St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Orphan Home was the idea of Reverend Christian Volz of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. After the Civil War, many children and families were left destitute due to the loss of the many men who lost their lives. Knowing he had to do something about these children, he called a meeting of the congregation to figure out what to do. Their decision was to provide a home for these lost children and the expenses would be covered by free-will donations. No regard would be given to ethnicity, nor religion. Half-orphans would be admitted if the board members felt a child was at a grave risk.

The first home was adjoined to the church's property purchased by a former priest of the church. The original location was at 270-280 Hickory Street, just south of Broadway Avenue in Buffalo. The orphan home was incorporated by a special New York State Legislature on April 14, 1865. The first "orphan family" was admitted the same month. The family comprised of a widow who lost her husband in the Civil War. She was left to care for her five children. The mother served as the matron. 

By 1868, the population of the orphanage reached 40 and separation of the sexes was deemend necessary leading to the puchase of Chase's Hotel in West Seneca.

In 1868, the congregation purchased Chase's Hotel in West Seneca (Winchester) on Mineral Springs Road. At this time, the area which is bordered by the New York State Thruway, Mineral Springs Road and Harlem Road, and the Buffalo Creek was referred to as "Sulphur Springs". Buffalo Creek was reputed to having healing powers for the sick.  The frame stucture was three stories high and the porch was the entire length of the facade.  The building was dedicated on October 11, 1868 and the boys were transferred to this site on January 29, 1869.

On May 22, 1874, the incorporation was amended to include the Sulphur Springs Site. The boys were transferred to the new location in the same month. Two years later, on February 23, the Sulphur Springs site was destroyed by a fire forcing 34 boys to be evacuated. The older boys were quartered in a nearby chapel and the younger boys were housed at the Hickory Street site.

The cornerstone for the new building at Sulphur Springs was laid on July 16, 1876 and the home was dedicated the August 15, 1877. The new brick building was three stories high with an attic and a basement with a capacity of 125. The first floor was utilized as living quarters for the housefather. The first floor also had public parlors, the school, sewing rooms, and playrooms. The second floor contained the dormitories, an infirmary ward, and a tailor's shop. The kitchen, dining room, storeroom, furnace, and coal cellars were in the basement. The laundry and bake houses were detached from the building.

A steam pump forced water from the Buffalo Creek into a tank in the attic. Two water cisterns were used for laundry, and drinking water was supplied from a well. the building was heated by coal stoves, and they utilized kerosene lamps for light. The lavatory facilities were outside with vaults beneath. In the event of a fire, the children would descend a rope attached to each side of the building.

St. John's Church remained solely financially responsible for the operation of the orphanage for 32 years. For the first 18 years, the orphanage did not receive compensation for children placed by county authorities.

The children usually remained at the Home until the age of sixteen and then they were placed out into the families of the congregation. The house-father received four years of training in Germany. He was assisted by his wife.

During the 1890s, the Hickory Street site two-story wood framed home sheltered 35 girls. There was also a three-story residence in the rear which housed the kitchen, dining room, dorms, bathing room and clothes room.  St. John's was under the charge of Sister Louisa A. Adelberg, of the Order of Deaconesses of the Lutheran Church. Sister Adelberg previously worked in hospitals, children's homes, and where-ever else she was needed.  Sister Adelberg was assisted by two women who received three years of training in Bavaria.

Water was supplied by the city with connections to the city sewage system. The buildings were heated by hot air and lit by city gas. The bathroom and lavatories had piping that delivered cold and hot water. The school on the property was regulated by the Department of Public Instruction and students were taught in English and German.

In 1897, the Board of Trustees was enlarged by an amendment to the constitution. The Board had a representative from every Evangelical Lutheran Church from the city. The congregations from each church contributed to the financial responsibility of the Home. The Ladies Auxiliary was organized in the same year.

Due to the needs of modern education , the Hickory Street site was unable to meet the needs of the girls. On the Day of the Pentecost in 1898, a new wing was dedicated and the girls were united with boys under one roof at Sulphur Springs. St. John's had cared for 500 children by this time. The population of the home was 90.

Reverend George von Bose reported to the Courier Express Newspaper, "Our aim is to train our children that they may become good Christians and noble citizens of our country, that will not be a reproach, but an honor to our home.

In 1901, the Home housed 80 children ranging from two and half years old to eighteen years of age. The children were taught to be self-sufficient by learning traditional roles. Children were schooled at the Home by Kindergarten, English, and German teachers until the fourth grade. The Home also had a carpentry shop and sheet metal workshop. Children in grade five through eight attending Public School #70 (Hillary Park Academy) near Mineral Springs Road and Seneca Street in South Buffalo. Transportation was provided by the Home's private bus.

Through the years, building fund drives raised money for additional buildings including a hospital that was dedicated on May 23, 1909. The hospital bears the namesake of the original founder of the Home and his wife. A quarantine hospital was deemed necessary to comply with the State Board of Health. The new hospital served two purposes - quarantine new admissions to ensure they were not carriers of contagious diseases and to isolate those who acquired contagious diseases.

In 1921, fourteen cases of diphtheria were reported at the Home. In response, the health officer all children and staff be immunized. All of the children's medical and dental needs were provided for on-site.

Another building fund program was launched in 1921 with the hopes of raising $100,000. The program raised a total of $197,874 and led to the remodeling of the first building and a schoolhouse with a gymnasium was erected in 1922.

The entire lot was 105 acres and provided for outdoor recreation. The gourds had tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a two-run toboggan slide, an orchard, and a picnic grove with open shelters and grills. In 1956, a swimming pool was added to the grounds. In order to raise money for the pool, supporters could "purchase" a bag of cement for $1.10. Local tavern owners also took donations from patrons. The labor was donated by contractors.

Staff and children at the Home were referred to as "The Family". The Home published a monthly bulletin, "St. John's Tidings", which printed the social activities planned for the family. The children were also offered the opportunity to participate in holiday parties, scouting, plays, choirs, bands, sponsored bus tours, visits from professional entertainers.

The Home's annual budget of $100,000 covered salaries, property maintenance, heating fuel, utilities, school supplies, and other incidentals. Table food was provided by the nearby farmers and medical care was "donated" by local providers.

Following World War 2, operating costs rose steadily and state regulations became more stringent. Provisions were needed to secure a resident physician, a dentist, a nurse, a caseworker, and a psychiatrist. These additional salaries would raise the annual operating budget to $225,000. The home suffered another fire on November 14, 1959, adding insult to injury. The fire forced twenty children to be evacuated. The increased budged and fire damage forced the trustees to close its doors in 1960. Sixty-two children were placed in foster homes or the Protestant Home for Children (see Gateway-Longview, Families United). Children who were not placed became charges of the county.

Although the Home closed its doors, the Board of Trustees obtained an order from the New York Supreme Court allowing them to offer support to families and children in need. The Board invested the material assets, sale of the land, and bequests. The Board applied to change the Certificate of Incorporating and on October 11, 1962, the change was granted.

The buildings on Hickory Street and Mineral Springs Road have been long demolished. The property on Hickory Street remains an empty lot.

Ironically, part of the 105 acres on Mineral Springs and Harlem Roads continue to provide for our youth. Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services operates the Renaissance House Campus and Stepping Stones. This facility offers a thirty-bed inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program (Renaissance House) and a sixteen-bed aftercare program (Stepping Stones) to assist adolescents to re-integrate into society. It is the only public inpatient and residential treatment program for chemically dependent children, (ages twelve to eighteen) in Western New York.

The remaining acres are occupied by a small strip plaza and indoor hockey arena.

Farmlands have been turned into shopping areas and residential homes. Streets have been removed and added.