Rose Orphan Home

By

Jennifer Cruse

Wabash Valley Generations

(Newsletter of the Wabash Valley Genealogy Society)

The Rose Orphan Home became possible in 1883 when philanthropist, Chauncey Rose, donated a portion of his wealth to care for the orphans.  In order to establish the home, Mr. Rose gave $100,000 of Terre Haute & Indianapolis railroad stock and $50,000 of Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago railway stock. In addition, Mr. Rose willed $150,000 worth of property, making the total value of his donation $300,000. 

A description of the home is reported in the December 7, 1883 Express, stating it exceeded all expectations.  The large cottage on the east side of the main building had a fine entrance.  The first floor had two large sitting rooms or kinder-gartens, where the children assembled in the evenings. Over the sitting rooms were large dormitories.  To the front of the dormitories were the matrons’ room and sick room.  The third story housed one large room which was used as a children’s play room.  The rooms were finished in hard timber and the floors were the best Georgia Pine.  The article goes on to describe an excellent ventilation system, grates in every room, and in some cases two.  There were numerous closets, linen rooms, wash rooms and bath rooms.

The small cottage, northwest of the large cottage was arranged similar to the first cottage.  The first floor had a large sitting room, with two grates. The Matrons’ room was on the south of the sitting room. There were closets and linens rooms on this floor. The second floor had a large dormitory, with a matrons’ room and closets. The third story was a large play room.

The chapel was a model building. The entrance was stone and very grand.  It was a handsome place of worship.

The entrance to the main building was beautiful and huge. Corridors connected with the hall leading back from the main entrance, with the chapel and school room.  There was a reception room and superintendent’s office. Below the main dining room was the bakery and serving room. Beginning at the bakery a large elevator ran up to the third story, which was used for either freight or passengers. Along the hall on the second floor were sleeping rooms, and one sick room. There were also linen rooms, closets, etc.  On the third floor there were seven rooms in the front, which were used for any purpose.  The remainder of the space was used for a play area and closets.  From the balcony on the third story, you could see a view of the city and country north and south.  The roof was slate and the chapel, main building and school were fronted with stone and Zanesville, Ohio pressed brick, laid with black mortar.

The property consisted of twenty acres, on the Northeast corner of what is now known as South Twenty-Fifth Street and Wabash Avenue.  The home was originally called the Vigo County Orphan Home, when it opened its doors to orphans in September, 1884. The Board of Managers, changed the name to Rose Orphan Home and in 1930, the name was changed again, to Chauncey Rose School.

The Rose Home closed in 1964 after being in existence for 80 years, serving as an orphanage, later a school and eventually a home for the aged. The buildings were subsequently torn down.  The home not only benefited the children, but was a wonderful asset for the community as well. 

Chauncey Rose died on August 13, 1877. He was one of eight children; seven boys and one girl. He outlived all of them. They each died childless and he inherited all of their estates, which were sizeable. He himself never married and when he died, the Rose family line ended.