The home was demolished around 1960 and is the current site of Summit Church built in 1962 at 2320 Maumee Avenue. The Home took in children whose parents couldn't take care of them as shown in the 1923 newspaper ad on the right. There are several Pixley Relief Home articles from 1919 with photos of bedrooms and more similar to the photo below on Newspapers.com. It was also mentioned in Fort Wayne man remembers Wolf & Dessauer's 'orphans' dinners' as a generous holiday gift by Kevin Kilbane
published December 17, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
The History page of Headwaters Counseling at 2712 South Calhoun on April 3, 2018 states: The roots of Headwaters Counseling go back to 1873. First known as The Home for Friendless Women and Homeless Girls, or Home for the Friendless, we evolved into the Pixley Child Welfare Agency. In 1895, the Fort Wayne Associated Charities was formed and later assumed the title of Family Service Bureau. The Bureau was incorporated on January 29, 1924, under the provision of an act of the Indiana General Assembly. Homemaker Service was added to the Bureau’s function in 1938 and terminated in June 1969. In 1946, the Family Service Bureau merged with the Pixley Child Welfare Agency.
Countless articles were found in early newspapers. A few of the articles with photos are listed here.
Opening of the Pixley Relief Home Begins the Fifty-fifth Year of Local Union's Endeavor
Beautiful Residence on Maumee Avenue is Turned Into a Haven for the Charges of a Charitable Organization of Fort Wayne That is Doing Wonderful Work in the City.
On the play ground at the Pixley Relief Home, in Fort. Wayne.
The photograph shows: a group of happy youngsters at the Pixley Relief home, on Maumee avenue. Some time Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pixley purchased this property and turned it over to the Relief organization which has been doing wonderful work in Fort Wayne for half a century, as the basis for the continuance of its spendid efforts on behalf of "orphaned, neglected, and needy children" and "aged woman who cannot support themselves from their own means and by their own industry." The only source of maintenance of the home, to/enable it to carry forward its work is the money received from memberships, subscriptions, donations, and whatever but the inmates are able to pay. The last named source does not mean that pay from inmates is compulsory, but if they are able to pay, of course, they prefer to do. The group shows a number of the children, who were at play when the photographer visited the home a few days ago.
Where the Children and the Aged Are Well Cared For
The photograph is a general view of the lawn in front of the Pixley Relief Home, on Maumee avenue, for which a campaign is to be launched to secure members for the relief union under whose auspices the humanitarian work is going forward. Here, aged women who are unable to support themselves, are cared for, and the little children are given a home-those whose parents cannot care for them or who are otherwise truly in need of the help which this splendid non-sectarian institution can give. At the present time, eighteen children are on the "waiting list" because the home is too small to accommodate them, and an appeal is to be made for funds with which to carry on the work and to enlarge the accommodations. The photograph was made last week.
Here is the big porch and tne lawn where the children of the and the Pixley Relief home can play, and every day finds a group of youngsters having the best kind of a time. Subscriptions are coming in rapidly for this work and will continue to go so all this week.
A View Showing the Spacious Grounds at the Pixley Relief Home.
The people of Fort Wayne are to be given the opportunity, within a days to say, in a substantial way, that they are glad that the Pixley Relief home has been established for the good of needy and neglected children and for aged Allen county women. This declaration will come in the form of liberal subscriptions to the cause, and all will be voluntary.
The Relief union, which is in charge of the home, hopes that through the efforts of those in charge of the campaign, the people will first become fully acquainted with the objects and accomplishments of the home, by giving careful consideration to the descriptive literature which will be distributed and by reading such enlightening articles as may appear in the newspapers from time to time.
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pixley have given the home and the grounds to the organization, with the understanding that the money for the maintenance of the institution will come from the people who are glad to have such a place for the care of the helpless young and old. The fact that there is today a "waiting list" of eighteen children who cannot be received into the home shows that the building must be enlarged. This will require a considerable sum; hence the campaign toward which all are given the opportunity to contribute. The Pixley Relief home is nonsectarian, and its worth has been recognized by all who have had an opportunity to know of its work.
