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The Avon home.
The Avon Home ‘for children found destitute within the limits of
Cambridge’ was founded by the generosity of a resident of
Cambridge in accordance with a long-cherished plan.
It was opened on May 30, 1874, in a house on Avon Place near Linnaean Street, which, with its furniture and what was expected to be an ample endowment, was transferred to the corporation of the
Avon Place trustees in November of that year.
The original board of trustees consisted of
Mrs. Henry W. Paine, president;
Rev. D. O. Mears, treasurer;
Miss Irene F. Sanger, clerk; and
Dr. Andrew P. Peabody,
Mrs. Joseph Lovering,
Mrs. W. T. Richardson,
Mrs. Henry Thayer,
Mrs. J. M. Tyler, and
Mrs. B. F. Wyeth.
Dr. Peabody succeeded
Mrs. Paine as president, and at the time of his death in 1893 was the last one of the original trustees;
Mr. William Taggard Piper was chosen to succeed
Dr. Peabody.
Mrs. John Bartlett and
Miss Maria Murdock respectively followed
Miss Sanger as
clerkTyler, and
Mrs. J. M. Tyler and
Miss Mary A. Ellis succeeded
Mr. Mears as treasurer.
Four trustees were added in November, 1875, and in January, 1886, the number was increased to seventeen.
In 1891 the name of the corporation was changed to ‘The Avon Home.’
The endowment was in the form of securities, which unfortunately proved to be of little or no value, and soon after the opening of the
Home the trustees were compelled to call on their friends for contributions to enable them to carry on this work which was so pressing.
Their appeal was answered, and it is worthy of record that during the whole period of the existence of the
Home no debt has ever been incurred.
In 1878 an adjoining lot on Avon Hill Street was given by the
Holly Tree Inn, and in the following year the house was enlarged so that from twenty-five to thirty children could be accommodated.
In 1879
