Elon in Alamance County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Elon Homes for Children
The Snyder Campus
Photographed By Michael Buckner, February 10, 2023
1. Elon Homes for Children Marker
Erected 2007 by Elon Homes for Children.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.
Location. 36° 6.026′ N, 79° 30.102′ W. Marker is in Elon, North Carolina, in Alamance County. Marker is on East Trollinger Avenue east of South O'Kelly Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 320 E Trollinger Ave, Elon NC 27244, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Elon University (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berry Davidson (approx. 2.4 miles away); Dentzel Carousel (approx. 3 miles away); Battle of Alamance (approx. 3.2 miles away); Pine Hill Cemetery - Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Cammack Building (approx. 3.6 miles away); North Carolina Railroad (approx. 3.6 miles away); Johnston Moves West (approx. 3.7 miles away).
Also see . . . Elon Home for Boys and Girls.
Elon Homes and Schools for Children was founded in Elon, North Carolina as The Christian Orphanage in 1907. In the years following(Submitted on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina.)the Civil War, many children in the South were orphans due to the poor post-war conditions. As quoted from A Centennial History 1907-2007 by Don Bolden, “In the chaos of the Civil War’s aftermath, families were in turmoil. Children needed homes.” The disrupted economy, poverty, poor diets, and widespread diseases often left children parentless at a young age. Many groups, including churches and the government, recognized that something needed to be done for these lost children. The 1868 Constitution of North Carolina provides that there shall be “as soon as practicable, measures devised by the state for the establishment of one or more orphan houses, where destitute orphans may be cared for, educated and taught some business or trade.” With an already weak economy, the government could not afford to set up orphanages, placing the responsibility into the hands of private associations, specifically churches. At the 1892 Southern Convention, Reverend W. W. Staley, who was then President of the Southern Christian Convention, pushed for the opening of a Christian orphanage located at Elon College in North Carolina. This marked the beginning of this project. Mrs. J.P. Barrett, former secretary of the Children’s Missions program, had given 65 cents towards an orphanage project. In addition to this money, $4.50 had been donated; with this small amount the project was launched. After several years of planning, fundraising, and capital projects, along with many struggles, the Christian Orphanage was officially opened by Reverend John L. Foster and his wife on January 1, 1907. It received its first child four weeks later, when a 14-year-old girl walked through the doors of the new building.
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Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 51 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
