Sevierville

Sevierville. Smoky Mountain Children’s Home . On December 17, 1920, four children were placed in the care of an appointed matron, Lillian Kinsey, in a small frame house in Cleveland, Tennessee. This was the beginning of the Church of God’s ministry orphaned children. For the next 29 years, the Church of God Orphanage remained in Cleveland where it continued to flourish in various locations. , , In 1949, the orphanage relocated to Sevierville on property that served as the campus of Murphy Collegiate Institute from 1923 to 1935. The site was purchased from the heirs of M.P. Thomas Sr., a grandson of Isaac Thomas, who was Sevierville's first permanent white settler. The land was subsequently purchased by the Church of God at public auction in 1937 and used as the Bible Training School from 1937 to 1948. The school moved back to the city of its founding, Cleveland, Tennessee, and over time changed its name to Lee College and later Lee University. , , At its zenith, around 300 children lived on campus. As the needs of the children in placement evolved, the structure of care changed. In 1962, the facility was renamed Church of God Home for Children. Social work and counseling services were added to address the children's needs more efficiently. , , Notable improvements have included the demolition of dormitories built by Murphy Collegiate Institute and the construction of eleven family cottages situated on streets named for notable personalities throughout the home's history. Some of the children sang in the choir that traveled around the region and performed on a local television station. Others enjoyed the indoor pool or gym. which was also used on occasion for roller skating. They were educated on campus through the eighth grade by teachers furnished by the Sevier County Board of Education and then attended Sevier County High School. In 2000, the name was officially changed again to Church of God Smoky Mountain Children's Home. The organization has developed into a modern group care facility featuring residential, foster care, independent living, adoption, and Alpha School programs. Dedicated in 1923, the original Murphy Collegiate Institute Administration Building with its distinctive tower remains the flagship structure of the campus. , (captions) , Church of God Orphanage Campus in the 1950s , , Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Administration Building , , Murphy Collegiate Institute 1923 , , Church of God Home for Children Assembly in Auditorium