St
Joseph's Orphan Asylum
Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 June 1888, page 4
ORPHAN ASYLUM BURNED
At half past eleven yesterday morning the St Joseph's Orphan's
Home, situated seven miles back of Newport, was totally destroyed by fire. The
building was an imposing brick structure and was the home of seventy orphan boys
and girls under the charge of Sister Amanda, with nine lady assistants. Smoke
was noticed coming from the north east corner of the dormitory by Sister Amanda,
who at once rushed in and found that the fire had been smoldering for some time.
She was overpowered by the smoke, but it was evident from the outset that nothing could be done except to save possibly a few of the articles of furniture. The neighbors and farmers of the vicinity rushed in and aided the Sisters, so that the furniture, most of which was portable, was saved. The neighborhood is isolated and not densely populated. The sight of the Sisters rushing out with beds and bedding, kitchen utensils and church decorations which were laid all around the grass in an odd confusion was a novel one.
It was fortunate that early in the morning the children, after hearing mass, had been given permission to go out and play in the extensive grounds that surrounded the institution, so that no lives were lost and no one was injured. The building was recently erected and claimed to be fire proof.
Nearly four years ago on the 30th of June, the institution suffered from a similar fire. The Church of St Joseph stood within a hundred feet and was only saved by the wind veering. As to the origin of the fire, no one could give any clew, unless there was a defective flue, or as one man said, perhaps it was the hot sun on time.
The building cost $20,000 and was insured for $15,000 in the Covington German Mutual, $3500 in the Kenton and $10,000 in companies of the Buchanan Agency. It was singular that there is no water supply adjacent, except a small pond which perhaps could have been utilized had a horse and engine been handy. There is no telephone connection even with Newport and the news was communicated by a boy on horseback.
The building will be re-erected. The children were lodged for the night and present in the Sister's house.