During the Cholera Epidemic of 1849 through 1851, Reverend Joseph Helmprecht, pastor of St. Mary's Church, then located at the corner of Batavia (now Broadway Street) and Pine Streets, conducted home calls on his parishioners who were suffering from the deadly disease. He was dismayed by his findings of the number of children who were uncared for due to their parents being so ill and destitute. Reverend Helmprecht would take these children back to the church and the Sisters of Notre Dame would provide care for them until a parishioner was able to offer their home. During the second year of the outbreak, it became evident there were not enough parishioners to shoulder this responsibility.

In response to this need, a wooden structure was erected adjoining the Sisters' home and it was opened on September 8, 1852 on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin. St. Mary's Home was located at 221 Batavia Street (Broadway Street). Five Sisters took care of orphans, half-orphans, and destitute children and admitted children to the age of ten. Some children were admitted on the request of the parents because the inability to manage them.

The reverend spent much of his time gathering donations to keep the Home out of debt. In 1858, Father Urbanczick succeeded Reverend Helmprecht and he arranged for each parishioner to donate twenty-five cents quarterly to fund the orphanage.

As the city grew, Batavia Street became too busy of an area and the population of the orphanage rose to 47 children. The nine local German parishes recognized the need to develop a plan for a more appropriate site. A constitution was developed and adopted. A Certificate of Incorporation was given by the NYS Supreme Court and the orphan asylum became incorporated in 1874. Copies of the incorporation were distributed throughout the parishes and parishioners were requested to purchase shares at $5.00 each and were payable "in the Valley of Josephat". From the proceeds, a Catholic burial ground on Dodge Street was purchased from Bishop Stephen Vincent Ryan for the amount of $25,000; ironically the amount collected. The Certificate of the Incorporation reads:

We the undersigned, Citizens of the United States, and the State of NewYork, residents of the City of Buffalo, desiring to become associatedtogether as a society for the benevolent and charitable purposes hereinafter specified and to become incorporated, pursuant to the Statute in such case made and provided, do hereby certify:

1. That the name of the Society or Corporation which we desire to form as aforesaid, shall be "The German Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum of Buffalo".
2. That the particular business and objects of such Society or Corporationshall be the care, support, and education of such poor and needy orphans and children as may from time to time be entrusted and committed to its committed to its custody and charge until such orphans and children shall become of full age.

Exhumation of the interred began and they were transferred to a mass grave at Mount Calvary Cemetery. A memorial monument was erected at the gravesite at the junction of Pine Ridge Road and East Delevan Street.

The cornerstone of the new building was placed on November 1, 1874 and was formally dedicated on June 1, 1875 and became ready for occupancy on June 6, 1875. The new Home was a three-story brick building with a basement with two wings. The entire site was seventeen acres bounded by West Parade Street, Northampton Street, Wohlers Avenue with the frontage at 564 Dodge Street. Forty-seven children were transferred to the new site. The water was supplied by the city's water system, lighted by gas, and heated by a hot water piping system. The entire plot of land covered seventeen acres containing a vegetable garden, a cow pasture, and playgrounds

In August 1875, the total population of the asylum housed 24 girls and 39 boys. The home was turned over to the Sisters of St. Francis to provide supervision of the children and the financial affairs were handled by a Board of Trustees. The oldest was a fourteen year old girl and the youngest was an infant of one and a half years old. School was taught by a nun on the premises. The children were to arise at 6:00 am and bedtime was at 7:30 pm. The children were bathed once per week. If parents or family were still alive, they were expected to pay $1.50 per week for room and board. Girls were trained to complete housework and the boys worked in the garden. The asylum hired one man to complete the needed repairs and maintenance of the exterior. Their were no paid servants and housekeeping was completed by the nuns and the children.

The building was enlarged in 1887 with the addition of two wings and a chapel.

In the early 1900s, children were places by superintendents of the poor, the county (paying $1.00 per week to cover board and other expenses), or children by relatives. The mean age of a child was between the ages of six and nine. The youngest age was admitted at two years. Most of the children remained at the Home until they received a common school education. There were two infirmaries with the ability of isolation in the event of contagious diseases.

