Methodist Orphanage, Raleigh, N.C.
This week for Flashback Friday — we present Independence Hall in Philadelphia! Well, actually, not; the building seen in this postcard is Main Building, erected on the old Methodist Orphanage campus in 1903. But it has always evoked an image of Independence Hall to me.
I found the unsigned message on the back of this card to be rather cryptic.
Mon. morn. I reached here about dark without any rain. I may be back Easter anyway.
Huh? “About dark”? Guess it was Sunday night when our correspondent arrived in Apex, as the card is dated “Mon. morn.” “Without any rain”? Maybe he was on foot or in an open wagon? And he MAY “be back Easter anyway”? Back to Garner? Which is about 15 miles from Apex. I guess the addressee, Mr Powell, knew some information about the writer that we don’t. Go figure.
Methodist Orphanage opened off Glenwood Ave. in 1899, and closed in 1979, as the focus for care for at-risk children shifted from campus-based to community-based programs.
Main Building, depicted in our postcard his week, was replaced by a modern administration building in 1933. It was demolished in the early 1980s, along with all the other early campus buildings — except one. I wonder if any of our Goodnight Raleigh readers know which building is the sole survivor, and what occupies the site of Methodist Orphanage today.
Oh yes, in case you are wondering, this is the ‘real’ Independence Hall.
Our featured postcard this week was published by F.M. Kirby & C0. Made in USA.
Fred Morgan Kirby  1887-1997
Wilkes-Barre, PAA publisher and large retailer of postcard views of the American South and mid-Atlantic region. These cards were sold from their Five & Dime stores which numbered 96 in 1912.
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11/11/2011
There is old Administrators house (superintendent) that is still there.
I am a descendent of John Wesley Jenkins the founder
Of the Methodist Home. The church is still standing near peace
street. Boylan Ave.
11/12/2011
I think it’s the current site of Fletcher Park, between Glenwood and Cameron Village, and the building is the Borden Building.
During the big snow a few years ago, the little embankment west of the softball field at Fletcher Park was very popular with sledders of all ages. I had an inflatable swim ring from the dollar store, and it worked perfectly as a sled (as long as I didn’t sled over any sticks) — one afternoon I had the distance record!
Lots of families were there, with their dogs chasing their kids down the slope. Someone had a fire in an old oil drum at the top of the hill, so you could warm up. It was a very 1950s atmosphere, so much fun.
11/13/2011
Maybe instead of putting the date that the card was written, the writer simply decided to open with the day of the week and time of day on which it was written. He could have just as easily put 3/25/12 in the place of “Monday morning.†Just a way of letting the recipient know when the note was written. It is likely that he/she did arrive Sunday night but wrote the note on Monday morning. It is also likely that the writer put off sending the card until Monday morning due to being extremely tired after the long trip from Garner to Apex; after all, it was uphill all the way (Apex being the “Peak” and all.)
11/17/2011
Of the earliest structures, yes, only the Borden Building still stands. It was built in 1900 as the superintendent’s house, and was later re-purposed as a boys dormitory. Nowadays, it has been restored, and the city leases it for various private functions such as receptions and meetings.
I visited the orphanage site last weekend and discovered that there is a second surviving structure — the Garriss Building. It was built as a residence for older boys about 1950. It now serves as an administration building for Raleigh’s Fletcher Park, which occupies much of the site of the former orphanage.
The remainder of the property, which was the location of most of the early buildings, has been developed as the Bishop’s Park and Washington Square condo complexes.
07/22/2013
I was digging through the Goodnight Raleigh blog (which I recently discovered and love!) when I came across this post.
I work for the now Methodist Home for Children in the Admin Building still on the original property.
To give a little clue about the postcard, I would assume that this person was potentially an alumni of Methodist Orphanage. From early on and still to this day, every Easter weekend the former Methodist Orphanage/MHC alumni come together for a picnic. This has been going on for nearly 100 years without fail. I would imagine he was telling someone he would be back for the Easter reunion.
People above are correct on the two remaining structures in Fletcher Park and what they were used for. Our current Admin building is near where the old baby cottage used to be on Washington St.
