In 1917, on Buffalo's West Side a group of seventeen Church Women held a meeting at the Emanuel Baptist Church with the realization there was a need to serve the community by ensuring the maintenance and education for neglected and unprotected children. These women took their concerns to the Children's Court judge with this plea, "Crying need for a home where orphaned or abandoned children; those whose mothers were in hospital and fathers were earning a living, or in dire poverty or with a distressing home environment". These women wanted to give these unfortunate children home care, training, education, and a Christian influence and to prepare them for the beginning of their careers.

Upon this plea, the judge provided them with the necessary permission to begin their plight. Although these women had no money, the purchased the Letchworth Mansion at 605 Niagara Street with the confidence they would raise enough money from the two week open house they had prior to the opening. The open house was a success and $5,000 was raised.

"Baby Grace" was the first to be admitted on March 17, 1917. Baby Grace's mother came with her to help the women care for the children to come The Home was dedicated on March 19, 1917, with a capacity of twenty-five children.

By 1922, the Home had cared for 525 dependent children and its population at that time was seventy. the children attended public school and city high school of choice and same for church and Sunday school

The Home had already endorsed by State Board of Charities, Federation of Churches, Chamber of Commerce.

To meet the rising needs of dependent children, the board purchased the adjacent lot at 591 Niagara Street,

and it was converted to meet the needs of the younger children. The Home lacked a detention quarantine and a connections of the two standing buildings. On October 26, 1922, the connector building was officially dedicated.

In September 1927, the board announced its plan to add a new wing. Ten children a day were being turned away because of overcrowded conditions. This was the first time the women had to reach out to the public for assistance. Since the Home did not receive any assistance from Community Fund, a building drive launched on September 11 and lasted until October 1, with a goal of raising $150,000. The fundraiser netted almost $200,000. The cornerstone for the new wing was laid on August 15, 1928. The new structure was to be fireproof, with six dormitories, infant quarters, a gymnasium, shower facilitates laundry facilities and bathrooms

In 1942, the Home's population totaled 176 children with seven vacancies. The infirmary had a capacity of eight and a quarantine for fifteen. Although home economics was taught on-site, educational and spiritual needs continued to be met in the community.

A second building drive was kicked off in 1946 due to the aftermath of the second World War. The Home received $250,000. The planned addition was to meet the most primary needs, female dormitories, recreational rooms, an assembly room for parties and meetings, a dispensary, first aid rooms, and a parlor for visiting. The dedication of the three-story addition and the two new wings was held on May 6, 1951. The addition not only met the primary needs, but also included a library and reading rooms, lounges, kitchen, director's room and office. There were thirty-six dormitories for the junior and senior girls, along with a music room and staff rooms.

During the 1950s, family and social trends changed and the need for orphanages declined; but, there was a steady increase for the need of institutional care for social, emotional, and behavioral issues. The Home began to accept referrals from Family Court , in the form of "Persons in Need of Supervision" and Juvenile Delinquents (PINS and JDs).

In 1960, to conform with the shift in care, the word "Unprotected" was dropped from the institution's name. The Home was no longer considered an orphanage, but now it was a group care center for thirty school-age children. The "Houseparent" were the key to the institution. They were married couples or single adults who supervised and had charge of daily routines and activities. The house parents were with the children ninety percent of the time.

The dormitories were converted into private and semi-private bedrooms and the large dining room was separated into three dining rooms to accommodate the different age groups. The average stay was two years.

In 1962, the Protestant Home for Children was listed as a group care home for the capacity of fifty Protestants from the ages ten to eighteen with "problems", with a goal "to heal young lives".

As the orphanage concept became increasingly outdated there was a move towards specialized care of the children. Strides in public health, foster home programs, and legislation providing funding for children and families in need, also contributed to the demise of the orphanage.

In 1963, the Home employed four full-time social workers, a part-time psychologist and psychiatrist, two students form University at Buffalo's School of Social Work to provide testing, interviewing, psychiatric exams, and consultations for basic therapy. Volunteers assisted in remedial reading and other tutoring programs. The children’s board was paid by the referring county, donations, and bequests.

Short-term/long term goals

Study #1 - what to do with the other sections of the buildings

Study #2 - creation of Agency Operated Boarding Homes ---which would be a group foster care home staffed by a married couple housing six boys or girls. Two of these homes were established by 1967.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Home Foundation purchased two houses in Buffalo, one in the University District of the City and the other in South Buffalo. These homes were and continue to be leased to the agency for $1.00 per year. These homes are called St. John's North (which I worked at for four years) and St. John's South. Both of these homes are for girls.

In 1967, the Home received a bequest from James H. Cummings' estate which was a large camp in West Valley. This allowed for a summer camp for residents (Camp Cummings) and a group home for young men (Houghson House). Houghson House has since closed.

1971: The Protestant Home opened a community daycare department.

1975: Name changed to Longview-Niagara

1996: Merged with Gateway to form Gateway-Longview.