All the Little Babies

This is one of my favorite pictures from Hope Cottage - probably because it says so much about our rich history. It was taken in the 1940's and says much about Hope Cottage at the time because we have black and white babies in the same crib. While Dallas was segregated, Hope Cottage was not. The sign is thanking those people who made gifts to Hope Cottage through the Community Chest. For those of you who always wondered what Community Chest was in your Monopoly game, it is what is now the United Way. Hope Cottage is one of the original thirteen agencies in the Dallas Metro United Way and one of only three or four still in existence.

When I first came on board, I would joke about the picture saying "Oh, where was this? At Northpark right next to the SPCA booth?" (laugh and giggle) "Did we put our babies on display?" (giggle, giggle). You can imagine how my giggles stopped when I ran across the articles below. Evidently Hope Cottage DID put their babies in the window. Enjoy another piece from our history.

Hope Cottage Babies Shown in Window Display
(December 1, 1921) One of the most novel features of the Welfare Council campaign is the Hope Cottage window of the Goldsmith Company, corner Ervay and Elm streets. Real babies from Hope Cottage, in charge of nurses, were in the window all day Thursday and each day, including Friday and Saturday.

The purpose of the exhibition is to impress the public with the importance of saving the babies of the poor, as well as the foundlings, that are from time to time placed on door steps. Hope Cottage shares in the proceeds of the welfare campaign. The Goldsmith window is especially heated to take care of the babies, some of whom are less than three months old. Great crowds gathered and blocked sidewalk traffic all day long. The hours for the exhibition of children Friday and Saturday are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Babies in Store Window Draw Big Crowds
(December 1921) Babies from Hope Cottage had a lark Saturday.

Hope Cottage is one of the 10 agencies supported by the Welfare Council, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. five bright looking youngsters asked the public to help them.

No, they didn't talk , for they can't. Only "nurse" could understand their language. But out in front of A. Harris large baby display window, men, women and children crowded up close, almost entirely blocking the sidewalks.

In the unusual surroundings, the babies seemed to think it great sport.

"We keep the window heated at the right temperature," said Issac. I. Lorch, secretary of A. Harris & Co.

The nurse heats the milk required by the babies at the lunch counter. The babies are delivered at the new playground by taxi. The girls in the store are "just crazy" over them. "They could pretty near have anything we've got," said Lorch.

On Christmas, the store will remember Hope Cottage babies, in addition to contributions from 50 cents to $5 made by employees for the welfare drive. "I think the babies are the most important of all," declared Lorch.

Each Christmas, the store gets its odds and ends together, dividing perhaps 50 dozens of children hosiery, baby garments and articles taken from broken lots. Last year 16 different charitable organizations, including Hope Cottage, each received a big box.

Hope Cottage Babies Do Their Bit for Charity in Windows of Store

(December 1921) Seven bouncing baby boys from Hope Cottage proved an attractive window display for Goldsmith's store Monday. Mrs. Emma Wylie Ballard, assisted by two undergraduate nurses, transported the tots in taxicabs to and from the home. They are advertising the charity drive.

The youngest boy in the squad was Ben Ward Duncan, born in July, and found three days after (article stops here)

(article continues) We are grateful to the Goldsmith management for making it possible for the Dallas people to see a few of our babies. We invite all interested to visit Hope Cottage and get acquainted with many other darling little ones.