The little ones stopped in their play long enough to be photographed
Within a few days, a systematic campaign for funds to maintain the Pixley Relief Home is to be made. The building and its spacious grounds have been given by Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pixley, with the understanding that the people of Fort Wayne would be willing to provide the money to keep its good work going. The campaign will doubtless meet the best of response from with start. The photograph was made a few days ago, showing a group the children at play. The home also is opened to elderly women, who can not support themselves.
The environment at the Pixley Relief Home is such as to make the elderly women and the needy children of the institution feel that "somebody cares." To that end, the home has been plainly but tastily decorated and substantially furnished, with the belief that living among good surroundings plays a large part in the happiness of those who must depend upon others for help. A campaign for funds, soon to be launched in the interest of the Pixley Relief Home, aims to secure money enough to build an addition to the place, which is filled to its capacity, while eighteen children have been turned away because there is no room for them. Part of the money also is to be used as a maintenance fund. The home and grounds were given outright by Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pixley, but the maintenance is "up to" the people of Fort Wayne, and without their substantial support it cannot do its work. Mrs. B. H. Hudson is the chairman of the campaign committee, with Mrs. R. L. Feagles, secretary.
Just like home is this pleasant dining room at the Pixley Relief Home. In such surroundings of good taste and refinement, the children and old ladies who live here find a real joy in life. In a few days, the people Fort Wayne will be given an opportunity to help in carrying on the splendid work done through the Pixley Relief Home.
Pixley Relief Home Has Wonderful Opportunity to Do Good in Many Ways.
MONEY NEEDED FOR WORK
Much has been said, in a general way, of the means adopted by the Pixley Relief home, to do service to many. As an illustration of this condition, the home is the present opportunity, taking care of four children of one family, while the mother, employed in a factory, is enabled to earn family income. She cannot maintain a home, but from her earnings she can pay for a part of the support of her children and still have them so near that she can be with them when she wishes. In many other ways the home doing its great good in Fort Wayne.
It is the knowledge such instances as these that will cause the people to respond gladly to the appeal for financial help which is about to be made. Mrs. B..H. Hudson has been named to serve as chairman, and Mrs. R. L. Feagles, secretary, of the campaign, which will open soon.
"The home is filled to 'its' capacity already,", said Mrs. Hudson. "Every room is taken and, yet there are eighteen children on a 'waiting list,' hoping to be taken care of in the institution. To erect an addition to the home is one of the immediate necessities, if the work is to go forward. But to meet the current needs is the all-important thing. Good friends of the institution have stood loyally by the home and to these the management of the Pixley Relief home are more than grateful. Nothing more will be asked at this time. But there are many others who want to be 'good friends' of the needy and we are going to open the way to them in this campaign."
These happy kiddies at the Pixley Relief Home stopped just long enough in their play to have their pictures taken so that Fort Wayne folks might know what a fine place they have. These grounds are located near to the home in a beautiful shady grove. This week is the time for voluntary subscriptions to carry on the work of the home and to enlarge the quarters to come in by the thousands.
Here is where Mrs. Cox, the matron of the Pixley relief home tucks her small charges away each night. "They all have a good time at bed time," says Mrs. Cox, "and they take a particular delight in saying their good night prayers. When I finish with one group the other coaxes me to come back and do it "over again." Subscriptions to enlarge and carry on the work of home are now pouring in from all over the city. All checks should be made payable to the Pixley Relief home and sent to the Pixley Relief home, city.
These smiling kiddies stopped just long enough in their play on the spacious lawn of the Pixley Relief home to have their pictures taken. Subscriptions for the purpose of enlarging the home and carrying on its work are coming in very well, but so great is the need that all that every man and woman in Fort Wayne can give will not be too much.
Checks for the home should be made payable to the Pixley Relief Home and sent to the Pixley Relief Home, city. One dollar makes the subscriber a member of the relief union for a year, but many are subscribing much more to help the good cause along.
The elderly ladies who make their home at the Pixley Relief home, on Maumee avenue, enjoy having such pleasant rooms as this in which to spend much of their time. In order to bring happiness to others who are waiting to get into the home, the men and women who for so many years have supported this work, are appealing to the people of Fort Wayne this week for funds. Voluntary subscriptions should be: malled to the Pixley Relief Home, Maumee avenue, city, and all checks made payable to the Pixley Relief Home.
