Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ST. MARY'S ORPHAN HOME
ST. MARY'S ORPHAN HOME. The bequests made by Senes and Scholastica Huegel made possible the opening of St. Mary's Orphan Home in December 1878. The Catholic couple left their entire estate to Archbishop John HENNESSY for the construction of a home for orphans. Hennessy asked the SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS OF THE HOLY FAMILY (OSF) to come to Dubuque to administer the project.
The first building occupied by the home was an old rock structure on the corner of Eighth and White STREETS. This had been constructed as the Holy Trinity Church and school. The home was kept at this site for one year. In 1879 the residence and grounds of J. Duncan, comprising thirty-one acres near LINWOOD CEMETERY, were purchased for seven thousand dollars. This area provided the home's next location.
By 1938 the home, under the supervision of the Archdiocesan Bureau of Catholic Charities, had cared for more than 2,800 children and served an estimated six million meals. Six of the former orphans had become priests.
By the 1960s, following another relocation to Kaufmann Avenue, the focus of the home became one of serving the handicapped.
After 1968 the building on Kaufmann Avenue was known as AREA RESIDENTIAL CARE, INC.
The 1939 Dubuque City Directory through 1948 Dubuque Classified Business Directory listed 905 Davis.