11/22/2013
The Borden Building is the first building i lived in when i went to the Orphanage.Thanks to the Orphanage i had a home to grow up in.and yes i go back every Easter,health permitting,to see all my Brothers and Sisters.
05/16/2014
Such a great blog! This hits at the heart of my research, and it makes my soul smile that so many people are just as interested as myself.
Steve and George, is there any way you could share your stories and memories with me? I’m helping to create an exhibit exploring the orphanage’s past.
Thanks!
C
05/23/2015
I wondered about the children home from time to time. Curious if there is a way to contact or research former alumni. This place served as a home for my siblings and I in late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Any info provided soul be greatly appreciated. Larry A. Shores
05/23/2015
This site bring memories back.This place served as a home for my siblings and I from late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Any way to research alumni from that era? Larry A. Shores
10/24/2015
Cathy S: One fine source to help in your research would be a
book entitled, SON OF THE ROUGH SOUTH, by Karl Fleming.
Chapter 3, page 54 entitled: ORPHANAGE BOY. Karl was taken to the Methodist Orphanage in December, 1935. Within that chapter are his recollections and researches replete with pictures from that period in time. I believe he has authored another book with pictures. Hope this helps. Deda Lane
09/15/2016
@Larry A Shores — Greetings from Methodist Orphanage! We’re still here — although our name is now Methodist Home for Children — and we’d love to hear from you. Our home base is still in Fletcher Park and we have a vault of records and photos. There is also an active alumni group that, coincidentally, is having a picnic this weekend. Visit our website or find us on Facebook for day-to-day information — and please, stop by and reconnect. We love meeting our alums.
10/29/2017
@Pam Powell, I believe my Granny lived in the orphanage from 1937 until approximately 1945 or 1946. Are the archives available to the public? I would love to check this out if so.
05/06/2018
Hi to all, My name is Ivy Allen. My sibs and I lived at the Methodist Home for children from 1961-1963. If anyone remembers me please con act.
01/10/2019
I lived across the street from Methodist Orphanage on Clay Street back when I was 10-11 years old. This would have been in 1947-48. At that time, there was a young boy named Richard Newton, who was one of the orphans housed there. He would come over and sit on my neighbors swing and visit with me sometimes. They were Irene and Otis Canady and had a son named Joe, a few years younger than me. I wonder if Richard is still living and what ever became of him. His name was all I ever knew. He was about my same age. There was also another boy named Jimmy Forrest, whose Dad (I believe) worked at the orphanage, so he lived on the grounds. I faintly recall going swimming in the outdoor pool on the orphanage grounds but only did that once. My maiden name was Charlene Harrell.
04/19/2019
My name is Jerry Roberson my brother terry lived there from 1970 till graduation. Every one there was family.
04/24/2019
to charleen belton. I just went to our easter reunion. Richard Newton was there. still alive and well. he lives in cary, married to pat. his brother kirk passed away a year or two ago, his sister this passed year. can,t wait to tell him someone is looking for him!
07/15/2019
To Betsy Garrard – I just read your note last week. I’m glad Richard is alive and well. Another boy, who was his friend was named John Hall. I saw Him in Belk in Morehead City in the early 80’s when I gift wrapped during Christmas – what a shock after all those years. I doubt Richard would remember me from so long ago. I was sorry to hear about his sister passing away. I looked her up in obits – she was a lovely lady and certainly to be admired for going to nursing school & working all those years to retirement. I wish Richard and his family well. E-mail is for work only – not my own personal use, please!
10/30/2019
Yes hi.my maiden name sandra ray .i use to live in the all girl cottage in the orphanage with my siblings karen ray and lisa ray .id like to hook up with some of the sisters and brothers whom we shared our lives with there in 1960s to 1970.also any photos of that time .it would be a blessing.also would love info on history of the orphanage from yrs prior .ive always been curious of the basement area of our cottage .what purpose it was used for back before our time .we were always told not to go into the cold dark rooms down there.if anyone could help me with that it would be appreciated.
04/19/2024
Plz contact me with any info on this .