Here is one of the pleasant sleeping rooms at the Pixley Relief Home on Maumee avenue. Subscriptions for enlarging the home and carrying on its work on a larger scale are coming rapidly now. However, much more money will be needed in order to carry out the plans of the men and women who are devoting so much of their time to this splendid cause. Checks should be made payable to the Pixley Relief Home and all funds sent to the Pixley Relief Home, 2300 Maumee avenue, city.
This picture, showing the broad veranda of the Pixley Relief home, gives a good idea of just what the home looks like. On the surface, it would seem that there should be no need of more room, but so great is the need for just such a home, that the quarters are sadly cramped. To enlarge the home and carry on the work, hundreds of people in Fort HOME Wayne are responding to the appeal sent out for funds, but much more is needed before the work that is necessary can be done. Funds should mailed to the Pixley Relief Home, city.
We have received a number of the "Pixley Relief Home," at Fort Wayne, Ind., an institution devoted to the case and support of orphaned, neglected and needy children, aged women and cripples. This institution was made possible by the donation of a beautiful building, with spacious grounds, which was purchased and given outright for this purpose by Mr. George W. Pixley, one of Lakeland's winter residents for the past several years. The views give an insight in the character of the work being done and shows that Mr. Pixley has builded himself a monument more to be desired than any of marble or brass.
Students at the South Wayne School Contribute Good Sum to Fund.
MORE SUBSCRIPTIONS IN
The children of the South Wayne school have sent in a contribution to the Pixley Relief Home fund which is exciting, considerable comment among the workers. Each child brought a share of his or her savings and when the amount was totaled it was found to be $30, or enough to secure three memberships for each room in the school. That it meant sacrifice on the part of many of the kiddies is an undoubted fact and the committee wants to express its heartfelt thanks to these children for their part.
Subscriptions Come In.
Subscriptions conunne to come to the Pixley Relief Hone and the following are acknowledged by the committee:
$25- -H. W. Heath, Danville, Ill; Mr. and Mrs. Frank. B. Taylor, H. D. Pixley und son, Utica, N. Y.
$10-- Edmunds Electric company, L. O. Hull, Mr. and Mrs. Katzenberg. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kline.
$55--Mrs. Elizabeth De Wald, Mrs. C. L. Wight, F. M. Enslen, Mrs. H. E. Glock, Mrs. Bessie Dekhart Ranke, D, H. Barnett, Los Angeles, Cal.; Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Gorham, Mia. C. O. Goff, J, O. Goff, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Hackney.
Years ago, when I was younger, callow and a lazy newspaper columnist, I opened my mail one morning and a story fell into my lap.
The letter was from a former resident of the Pixley Home, a long-closed child welfare agency in Fort Wayne. Back in the day, if you lacked the resources to support your own children, you didn’t get cash or food stamps or other help from the government. Rather, the government would take over the care and raising of your children in a place like the Pixley Home, sort of an orphanage for children who weren’t orphans. This woman’s time at Pixley was sometime in the ’30s or ’40s, when the Depression, and then the war, disrupted many families. Kids at Pixley might have only one parent, often a widower father but sometimes a woman who had no family of her own to help with her burden. Child care outside of a grandmother or aunt was virtually nonexistent, so if you had to work to support yourself and had no one to watch your children? You surrendered them to a place like the Pixley Home.
If it sounds cruel to you, you’re not the only one.
Parents could visit their children, of course, on Sundays. And parents could get their children back, once they were back on their feet. I don’t recall what the process was to reclaim them, but I do know children generally stayed for months or years.
Anyway, the woman who wrote was trying to put together a reunion of Pixley kids, and hoped I could publicize it. I dug up a picture of the old building, called a few of the other residents that she had already tracked down, and wrote a column describing this merry, loving place, because that’s how my correspondent remembered it. She described it as something out of Little Orphan Annie, with stern-but-kind caretakers, big group dinners and so forth. It was like having a couple dozen brothers and sisters, all sleeping in dorms and bunk beds. About the worst thing she remembered was the weekly dose of castor oil everyone had to take.
The column ran, a few more Pixley kids were found as a result, the reunion went as planned and then, a few weeks after that, another letter arrived.
Read the rest online as it revealed different unhappy memories and similar modern issues.
