Friday, April 27, 2018

Knowing Your Business: Philadelphia Institutions With Straightforward Names

Unlike our times, the 19th century was an era of plain talk. 

Sex workers were known as prostitutes. Senor citizens were simply old folks. And local institutions in Philadelphia pulled no punches in spelling out their purpose.

Here are a few examples: 

The Edwin Forrest Home for Decayed Actors

Pennsylvania Training School for the Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Children 

Inglis House for Incurables 

Northern Home for Friendless Children 

Ralston House for Widows and Single Women 

Franklin Reformatory Home for Inebriates 

The Bettering House of Employment 

Blockley Almshouse 

Union Home for Old Ladies 

Old Ladies Home of Philadelphia 

The House of Industry 

Saint Edmond’s Home for Crippled Children 

House of Saint Michael’s  

All Angels for Crippled Colored Children 

Guardians of the Poor