The German RC Orphan Home was founded in 1852, and originally stood at Broadway and Pine. In 1874, it was relocated to 564 Dodge St., and the complex included this building. Over 15,000 children were cared for, with the orphanage closing sometime around 1956.
This building and the grounds later became DEC (Diocional Educational Campus), a predominately African-American Catholic School. I attended the school in the early 80s, and it closed in the late 80s I believe.
BILL BALL
16-Jan-2007 00:42
There was a multible alarm fire that destroyed the living quarters in the mid.fifties so they had to close.
Fay Carmichael
30-May-2006 15:18
From 1938-1945 we lived in the manse of Lebanon Presbyterian at 521 Northampton. Dad's study and the church offices were on the first floor; we lived on the second. You had to climb out a small door on the top floor in order to use the clothesline on the flat tarpaper roof. The roof overlooked this orphanage and I would stand on my tip-toes to lean over and watch the all the kids playing in the brick-walled courtyard while Mother hung the laundry. The children must have had to stay on the grounds as I don't ever remember them playing in the street or at Humboldt Park.
Guest
07-May-2006 07:50
Regarding the comment below - the correct e-mail address is buffalo.orphanage.studies@adelphia.net
Guest
07-May-2006 07:46
I am doing research on all of the orphanages that were once in the Buffalo Area. If anybody has any information, please contact me at buffalo.orphanages@adelphia.net. Thank you.