinois did not give the home a new license to care for orphans. The 32 children living there had to move. Some went back to their families, and others went to different boarding homes. This sad event brought an end to Eva Monroe's dream.
The Home Today
The Lincoln Colored Home and its property were sold in 1944. The money from the sale helped pay for Susan Lawrence Dana's medical bills. The property has had a few different owners since then.
Today, the home is owned by the family of Lyman Hubbard Sr. He was a brave Tuskegee Airman who passed away in 2012. His family hopes to restore and preserve the historic site. They want to make their father's dream of fixing up the home come true.
