Founders Month

Hope Cottage was founded in June 1918 by Emma Wylie Ballard and thus, during the month of June I will be sharing old newspaper articles from our archives. These are especially poignant as tomorrow is the 23rd Annual Founder's Day Picnic at Hope Cottage. The weather forecast is hot and steamy, but at least we will have some inside space with air conditioning which is more than early Hope Babies had! I can't wait for everyone to see the "decorations" at the picnic. Without giving too much away, let me just say - it is a walk down memory lane.

So postings, will be random and in no particular chronological order. While reading some of these early articles, it occurs to me that while many things at Hope Cottage have changed, some things still remain the same. Hope Cottage makes families!

Hope Cottage to Observe Birthday with Open House

(June 18, 1922) Babies at Hope Cottage for foundlings will be hosts to their friends in Dallas next Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 5 o'clock. Mrs. Emma Wylie Ballard, superintendent, has issued an open invitation to the public to attend the reception being given to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the institution.

Hope Cottage was established four years ago this month. More than 500 babies have been taken care of there since the institution opened. These babies are now scattered all over the state with families who adopted them.

Babies taken care of in the home are picked from doorsteps where they are deserted, taken from hospitals where mothers die, and from any other of the numerous places where homeless babies are left. There are fifty in the home now.

Happy Birthday Hope Cottage - may you be here for another 92 years!