About the Dover Children's Home

In March 1892, thirteen members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, concerned for the welfare of Dover's neglected, abused, and unwanted children, collectively pledged to be responsible for the rent and other expenses of a home for needy children. They rented half of a duplex on Atkinson Street and accepted 13 children for admission. One year later, (May 10, 1893) the Dover Children's Home (DCH) was incorporated. The Home, which had grown to 28 children, moved to a larger house at 11 Spring Street in 1894. Then, in 1897, the DCH Society decided to purchase land and build a new house at 207 Locust Street. On October 9, 1897, the Society laid the cornerstone of the building. It was completed and furnished in 1898 and 38 children moved in. A generous bequest in 1916 added land to the original DCH property. Additions to the Home in the early 1920s and in 1962 greatly increased its size and several renovation have helped maintain the facility.

 
    Over the years the Dover Children's Home has reflected many of the changes in the character and condidtion of Dover's (and New Hampshire's) society and culture. Organized to ease the plight of children and families who suffered due to the recessions of the 1890s, the home has continued to serve the nneds of under priveleged children "without regard to creed or nationality" (Report of the DCH, 1923) for more than 116 years. During the depression of the 1920s more than 60 children resided in the Home. In 1939 the state of New Hampshire requested that the Home limit it number of children to 50. This number was subsequently cut to 45 after World War II. Staff problems and other difficulties eventually caused the Home to cut its residential, case management, and therapeutic services for teenagers, and acts as an intermediate group home for abused and neglected youth

WEB-HOSTING GENEROUSLY DONATED BY TTLC