The Warren County Orphan Asylum and Children’s Home is located along Ohio State Route 63 (Shakertown Pike) west of Lebanon, Ohio. Noted as one of the county’s historic landmarks, the building is in a state of deterioration and has been disused for years. It was later known as the Mary Haven Home for Boys and resides on 53 acres.(4)(5)
History
The beginnings of the children’s home, later to be known as the Mary Haven Home, began in earnest on June 6, 1863 when Mary Ann Klingling, a local resident who lived on Broadway in Lebanon, crafted a will summing $40,000.(1)(2)(3) The fund would be applied for the construction of a home where disadvantaged, white children, where one or both parents have deceased, could receive “a sound moral and Christian education” and be supported during their youth. The monies were originally not to be used unless there was a matching fund; if no individual stepped forward, the money would be donated to Lebanon with the same stipulation. But if Lebanon failed to take up the issue, the money would be donated to the county and be placed into a trust fund to be used for the support and construction of such a facility.
Additionally, if Warren County did not assume the building within six years, the entire fund would be transferred to the German General Protestant Orphan asylum of Cincinnati. The children’s home would also be free of all denominational restraint.(2)(3)
The will was specific in that the fund would be made available for the education and support of orphaned “white” children.(1)
The will was probated in August 1867.(2)
The commissioners of Warren County accepted the will with one exception: the clause that allowed white children only into the care of the home. The commissioners appealed to the state legislature, who were ultimately successful.(2)
On February 11, 1869, the Ohio Legislature authored the Warren County commissioners to accept the Klingling fund and to construct and maintain an orphanage in connection with a children’s home.(1)(3) Two separate books would be maintained for each institution, with the money divided evenly between the two.
In early spring 1873, Warren County commissioners purchased 52 acres west of Lebanon for the facility.(3) The six board of trustees were chosen by the Court of Common Pleases on August 3, 1874, and on December 12, the Orphan Asylum and Children’s Home was opened at a cost of $23,000, including furnishings, and overlooked the Turtlecreek valley from a small hilltop perch.(1)(2) It measured 52 feet by 82 feet, and included three levels with a full basement. Twenty-five children were transferred from the county infirmary to the new residence.(3)
In 1880, the fund was increased by $7,000 thanks to Isaac Jones of Salem Township.(2) A laundry was added on-site in 1883.(1) Later, the property became a home for troubled teenage males.
The Children’s Home closed in November 1995 with a new facility, the Mary Haven Youth Center, opened on Justice Drive.(1) A non-profit group that conducted teen counseling then occupied the building, followed by a ministry.(4)
Operations
In July 1896, a group of citizens from Lebanon spent three hours at the orphanage, where they noted the immaculate condition of the grounds and the spotless interior.(1) The second and third floors consisted of fifteen to twenty rooms that were used as sleeping rooms. The beds were smaller than average, and each room contained three to six. In addition, no two rooms were painted alike.
Meals were served by beginning with grace.(1) Although the food was of common stock, meat was provided once a day, with beef served two days a week and chicken on occasion.
Of the 36 children housed in the asylum, 21 were females and the remainder were males, three of which were classified as negros.(1) The majority of the children were from five to ten years of age, and the older children were instructed to work on the farm that surrounded the property. A schoolhouse was in use for nine months of the year, and a teacher was paid $315 annually.
Post-closure
In early July 2009, Terry Banker, a local Turtlecreek Township resident, filed a citizen’s complaint with Lebanon’s housing code enforcement office.(4) Banker approached county commissioners and the attorney general’s office to have the county restore the building as early as 2006, seeking to have it purposed to what the will included in its mission: to serve as a children’s home. In a presentation to the Lebanon Conservancy Foundation, a historic preservation organization, Banker stated that county did not comply with the original bylaws of the trust, and that the county violated with state law.(5) For instance, a six-member board of trustees, designated by the Common Pleas Court to manage the trust, does not exist according to Banker. In addition, an independent audit of the funds from the original will, along with donations from the 1950s to the 1980s, is required because a significant sum of money was donated over time but not disclosed.
County commissioner Pat South noted that the building contains lead paint and asbestos, and would cost $5 million – at 2000 estimates.(4) In comparison, it would cost $200,000 to demolish, according to Smith.(5)
On January 4, 2011, the Warren County Commission filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the county Probate Court, seeking a decision on the ownership of the Children’s Home and land.(5) The Commission requested that part of the trust be voided, specifically relating to the declaration of rights, and that the trust be terminated outright. The suit stated that while a will and trust was established to fund the center, county taxpayers were ultimately billed for its upkeep because the asylum and home did not have a sufficient cash flow to remain open.
The will, however, stated that the trust would never be able to fully cover all expenses of the home, and that it would need “community support.”(5) A tax levy provided operating funds.
Banker, however, contested the Probate Judge Mike Powell, notably because Powell served at Warren County’s juvenile detention home prior to its closure.(5) The conflict of interest was not disclosed until the case was filed in court.
Gallery
Sources
- Bogan, Dallas. “Mary Haven Home Has Long History Of Caring For Warren County Children In Need.” Warren County, Ohio and Beyond. Bowie: Heritage Press, 1979. 345. Print. Article.
