Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California
| Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | 5245 Underwood Ave., Beulah, California, U.S. (now Oakland) |
| Coordinates | 37°46′55″N 122°11′12″W / 37.781853°N 122.186601°W |
| Organisation | |
| Funding | Private |
| Type | Elderly |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Beulah Home, Beulah Home for Aged and Infirmed Colored People |
| Opened | September 26, 1892 |
The Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California (1892–1938) was an institution for elderly African Americans in Beulah, California (now Oakland).[1] It was the first of it's kind in the state, and provided care for those who were otherwise ineligible to enroll in the other nearby care homes based on their race.[2] It was also known as the Beulah Home.
History
The Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California was founded on September 26, 1892, by Elenora Amos, Mary E.A. Cole, Mary Goodman, Mary J. Humphrey, Rosa H. Lockett, Ann S. Purnell, Harriet E. Smith, Areminto Stanford, Mary C. Washington, Ellen Whiting, and Anna Williams.[2]
The land for the home was located on a site at the border of Mills College (now Mills College at Northeastern University), and was donated by Christian missionaries, George S. Montgomery and Carrie Judd Montgomery from the Salvation Home of Peace.[3] The two story Victorian building was designed by architect D.F. Oliver, and held sixteen rooms.[3]
It operated as a community chest, through the local African American community's donations.[1][4] They would sponsor donation days, dances, and dinners for fundraising.[4]
The first president was Julie A. Shorey, the wife of William T. Shorey, who served for ten years.[5] She was succeeded as president by Elizabeth Brown.[5]
The pioneering African American miner Alvin Aaron Coffey Sr. died at this institution in 1902, he was an early resident.[6][7] In 1909, Buelah was annexed into the city of Oakland.
Closure
The Department of Social Services in 1937, informed the institute that their permitting license was put on hold due to concerns about the financial condition.[3] It was also suggested by the Oakland Fire Marshall in 1937, that the institute was a dangerous fire hazard and needed to either fire proof the existing structure, or move.[3]
The property was purchased in 1938 by Mills College, and the building was demolished in 1939.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b "44th Anniversary of the Home". Oakland Tribune. February 23, 1936. p. 27. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California Records". Oakland Library. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Londagin, Dorothy (December 9, 2024). "Beulah Home – Oakland California". A Bit of History. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "Donation Day Set For Worthy Cause". Oakland Enquirer. November 29, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People". Oakland Tribune. February 28, 1937. p. 19. Retrieved July 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Obituary for Alvin A. Coffey Sr". Daily Red Bluff News. October 30, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Reiniche, Angela (March 7, 2023). "Alvin Aaron Coffey, California National Historic Trail". U.S. National Park Service. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
External links
- Guide to the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People of California Records from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland