Overview

This wood-frame building originally served as a college for Baptists in Dunlap, WA, a small town southeast of Seattle. (Dunlap was later annexed into the city.) The university was sold in 1899 to a local chapter of the National Florence Crittenton Mission, an East Coast organization focused on the rehabilitation of "fallen girls." In 1919, the Critttenton Home #1 had an address of 9217 Rainier Avenue in Seattle.

Building History

The Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers purchased a former Baptist university building in Dunlap, WA, in 1899. The Seattle Daily Times wrote of its establishment: “The old Baptist University, near Dunlap, on the car line to Renton, which was purchased a short time ago by the Florence Crittenton Mission, is being rapidly put in shape for its new use and will be formally opened Wednesday night. Considerable repairing has been done on the building and part of the rooms have already been fitted up, charitable members of the society furnishing the means. The work of furnishing the rooms of the home will be paid for partly by the money made in serving lunches to the delegates of the recent national W.C.T.U. convention. Miss Dodd of Washington has been appointed matron of the mission and will be present at the opening, for which an appropriate program is being prepared.” (See “Crittenton Home,” Seattle Daily Times, 10/31/1899, p. 8.) In Seattle, at least, the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Florence Crittenton Home periodically collaborated on events.

Fund-raising efforts began in Seattle and other cities by at least 04/1899. Another note in the Seattle Daily Times reported a fund-raising meeting for the Crittenton Home held in Tacoma, WA: “Apropos of the coming of Evangelist Crittenton, is the organization of the Florence Crittenton Circle which took its place among the benevolent clubs of the city Tuesday afternoon, when the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J.H. Palmer; secretary, Mrs. R.W. Jamieson; treasurer, Miss Clara Littooy. Committees on hospital, prison and rescue work have been appointed which will make an active crusade.” (See "Out-of-Town Clearing: Tacoma," Seattle Daily Times, 04/30/1899, p. 6.) Four months later, a note was published in the same newspaper: “Wednesday evening a meeting was held in the First Baptist Church to arouse an interest in the Florence Crittenton Home in Seattle. Mrs. Moffat, Dr. J.P. Marlatt and Judge W.H.H. Kean made addresses.” (See "Out-of-Town Society: Tacoma," Seattle Daily Times, 08/05/1899, p. 12.)

The Florence Crittenton Home #1 opened in 11/1899. By 05/1900, Cecelia Spidell, writing in the Seattle Daily Times, made a public appeal for donations, as the organization had incurred debt: “One year ago, the Florence Crittenton Rescue Circle was formed. Their object was to establish a home for fallen girls. They have worked faithfully and paid $4100 for a beautiful place at Dunlap and $500 for repairs and insurance. Last November the home was opened. The first night there was an applicant, and up to this time we have taken thirty-three girls. The Home has been the humble instrument in gathering these castaways and sheltering them until they have found themselves. What greater work than to turn a misdirected soul back into the straight and narrow way that leaders to life! We have in the Home at present fourteen girls and five babies. Four girls have homes in private families, and doing nicely; two have married and one has gone to the Great Beyond. The conduct of the girls is splendid and we feel much encouraged in our work.” The article continued, “We live as economically as possible, but our income is always short of our expenditures, do what we may. From the nature of things the institution cannot be self-sustaining. Our income is derived from the managers dues, pledge cards and donations from the public. Do all we can, alas! There is a deficit.” (See Cecelia Spidell, Seattle Daily Times, 05/11/1900, p. 8.)

In 05/1904, Sarah Conner was the matron of the Seattle home, which cared for twenty-two women and thirteen babies. The facility continued to be underfunded, with the women "lacking in food and bed clothing." A front-page article in the Times indicated that inmates of the home subsisted on a diet of rice, bean and broth. This report concluded: "Since the beginning of the present year, the number of inmates has been on the increase. At times it has reached twenty-eight. These young women are cared for and are sent out, many of them, to make their way in the world under vastly improved circumstances. The work of the Florence Crittenton Homes is well known and conducted on lines that have been universally approved. Just now it is being done under difficulties in Seattle, because the people of this city don’t seem disposed to give freely to rescue work.” (See "Women Lack Food at Rescue Home," Seattle Daily Times, 05/30/1904, p. 1.) In the wake of this article, a theatrical benefit was held on 06/06/1904 at the Grand Opera House, a development committee was formed in 06/1904 and a benefit baseball game was held between two Seattle amateur teams, Frederick and Nelson's Majestics and the Rainiers, on 07/23/1904. (See "Drametic Recital by Henry Lawrence Southwick," Seattle Daily Times, 06/06/1904, p. 6, "Enlarging Work of Home," Seattle Daily Times, 06/13/1904, p. 7, and baseball benefit advertisement, Seattle Daily Times, 07/14/1904, p. 9.) The following year, the WA State Legislature passed $2,000 appropriations to support the Florence Crittenton Homes in Seattle and Spokane and the White Shield Home in Tacoma in 03/1905. (See "In the House," Seattle Daily Times, 03/01/1905, p. 3.) Subsequently, the WA State Legislature voted to provide $3,000 to each of the three shelters in 1913, 1915, 1917 and 1919. (See "New Bills in House," Seattle Daily Times, 01/31/1913, p. 17, "House Omnibus Bill Saves Big Sum for State, Seattle Daily Times, 02/28/1915, p. 4, "Bills Introduced in Legislature," Seattle Daily Times, 01/12/1917, p. 7 and "State Budget Reaches Big Sum of $18,744,764," Seattle Daily Times, 02/25/1919, p. 8.)

