Emma C. Nason HomeA Childrens home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
The Emma C. Nason Home was home to our family from 1966 - 1972. During that time my parents took the job of directors of "The Home" and our entire family moved in there.
The Emma C. Nason Home has a wonderful history in the Soo. Emma C. Nason was a woman who moved to the Soo in the early 1900's from New York. Her goal was to start a home for wayward sailors. I'm sure there were many of them in the Soo during that time. Nason's vision for this home must have changed over time and she actually established a home for unwed mothers on Ridge Street.
So when the city leaders started a children's home, they named it the Emma C. Nason Home in her honor.
We lived there and have great memories of the children whose lives brought them there. The children at the beginning were mainly orphans or motherless children but over the years as medical care improved, the main clientele became children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. Most of these cases came from downstate mainly from Saginaw and Calhoun counties.
Please share any memories that you have of the Emma C. Nason home. I'll share more in the future.
The Emma C. Nason Home has a wonderful history in the Soo. Emma C. Nason was a woman who moved to the Soo in the early 1900's from New York. Her goal was to start a home for wayward sailors. I'm sure there were many of them in the Soo during that time. Nason's vision for this home must have changed over time and she actually established a home for unwed mothers on Ridge Street.
So when the city leaders started a children's home, they named it the Emma C. Nason Home in her honor.
We lived there and have great memories of the children whose lives brought them there. The children at the beginning were mainly orphans or motherless children but over the years as medical care improved, the main clientele became children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. Most of these cases came from downstate mainly from Saginaw and Calhoun counties.
Please share any memories that you have of the Emma C. Nason home. I'll share more in the future.
7 comments:
You are a fountain of information! How interesting and what an experience that must have been for you growing up. I never would have known this if you hadn't shared with us!
Emma Nason Home: When did it close? Is the building still there ( I don't remember seeing it on last visit to the Sault)?
Happy that we found your site! Thanks for the update on Cozy Corners; we wondered if it's still open.
Pam in IL
Pam, The Emma Nason Home closed in the early 1970's when the State began placing children in foster homes instead of institutions. The building was eventually torn down and a Pizza Hut and a small strip of stores has replaced it. It is sad that such a piece of Soo history is gone. Thanks for the kind words about the site.
Brenda
My mother was a young child who lived at the Emma C Nason home back in the early 1960's. Her foster parents were Mr. & Mrs. Alexander. She has found memories of the home there. She lived there for seven years and has always since then has called Sault Ste. Marie home.
Donnette
My sister lived there as a baby for 3 days many years ago,and does not remember the situation,but they notified John VerStratte he called my dad and voila ,just like magic. I had a little sister.T.G. for thr Nason home, which as I remember was at the top of Ashmun..Had a chute I always wanted to try, but never did.
Can anyone tell me exactly where this children's home was in Sault Ste Marie and when it was opened? My mother who is now deceased told me a story about her being in a children's home in the S.S.M. for three years in 1935. She was nine when she arrived there. I think this may be the one because she lived for a while on Ashmun Street with an aunt of hers. Any help would be appreciated. I would love to be able to look at any records that my exist but I'm doubting any exist now.
Barbara, The Emma Nason Children's Home opened in the Soo in the 1920's. It was located on the northeast corner of Ashmun Street and 14th Avenue. Unfortunately we haven't found any records for the EMH. My parents ran the home from 1966 until the early 70's. Not much remains from there. The building was torn down and a Pizza Hut sits there now. If you send me your email address, I'll let you know if I find anything. Brenda Benedict-bbenedict07@gmail.com
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