Decades Later, Orphan of the Du Quoin Children's Home Counts His Blessings
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[It is said that the hardest arithmetic to master is the ability to count our blessings. Decades after growing up as an orphan in what was once the Illinois Children's Home in on South Line Street in Du Quoin, Robert E. Kinney, now 86, is counting his.
In recent days, he wrote the Du Quoin Evening Call. His words convey a simple, eloquent appreciation worth sharing.
Mr. Kinney writes:
"This document is long overdue. My name is Robert E Kinney and I am a former resident of the Du Quoin Childrens Home. For some time now I have felt the need to thank the residents of Du Quoin for the care, acceptance and treatment of a child of the State and that has led to some very pleasant memories of my early childhood. As I write this during the Christmas season I recall Christmases past when a group of citizens would visit the home and question each child as to their most wanted gift for Christmas---and by golly, we generally received it.
"The donated "store bought" hair cuts for special occasions, a busted pair of glasses replaced by the local glass maker, great books added to our library, out-grown clothes of all descriptions and used--but usable--shoes.
"Fishers Studio taking a special portrait of one of the kids. FOOD-- boxes of it, including candy, salt water taffy from the fair, large cartons of ice cream from the local dairy plant practically every Sunday.
"Our overall treatment from the town where we were accepted as just another kid in town. Rich Philbrick, our local scoutmaster, and the local scout troop teaching me to swim in the local strip mine lakes with the water moccasins and the trips to Cherry Lake."
"My Scout troop helping me build a bike from scraps; both for our outing to local towns and to aid me in delivering The Evening Call. Eventually my subscribers helped me gather enough money to buy a new Schwinn bike.
"The swimming lessons helped when I left Du Quoin to join the Navy in Chicago. I haven't been back to Du Quoin since I left for the Navy and at 86 now doubt that I'll make it home in my remaining time......BUT I sure am glad I took the time to try to thank the residents of Du Quoin for their treatment of one of the waifs that invaded their town years ago."
The Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society that created the Du Quoin orphanage was organized in June, 1883, by the Reverend Martin Van Arsdale, a Presbyterian minister living in Green Valley, Illinois. The Reverend Van Arsdale had been much disturbed since his student days by the plight of children in almshouses, where they were subjected to may evil influences. He was determined to do something to help them. One day, he rushed into the house with his hoe in hand, and cried to his wife, "I have found a way to help the children! God setteth the solitary in families. There are children without families and families without children. It shall be my task to bring them together!"
At first, the Reverend Van Arsdale and his wife worked alone, but he soon found he needed assistance, so, as he went about the state explaining his work, he organized local advisory boards in each community. As the children were frequently in a pitiful condition - ragged, hungry and filthy, when they were received, it was necessary from the beginning to have a place where they could be taken to prepare them for placement in families. For a year, this was done in the Van Arsdale home, and Mrs. Van Arsdale was accustomed to having them arrive at any hour of the day or night.
As the work grew, it became impossible for her to care for all of them, and the first Receiving Home was established in Aurora, Ill., in 1885, in a house provided by the city council. Other Receiving homes in Shelbyville, Rantoul, Mt. Vernon, Warrenville, Du Quoin, Englewood and Evanston were in use at various times.
The Du Quoin Receiving Home, which had been in use since 1896, was rebuilt in 1907, and occupied in 1908. This was closed in 1946, because there no longer was a need for the temporary care of children in Southern Illinois. It later became what was known for a while as the Old Soldiers Home and ultimately a beautifully restored bed and breakfast.