Artistic and philanthropic benefits continued to be staged regularly into 1907. By 1909, newspaper reports indicated that the Crittenton Home's financial condition had improved with it becoming "partially self-supporting.'" (See "Crittenton Home Now Prosperous," Seattle Daily Times, 11/03/1909, p. 5.)

By 1919, the Florence Crittenton Home #1 had celebrated its twentieth anniversary and was making plans for a fund-raising drive with which to erect a new building: “The home is twenty years old and is situated on a hill affording a splendid view of Lake Washington. It is not uncomfortable but the need is felt for a new and modern structure which the directors hope to erect soon.” (See “Crittenton Home Girls Happy Donation Day Brings Goodies,” Seattle Daily Times, 11/23/1919, p. 4.)

In 1920, Mrs. J.F. Trowbridge was the superintendent. (See Dora Dean, "Girl's Home to Celebrate 21st Birthday; Gifts Appreciated," Seattle Daily Times, 11/14/1920, p. 17.) The facility tended to 36 mothers, 24 babies and 24 children in this year. (See "Protective Homes," Seattle Daily Times, 11/13/1921, p. 4.)

Building Notes

A classified ad reported in the Seattle Daily Times of 1900: "There will be no more public meetings held at the Florence Crittenton Home, by order of the Board." (See classified ad, Seattle Daily Times, 02/10/1900, p. 21.)

The General Superintendent of the National Florence Crittenton Mission, Kate Waller Barrett, made her first visit to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest in 1903. The Seattle Daily Times said of her inspection visit: “Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, general superintendent and secretary of the Florence Crittenton mission in the United States, arrived in Seattle yesterday afternoon to inspect the home here. She visits Seattle for the first time and is much pleased with the city. While Mrs. Barrett has been in California on tours of inspection she has never been in the Northwest and this time will visit all the homes in the section. Plans are arranged for a public meeting during her stay, at which Mrs. Barrett may address the people of Seattle the object of homes. It was intended that she speak last Sunday, but will be held next Sunday at a place to be announced later. Mrs. Barrett is accompanied by her daughter, Miss Reba Barrett. They are the guests of Mrs. Emma Moffatt at the Occidental Hotel. Mrs. Moffatt will give a reception to Mrs. Barrett tomorrow evening, at which time the visitor will be glad to see all her Seattle friends. It is expected that she will go to Portland on Thursday, and return to Seattle for the mass meeting Sunday.” (See “Mrs. Barrett Here,” Seattle Daily Times, 12/08/1903, p. 11.)

An article summarized positions held by Waller on prostitution and its regulation in 1904: “At the conference of the National Florence Crittenton Mission, held in Washington City, Mrs. Kate Barrett, who has worked many years in the field to which this mission is devoted, made several suggestions for lessening the social evil, which amount to police regulation. She advocated preventing the sale of liquor in disorderly houses, close police supervision and authority, a record of every inmate, the requirement that every recruit, before being allowed to enter a disorderly house should report to the chief of police, and, finally, making it possible ‘for a girl to earn an honest living.’” (See untitled article, Seattle Daily Times, 05/14/1904, p. 6.) The advocacy of the prohibiting alcohol sales in houses of prostitution aligned with goals promoted by the WCTU.

The Seattle home received $5,000 from the will of Seattle Euro-American pioneer Loretta Denny (1851-1907) in 1907. (See "Miss Denny's Will," Seattle Daily Times, 06/30/1907, p. 6.)

An article of 1913 described the house's purpose and indicated that inmates of the home were not forced to give their children up for adoption: “All are familiar, too, with the purpose of the Florence Crittenton home at Dunlap. Last year, fifty girls in all were cared for, there being twenty-six at the home at one time, ranging in ages fro 14 to 20. A school teacher is provided to instruct the girls in sewing, cooking, millinery, English, etc. Places of employment are found for the girls as they are able to work and a general watch-care kept over them, the home always being open to them when out of employment. Homes are found for babies when their mothers do not wish to keep them, but usually the young mothers cling to their offspring and encouraged to do so. This charity is also supported by voluntary contribution.” (See Ruth Dunbar, “Women’s Clubs: Various Charities of City Reviewed,” Seattle Daily Times, 04/29/1913, p. 7.)

Alteration

In 04/1909, the Florence Crittenton Home #1 sustained an estimated $500 damage when a fire began on the roof. Neighbors, along with the matron Bessie Martin and residents, formed a bucket brigade and managed to extinguish the blaze with no loss of life. At the time of this fire, twelve women and four babies lived at the home. (See "Panic Occurs in Crittenton Home," Seattle Daily Times, 04/19/1909, p. 5.) Later, this figure was revised to cost $795. (See "Crittenton Home Now Prosperous," Seattle Daily Times, 11/03/1909, p. 5.)

Repairs on the house were made in 1913 which drained savings and required further fund-raising in 1914. (See "Crittenton Home Asks Assistance," Seattle Daily Times, 11/17/1914, p. 4.)

PCAD id: 24094