The Haven on Fifth Avenue: A Story of Courage and Hope
The Haven on Fifth Avenue: A Story of Courage and Hope
In the 1850s, a large four-story brick house stood proudly on Fifth Avenue in New York City. On the outside, it was surrounded by green grass and tall trees. On the inside, it was filled with the sounds of laughter, footsteps, and children reciting their lessons.
This was the Colored Orphan Asylum, a home built by caring people—including two Quaker women named Anna Shotwell and Mary Murray—who believed every child deserved a safe place to grow, learn, and be loved.
Ten-year-old Samuel lived at the home with over two hundred other children. Before coming to the home on Fifth Avenue, life had been tough for kids like Samuel. In those days, many orphanages in New York refused to accept Black children. But here, Samuel had a warm bed, three meals a day, and teachers who cared about his future.
Every week, a kind doctor named Dr. James McCune Smith visited the children. Dr. Smith was famous—he was the very first African American licensed medical doctor in the entire country! Whenever he checked on the kids, he didn't just check their health; he reminded them that they were smart, capable, and could grow up to do great things, just like he did.
Chapter 2: The Day the World Turned Upside Down
On a hot summer afternoon on July 13, 1863, the city grew unusually loud. Out in the streets, a giant, angry mob had formed due to disagreements over the Civil War draft laws. The mob began marching down Fifth Avenue, targeting places that represented support and care for the Black community.
Inside the home, the Superintendent, Mr. William Davis, heard the commotion outside. Looking out the window, he realized the children were in danger.
"Everyone, gather quickly!" Mr. Davis instructed calmly. "We are going to take a quiet walk out the back door."
As the crowd surged toward the front gates, Mr. Davis, the teachers, and local police officers guided all 233 children quietly out the rear entrance. One young girl picked up the heavy family Bible from the dining room table, hugging it tightly against her chest as they walked into the alleyway.
While the building behind them was burned and destroyed by the crowd, the most important part of the home—the children—escaped without a single injury.
Chapter 3: A New Beginning
The children spent the next few days safe at a local police station before riding a big steamboat across the river to Blackwell’s Island, where city officials gave them shelter, fresh food, and clean clothes.
The adults who ran the orphanage refused to give up. They raised funds and rebuilt a brand-new home further uptown. Over the decades, the institution kept growing:
Upper Manhattan (1867): A new, larger school and home was built.
The Bronx (1907): They moved to a leafy neighborhood called Riverdale, where children lived in small, comfortable cottages with foster mothers instead of one giant building.
Harlem Dowling (Today): The orphanage eventually shifted from a residential building into a modern agency that helps support families and children in their own homes.
What We Learn Today
The story of the Colored Orphan Asylum is a reminder that a home isn't just a physical building—it is built by the courage, kindness, and dedication of people who protect and uplift children when times get tough.
Comments
Post a Comment