IRISH-AMERICAN-L Archives

From: "Jean R." <>
Subject: History of Chicago 's Mercy Boys' Home ("Mission of Our Lady of Mercy") - Turning Lives Around Since 1880s.
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 01:42:41 -0700

SNIPPET: To this day, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Chicago, IL, provides a loving home for abandoned, abused and orphaned kids under the leadership of the Rev. James Jacob CLOSE and his dedicated staff. (See interesting history below, especially, the WW-I "shoe repair" venture in the last paragraph!). Father Jim, born in 1936, is the son of Irish immigrants. His father Sylvester CLOSE (who died when James was in his 20s) was born in Stoneyford, Co. Antrim, a little village in the foothills of the Antrim Plateau about five miles north of Lisburn Town and three miles south of Dundrod. His mother, Catherine, was born in Connemara, Co. Galway. Sylvester CLOSE came to the north side of Chicago in the 1930s from Belfast. James and his siblings, Bill, Mike, Leo, Sheila and Letitia (now Sr. Letitia) attended Our Lady of Lourdes school. (See Mercy Home website for more details).

For Chicago's poor, the 1880s were far different from the "good old days" so romanticized in story and song, per Fr. CLOSE's book, "No One To Call Me Home," (1990). Hundreds of young boys, the victims of family misfortunes, were thrown out on the streets to shift for themselves. They sold newspapers and shined shoes to earn a few pennies for food and bedded down for the night in open doorways, piano crates, or anywhere that afforded them some protection against the weather. Some of them were crippled or ill; few had much education, and all were unwanted and unloved. But their plight did not go unnoticed. In 1886, a group of priests met with the Most Reverend Patrick A. FEEHAN, the Archbishop of Chicago. Their conversation turned to Chicago's homeless children and how they could be helped. Father Dennis MAHONY, a Boston native who was working in the Chicago Archdiocese at the time, outlined a plan to alleviate the problem. Archbishop FEEHAN became interested and ass!
igned a diocesan priest, Fr. Louis CAMPBELL, to open a home for the boys. In 1887, Fr. CAMPBELL rented several small rooms above the Catholic library at La Salle and Madison Streets, and on November 3rd founded the Mission of Our Lady of Mercy, which over the years had come to be known as Mercy Boys' Home. Shortly thereafter, Father rented a large, barn-like space at 45 E. Jackson St., which soon became home to many of Chicago's troubled boys. A kitchen stove was the main source of heat, making the place seem perpetually desolate and cold, particularly in the fall and winter months. On many nights, the boys bundled up in worn, donated clothing and crept into their painted iron beds to keep warm. For, although many generous people sent the orphans their cast-off clothing, few ever thought of sending bedding. When Fr. CAMPBELL's health failed, he was succeeded by Fr. MAHONY, who was officially transferred to the Chicago Archdiocese. Fr. MAHONY's work got off to a shaky !
financial start when his $200 a month rent was immediately increased to $300. Unable to pay the rent, he was forced to close down the building. He scattered his boys among families in cheap lodging houses while he sought additional funding and another location. In 1889, he purchased a private residence at 1140 W. Jackson Blvd. Father and the boys did their own cooking and tried to keep the house going in as dignified a manner as their scanty means permitted. As word of the Home's good work spread, many people contributed funds to help the homeless boys. Poor health forced Father to retire. Under the leadership of the new Supt., Fr. C. J. QUILLE, Mercy Boys' Home greatly expanded the scope of its ministry over the next 12 years. Fr. QUILLE realized that, to be more effective, he needed to provide the boys in his care with more than food, clothing, shelter and medical care. He purchased printing equipment to teach the boys a trade. He added a laundry, bathrooms, a !
recreation room, and a hall to accommodate the ever-growing number of boys. He introduced educational and trade programs which would equip the boys with job skills. The Home received no church or state monies, depending solely on private contributions for its maintenance.

As Mercy Boys' Home continued to grow, larger facilities were needed. In 1910, a new red brick structure, large enough to accommodate 150 boys, was built at the site. As the U.S. entered WW-I, 40 boys left the Home to fight for their country. To make ends meet, the Home began a new venture -- mending shoes. In addition to helping conserve the country's resources, mending shoes provided much needed income. The Home's offer was one few could refuse. "Mail your old shoes to us, " their ads read. "We will repair them and return them to you with the bill. If you are satisfied, pay the bill. If you are not tear up the bill. Your say-so goes with us. No strings to this offer. If there are, the strings are in your hands." The success of the shoe-repair venture expanded social action as well. The boys volunteered their services for numerous community and charitable services. As Mercy boys returned from the war, new efforts were made to better equip them to enter the jo!
b market. The boys were taught trades such as shoe repair, carpentry, auto mechanics, retail and clerical skills, More of the Home's efforts centered on rehabilitation. Athletic programs and extra curricular activities were established. In 1929, as Fr. QUILLE left the Home to assume another ministry, his brother, Father A. G. QUILLE, succeeded him. In 1933, Fr. Vincent W. COOKE was transferred from St. Mary's Training School to assume a one-year assignment at the Home. At the height of the Great Depression in 1934, Fr. Edward J. KELLY was named the Home's Superintendent. Despite the poverty, homelessness and unemployment plaguing the nation, Mercy Boys' Home continued to accept the many boys who came to its door. Once again, private donations kept the Home going. As WW-II began, the Mercy boys again rallied in support of their country. One hundred forty-eight of them served in WW-II, six of those never to return. During the post war years Fr. KELLY continued his!
work with unwanted and troubled boys. By now, the boys were coming to the Home from towns and cities throughout the nation. In both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, boys from Mercy Boys' Home serviced in the Armed Forces. Through its ongoing religious, educational, cultural, and social programs, the Home was successful in helping thousands of boys turn their lives around and become responsible citizens. Father KELLY served 39 years. Father CLOSE was appointed the 7th Superintendent of the Home upon his death. Under the leadership of Fr. CLOSE and staff, the ministry has been expanded to address the needs of the boys and girls of today and to create an atmosphere which more closely duplicates a family and home setting. In 1988, a home for teenage girls was opened in a private residence located in the Beverly-Morgan Park area of Chicago. Like Mercy Boys' Home, Mercy Girls' Home cares for teenagers from 14-18, although occasionally younger children have been accepted in a!
n effort to keep brothers and sisters together. One or both of their parents may be living. Yet, because of their desperate circumstances, they are the "new orphans" out on the streets because their parents and relatives are unable or refuse to take care of them. (See website for more recent history).

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• History of Chicago 's Mercy Boys' Home ("Mission of Our Lady of Mercy") - Turning Lives Around Since 1880s. by "Jean R." <>