Arcadia in DeSoto County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Florida Baptist Orphanage
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 19, 2017
1. Florida Baptist Orphanage Marker
Inscription.
Florida Baptist Orphanage. . The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes began when the Florida Baptist State Convention authorized the establishment of the Florida Baptist Orphanage in Arcadia in 1901 to care for care for orphaned children until they were 18 years old or were adopted into a Christian home. John L. Jones of DeSoto County donated 80 acres of land on which the orphanage was founded, starting with two buildings. Juanita Martinez was the first child to live in the home, beginning in 1904. B.M. Bean was the first superintendent (1904-1911). J.E. Trice, the second superintendent (1911-1932), designed most of the six vernacular buildings that remain of the original eight built between 1903 and 1927: superintenden's home, nursery, older girls' home, small girls' home, a steam laundry, and a classroom building. Trice also began a vocational arts program that developed into a factory for making masonry products. The orphanage name was changed to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in 1925, and the institution moved to Lakeland in 1948. Beginning in 1958, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes had multiple facilities around the state, providing residential care, emergency shelter care, foster care, adoption care, maternity care and counseling.
The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes began when the Florida Baptist State Convention authorized the establishment of the Florida Baptist Orphanage in Arcadia in 1901 to care for care for orphaned children until they were 18 years old or were adopted into a Christian home. John L. Jones of DeSoto County donated 80 acres of land on which the orphanage was founded, starting with two buildings. Juanita Martinez was the first child to live in the home, beginning in 1904. B.M. Bean was the first superintendent (1904-1911). J.E. Trice, the second superintendent (1911-1932), designed most of the six vernacular buildings that remain of the original eight built between 1903 and 1927: superintenden's home, nursery, older girls' home, small girls' home, a steam laundry, and a classroom building. Trice also began a vocational arts program that developed into a factory for making masonry products. The orphanage name was changed to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in 1925, and the institution moved to Lakeland in 1948. Beginning in 1958, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes had multiple facilities around the state, providing residential care, emergency shelter care, foster care, adoption care, maternity care and counseling.
Erected 2009 by The Florida Baptist Historical Society and the Florida Department of
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State. (Marker Number F-685.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 27° 13.46′ N, 81° 51.554′ W. Marker is in Arcadia, Florida, in DeSoto County. Marker is at the intersection of North Arcadia Avenue and West Winifred Street, on the left when traveling north on North Arcadia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arcadia FL 34266, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2017. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,303 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
