WEST VIRGINIA HUMANE SOCIETY AND CHILDREN'S HOME., 1917 This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm WEST VIRGINIA HUMANE SOCIETY AND CHILDREN'S HOME., 1917 Source: West Virginia Legislative Hand Book and Manual and Official Register, 1917, Compiled and Edited by John T. Harris, Clerk of the Senate, The Tribune Printing Co., Charleston, West Va. pgs. 801-802 pg. 801 WEST VIRGINIA HUMANE SOCIETY AND CHILDREN'S HOME. Article Furnished by DR. R. D. ROLLER. The West Virginia Humane Society was established by law February 17, 1899, for the protection of children, the helpless aged, and the prevention of cruelty to animals, and for the purpose of carrying out the legal enactments of February 10 and February 20, 1897. On February 7, 1901, an act was passed increasing the power and efficiency of this society. February 13, 1901, an act was passed to prevent and punish cruelty to children. February 19, 1901, an act was passed providing for the support of wives and children. February 23, 1907, section 1, Chapter II, of the acts relating to the employment of children, was amended and re-enacted. These enactments, together with the Federal law No. 340, constitute the authority and principles under which the society has done its work. The work of the society was very much retarded for want of a central home where children who became its wards could be gathered together and prepared by proper feeding and medical care to be placed in homes where they could grow up into useful and good citizens. This being recognized, the legislature on February 26, 1909, passed an act providing for the establishment of the West Virginia Children's Home. The society thoroughly canvassed all possible locations, and finally selected Elkins, for the chief reason that Elkins is about the only place north of the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railroad which can be reached in one day from all points. This location avoids the inconvenience, the trouble and expense of keeping the incom- ing children over night at some hotel. The altitude of the place and the splendid property secured through the influence of the citizens, were added reasons. The State owns about twenty acres of land within the corporate limits, upon which there is a main building two stories high, 86 x 36 feet with an "L" 48 x 30 feet, and a barn. To this Home children are sent whenever it is necessary, and they are kept there until suitable private homes are secured for them. The agents of the Humane Society, quite inadequate in number, are dis- tributed among the centres of population, going to outlying points as necessity requires and ability permits. Wherever there are orphans, waifs, destitute children or those receiving cruel treatment, or animals neglected or cruelly treated, an agent investigates and takes charge, with the help of the local State officers of the law. If the children are not defective or unsound in body or mind, so declared by a reputable physician, they are taken to the Home and there prepared by proper food, clothing, or otherwise, and fitted for entrance into a good and reputable family home. Children who cannot be placed in homes are either sent to the proper institution or left to the care of the county in which they are found. The Home is simply a dealing house for reasonably healthy children. It could not be otherwise, else it would soon be filled to overflowing with defectives, and the proper work of the society in providing for the development of good citizenship by placing children under proper environment would be thwarted. Even with the greatest care, defectives will accumulate. This State ought to provide for its defectives, but until that is done, the county rather than the State should be charged with the care of such. pg. 802 All children placed in homes are subject to the supervision and inspection of the Society. The work of the Humane Society embraces only a part of that which should be done by the State in order to set ourselves in line with other States surrounding us. The name should be changed to the "West Virginia State Board of Charities" and its powers so enlarged that city and county almshouses, jails, lockups, police stations, hospitals, public and private, and all other public and private benevo- lent, charitable and corrective institutions in the State—except those specially under the State Board of Control—could be authoritatively visited- and inspected. There should be also a home for the care and treatment of the feeble minded, under the direction of the State Board of Charities and State Board of Control. If such legislation can be secured, the State of West Virginia would place her- self in line with the best accomplishments made by other well organized states.