Today in Wheeling History: May 24--The Florence Crittenton Rescue Home, located at 71 Seventeenth Street in Wheeling, held its formal opening, aiming to provide shelter, support, and reform for prostitutes and unmarried pregnant girls (1895).
The Florence Crittenton Rescue Home in Wheeling, West Virginia, held its formal opening on May 24, 1895, at 71 Seventeenth Street. The home, established by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, aimed to provide shelter, support, and reform for "fallen women" and unmarried pregnant girls. Visitors to the opening expressed surprise and approval at the pleasant, inviting atmosphere of the home, which was comfortably furnished through donations from the community.
The first Florence Crittenton home was founded in 1883 in New York City by Charles Nelson Crittenton in memory of his young daughter Florence. Crittenton partnered with Dr. Kate Waller Barrett to expand the homes nationwide, providing residential care and vocational training for unwed mothers and their children. By 1897, there were 51 Crittenton homes across the country affiliated with the National Florence Crittenton Mission.
While the homes provided much-needed support, their approach has been criticized in hindsight for hiding women from public view due to shame and sometimes coercing them into giving up their babies for adoption. The practices evolved over time as social work professionalized in the early-to-mid 20th century.
Today, Crittenton Services is located at 2606 National Road in Wheeling, West Virginia. Under the leadership of CEO Kathy Szafran for the past 25 years, the Wheeling agency has grown its programs to better address the root causes of trauma in the lives of the girls it serves. The National Crittenton Foundation continues to support 28 affiliated Crittenton agencies across the country that meet a variety of needs in their local communities.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/2uzpp849) (https://tinyurl.com/3c2sjxsk) (https://tinyurl.com/2ee2x4fe) (https://tinyurl.com/xva73u7r) (https://tinyurl.com/29tkefmm) (https://tinyurl.com/3djpybx9)
(https://tinyurl.com/yn7m8bcc) (https://tinyurl.com/2tbkz7zz)
Photo credits: West Virginia History OnView, Google Maps, Wheeling Register, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
The Florence Crittenton Rescue Home in Wheeling, West Virginia, held its formal opening on May 24, 1895, at 71 Seventeenth Street. The home, established by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, aimed to provide shelter, support, and reform for "fallen women" and unmarried pregnant girls. Visitors to the opening expressed surprise and approval at the pleasant, inviting atmosphere of the home, which was comfortably furnished through donations from the community.
The first Florence Crittenton home was founded in 1883 in New York City by Charles Nelson Crittenton in memory of his young daughter Florence. Crittenton partnered with Dr. Kate Waller Barrett to expand the homes nationwide, providing residential care and vocational training for unwed mothers and their children. By 1897, there were 51 Crittenton homes across the country affiliated with the National Florence Crittenton Mission.
While the homes provided much-needed support, their approach has been criticized in hindsight for hiding women from public view due to shame and sometimes coercing them into giving up their babies for adoption. The practices evolved over time as social work professionalized in the early-to-mid 20th century.
Today, Crittenton Services is located at 2606 National Road in Wheeling, West Virginia. Under the leadership of CEO Kathy Szafran for the past 25 years, the Wheeling agency has grown its programs to better address the root causes of trauma in the lives of the girls it serves. The National Crittenton Foundation continues to support 28 affiliated Crittenton agencies across the country that meet a variety of needs in their local communities.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/2uzpp849) (https://tinyurl.com/3c2sjxsk) (https://tinyurl.com/2ee2x4fe) (https://tinyurl.com/xva73u7r) (https://tinyurl.com/29tkefmm) (https://tinyurl.com/3djpybx9)
(https://tinyurl.com/yn7m8bcc) (https://tinyurl.com/2tbkz7zz)
Photo credits: West Virginia History OnView, Google Maps, Wheeling Register, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
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