Children were dressed in uniforms. Due to their young age, the children were not taught a particular trade.

In 1915, the educational program of the school became under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education of the City of Buffalo. Physical education, home economics, music, art and manual arts were all taught at the orphanage. The public school's syllabus was followed and the children were expected to take the same examinations as if they attended the public schools.

Upon admission, all children were given the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test by a psychologist appointed by the Department of Education. A full physical examination was also given by the Medical Chief of Staff at the Home.

Prior to 1919, there had been five deaths, four being in one year. On January 14, 1919, The German Orphan Catholic Orphan Asylum had purchased a 2,275 square foot plot at the United German and French Cemetery (Section 8 AA, Lot #1) of the Mount Calvary Cemetery Association.

On Ash Wednesday, March 5, 1919, the building was destroyed by fire causing over $150,000 damage; not including clothing and other essentials. The fire began in the west end of the basement and fire and smoke ascended the dumbwaiter to the upper floors burning the roof and leading to the razing of the structure. Neighbors took in as many of the older children as possible. Others were sheltered at the Convent of the Good Shepherd, the Christian Brothers, Canisius College and High School. The younger children's dormitories were not damaged and they remained; but the schoolrooms were destroyed. Each morning the beds were pulled out of the dormitories and desks were set up. Within six months, the institution was totally rebuilt with the addition of a porch spanning the front of the main building with an enclosed sun parlor and four private offices.

It wasn't until July 11, 1927, the cornerstone for a separate school building was placed and it was dedicated on April 22, 1928, by Bishop Turner. Eight classrooms were included; one for each grade. There was also a Kindergarten room and un-graded classroom. Education was taught by nuns who were certified by New York State Board of Regents under the supervision of the Buffalo Board of Education.

Almost twenty years after the fire, the cornerstone for the Sacred Heart Chapel was finally laid on June 19, 1938 including a Blessing from three priests from other parishes and the superintendent of the building. The first official Mass was celebrated and dedicated on December 23, 1938, by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The chapel held a capacity of 500 individuals. The use of the Chapel was for the exclusive use of the institution. A short, enclosed passageway connected the entry from the main building..

On April 27, 1941, a second fire caused about $300 worth of damage in the basement of the girls' dormitory. The fire was caused by a short circuit and it was extinguished with fifteen minutes of the fire crew's arrival. With the onset of World War II, plans for improvement were halted due to shortage of workers and materials. It wasn't until 1949 when the swimming pool was demolished to add a boiler room building. On May 12, 1949, the Second Regiment of the Knights of the St. John of Buffalo erected a new swimming pool. The pool was dedicated on June 21, 1949 and the Orphan Asylum celebrated its 75th Anniversary. By the end of 1950, a stand alone auditorium, hospital, and laundry room were added to the complex.

Another fire erupted January 1956 and destroyed the central administration building, and this was the beginning of the end. During the renovations, the 105 children were housed at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphan Asylum in Cheektowaga, but attended school in the undamaged classroom building. They were returned to their refurbished dorms in February. The orphanage continued operating until the end of the school year, and the remaining children were transferred to Immaculate Heart of Mary Home, Father Baker Home, or foster homes.

In October 1956, the orphanage was converted into a Diocesan Preparatory Seminary then later, the Diocesan Educational Campus. This use became impractical due to the low attendance. The chapel was used served as a parish church during the merger of St. Francis de Sales Parish and St. Nicholas into St. Benedict the Moor Parish.

On January 12, 1961, the Asylum filed for a Quit Claim Deed from the cemetery for 2,117.3 square feet of unoccupied burial space.

The buildings were sold to private developers in the 1990s. In 1992, there was talk about converting the residence buildings into apartments. St. Martin de Porres Parish now occupies the North side of the property (Northampton Street).

An Alumni Association exists along with a newsletter, edited by Ralph Handley. A reunion was held on April 5, 2003, and was attended by 125 and 150 people. Mr. Handley also hosts a website dedicated to the Home - http://www.geocities.com/grcohome/index.html.