THE WORKING BOYS HOME OF THE SACRED HEART
In 1888, Rt. Reverend Bishop Ryan realized there was a need to assist boys who were employed, but had no safe place to live. In response to this need he purchased the Hammond Mansion at 36 Niagara Square (the southeast arc of the Niagara Circle between Delaware Avenue and Niagara Street). A Ladies Association was formed and these ladies were in charge of remodeling plans and furnishing the Home. The Home was ready for occupancy in February 1889 and had an entertainment hall, gymnasium, and a chapel. Most of the residents were former residents of the Protectory who obtained employment. The boys and young men were supervised by the Brother's of the Holy Infancy.
In 1942, The Working Home for Boys relocated to 4 Vermont Street, near Busti Avenue and accommodated up to fifty boys, ages sixteen to twenty-one.
The first floor housed the office, a parlor, the dining room, and the kitchen. The Chapel and faculty sleeping rooms were on the second floor. The boys' dormitory was on the third floor, and it was separated into eight large rooms. The new residence accommodated up to fifty boys aged sixteen to twenty-one. Boys came as far away as Oklahoma and Quebec. A garden with fruit and vegetables was tended to by the residents.
By 1952, the Working Home accepted any boy who was in need of guidance and privileges were based on behavior. Some of the boys were in need of specialists who understood the young men as they acclimated themselves to modern ways of living. Others were orphans in need of shelter.
The only religious requirement was that every boy worshipped God in some manner. Worship was included in the everyday routine.
Upon admission to the Home, rules and regulations were explained. Privileges were based upon behavior and disobedience was dealt with by a committee of the residents. Directors of the home found part-time jobs for school-age boys and full-time jobs for the young men.
After leaving the Home, many alumni showed their gratitude by volunteering work hours to the maintenance and general upkeep of the Home. Those who entered the service carried on the practice of saving money they had learned at the Home. Many would send part of their service pay to the Home's directors to be placed in a savings account until their return. Some of the young men stayed at the Home when they were on leave.
In 1976, the Working Home was renamed Buffalo Boys' Town.
OUR LADY OF VICTORY INFANT HOME
Father Nelson Baker's decision to erect an infant home came from the news of infants and young children's remains were being dredged up from the Erie Canal. He also was aware of the abandoned and unwanted babies that were left due to the stigma of out-of-wedlock births.
Much of the money was raised through a fund raising idea “to donate a crib”. For a donation of twenty-five dollars, this would provide a cri, mattress, pillow and bedding Donators were remembered in the Masses and a brass tablet was placed on the wall with the donators name engraved.
He began building in 1906, and it was completed in 1908.
By 1914, he realized the need for expansion and he added a maternity hospital. The hospital allowed for more intensive care for the mothers and infants. Work was halted on the Infant Home due to a fire in April 1916 causing extensive damage to the Orphanage, the church, and OLV Elementary School.
In 1919, regulations regarding training of nurses became more stringent and he realized in order to meet the general public's needs, he would need to expand. The maternity hospital was converted into a public hospital and was named Our Lady of Victory Hospital. The hospital extended off the Infant Home and existing Maternity Hospital. The Infant Home continued to operate under its entity.
In 1942, the Infant Home housed thirty mothers and 149 infants and children up to the age of five. The Home was filled to capacity.
The Infant Home was authorized to operate by New York State Department of Social Welfare and was affiliated with the National Conference of Catholic Charities. The Home was financially supported through fees, endowments, and contributions.
Admission requirements were limited to American born, unmarried Catholic girls who were pregnant out-of-wedlock for the first time. African-American girls were also admitted, but there were not any services for placement of their infants. There were no age limits; but admission was preferred during the seventh/eighth month of pregnancy.
Medical services and the delivery of the infants was conducted in the Home. Staff provided counseling for the mother and her parents; group counseling was also provided. Psychiatric consultation, psychological testing and vocational guidance was also available. Grade school and high school programs were offered and the programs were accredited by the Department of Education. Recreational activities included parties, skits, games, seasonal activities.
The Infant Home was also a licensed adoption agency. Due to the stigma of a young woman having a child out of wedlock, the mother stayed with the infant for the first few weeks and then put the infant up for adoption before re-entering the community.
As society became more accepting of young and/or unwed mothers, the number of remands began to decline. In 1956, youths with severe developmental disabilities began to be cared for.
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