- Barnes, Joseph Daniel, et al., eds. Memoirs of the Miami valley. Vol. 2. Chicago: Robert O. Law Company, 1919. N. pag. Print. 3 vols.
- “Warren County Orphan Asylum and Children’s Home.” First Annual Report of the Board of State Charities to the General Assembly of Ohio. Columbus: Nevins & Myers, 1877. 85. Print.
- Trumpey, Elaine. “Iconic Mary Haven home now an eyesore.” Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2010. 24 Dec. 2010. Article.
- Richter, Ed. “Lawsuit seeks decision on abandoned Mary Haven building.” Dayton Daily News, 23 Jan. 2011. 25 Jan. 2011. Article.
It saddens me to see what was once a beautiful building in such a state of disrepair. My sisters and I lived at Mary Haven, beginning in March 1953. I lived there until I graduated from high school in June of 1958. One would think that living in an orphanage would be a negative experience and at times it was. Most of the people working there were not as educated or as smart as the children they supervised.
I was the first high school graduate at Mary Haven to go to college. Most children were sent to the military when they graduated and/or reached the age of 18. I feel lucky and blessed because had I stayed in my family unit, I most likely would not have had the opportunity to go to college. I was told that I was the first student who had the grades and took college prep classes to go to college. I received a scholarship from the Mary Ann Klingling Foundation that helped pay my tuition.
I went to Wilmington College, then to Kent State University and became an educator/administrator. I have taught in and directed schools in Ohio, Maryland, and Indiana. Tutoring the kids at Mary Haven was the beginning of my teaching career.
My wife and sister are trying to find out if my father spent some time in the home. Does anyone have any idea how we may check this out?
We are doing an article on "Mary Haven", and would like to get intouch with the photographer of the above pictures of Mary Haven. Can you help me get intouch with the Photographer? Thank You, Gerald Miller
Gene,
Check the Warren County Genealogical Society, Warren Co., OH.
They have a list of Miscellaneous Records. Click on either Children's Home or Orphans. I just found 4 siblings I have been looking for. Good luck!
My grandmother whom is still living was raised in this orphanage from a baby to the age of 18, and has told many stories about it. She stayed there along with her twin brother and a few of her siblings. if you would enjoy hearing any stories i heard from her about her childhood at maryhaven, please feel free to contact me.
i strongly believe in preserving the remnants of the building, and am one day hoping to take my grandmother back to visit there where she spent her complete childhood
thankyou
I was supposedly adopted through here, I would like to visit it. Does any one know where I can get in touch with who ever is the grounds keeper?
Gene – I found my dad's intake records and a few letters from mid-1920 directly through Trumbull County.
I'd be interested in talking to anyone with stories about the place. My dad was there for a few years and the experiences he related weren't positive. That said, he *was* a heck of a story teller. (;
I was raised at Mary Haven from 1962 thru 1969, age 11 until 18. I worked at the horsefarm next door for those years and have great memories for that time period in my life, The first caregivers at that time were Mr.& Mrs. Leeks who lived on the 2nd floor at that time. When Mr. & Mrs. Saunders took over they resided on the first floor. I remember Miss Cole, Curtis May, Aunt Helen, Tina Bailey, as the Governess who watched over us. We never went to the old school on the property but instead went to school in town like everyone else did, we were allowed to go school dances once in awhile and basketball games now and then, I would love to set up a reunion for the kids there at that time, but so far have only found one thru the internet on facebook. I consider myself lucky to have been raised there by such good people, at the time I was there, there may have been up to 60 + kids at any given time, and they did their best to raise us right, it was hard for them to divide the attention to so many kids. God Bless them for what they went thru as we could be quite trying I'm sure. The thing that ticks me off the most right now are these people who are claiming they have seen ghosts and heard children and trying to make a buck off the Spirited dolls they are trying to sell for profit, such a scam !!!! I was there all those years and never once heard or seen anything out of the ordinary. It's a shame the way the county has let the place run down so they could take over the land, they were after it back when I was in the home and they did indeed take quite a chunk of if for the county workshop, I wish I could go to the attic and see if my stuff is still there from when I went into the Navy, all my clothes and models and such, would that really bring back the memories, LOL Thanks for listening and have a great day everyone, wanna contact me, feel free, waplesk@live.com, will do my best to answer everyone !!!!!!!
P.S. some of the names I remember are following: Rosanne, Maryland, and Georgia Sparks, Ronnie and Glenn Bryant, Donnie (Jaws) and Tommie McKinney, Danny Charleston, Paul and Rebecca Jackson, Danny and David Crane, Jim and Lester Rice, James York, David Amyx, John Crase, Richard Blevins, Victor, Roger, Paula and Kathleen Burkhart, Karin and Eileen Buccannan, Melody Clay, Barbara Leeks, Jerry Leeks (died in Vietnam), Lester (monk ?), Dewayne Sexton, Ricky Skelton, Mike Miller, Best I can do for now
My mom was in the home in 1920. She did not have a very positive experience there. Wonder if your dad knew my mom? In such a small place I would think everyone knew everyone.
Would be interested in knowing more about your dad's experiences.
We are going to the Cincinnati area, to do some family history research, a few days before Thanksgiving and would like to see the home. Does anyone know if it is still there?