In early April of 1863, the Civil War entered its third year with no immediate end in sight. The casualty list for the north
had risen to over 101,000 dead, wounded and missing. Ex-Governor Edwin Morgan of New York observed veterans
returning home disabled, unemployable, and homeless and seen the need to establish a refuge. He pushed the issue until
the State Legislators passed an act to incorporate a State Soldiers' Home on April 24, 1863. This was two years before one
of the last acts signed by Abraham Lincoln incorporating a National Asylum for disabled volunteer soldiers and sailors of
the Civil War.
Large contributions were made but a State Board of Trustees, after canvassing the area found that patriotism was now
running high in the North. The thought of returning veterans being turned out into the street or housed in asylums and
poorhouses was absurd. Families and friends were reluctant to have their veterans committed to an asylum so the idea
was dropped.
In 1872 Major-General Henry A. Barnum, Department Commander, G.A.R., raised the issue once again. He convinced
Legislature to pass an act incorporating a Soldiers’ Home. Ironically, no funds were appropriated for the project and after
several attempts, the G.A.R. in 1875, decided to appeal directly to the public. The response was overwhelming and on May
15, 1876, Governor Samuel L. Tilden signed the act the Grand Army of the Republic Soldiers' Home of the State of New York
was incorporated. Corporal James Tanner took the lead. At the request of Tanner, The Reverend Henry Ward Beecher
spoke at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn; raising over $14,000 in just 35 minutes. After a four-year struggle, the New
York State Soldiers’ Home was becoming a reality.
On June 1, 1876, notice was given to all places interested in hosting the Home. The following responded: Elmira
offered 50 acres and $25,000; Penn Yan offered 188 acres on Lake Keuka and $5,000; Watkins offered 200 acres and $5,000
and Bath offered 220 acres and $6,000 in cash and offered the services of the Davenport Institute for Orphaned Girls for
soldiers who were admitted. Bath won after a tie breaking vote.
On Wednesday, June 13, 1877, the GAR semi-annual encampment was held in Bath to coincide with the cornerstone
laying ceremony. No fewer than 20,000 people attended including twenty reporters.
On April 8, 1878, the Grand Army of the Republic Soldiers’ Home of the State of New York was transferred to the state and
renamed the New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.
On Christmas Day, 1878, the first 25 Civil War veterans admitted to the Soldiers' Home sat down to a banquet.
Billed as the greatest event of the year 1879 in the Conhocton Valley, the formal opening of the New York State
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home took place on January 23, 1879. The 13th Department Encampment would take place on
Wednesday, January 22, 1879, to coincide with the opening.
Among the many guests and speakers were Commander-elect General James McQuade, General Wm. F. Rogers
(Department Commander), The Honorable William Prior Letchworth of Buffalo, Past Commanders Corporal James Tanner,
John C. Robinson and Henry A. Barnum. General Henry W. Slocum and the Letchworth Rifles under the command of
Captain Abram B. Lawrence, of Warsaw were also present.
On Wednesday, Commander Rogers called the Annual Encampment to order. In his opening address he remarked that
no other public building was ever erected for the same number of men at such a small cost. For this, Rogers
recommended that Superintendent E. C. Parkinson should be praised. Commander Rogers then pointed out that the
Soldiers' Home was the incentive needed to bolster the membership of the G.A.R., proving how essential the G.A.R. was to
their comrades in need.
General Slocum, President of the Board of Trustees, in his speech shared that New York State had contributed 445,758
men, or 1/6 of the 2,690,401 soldiers that answered the call to defend our country. More than 1,500 New Yorkers who had
resided in almshouses, or poorhouses, before the war answered the call to proudly serve their country. (In March of 1877
a survey was made of the 60 poor-houses in New York State; only 28 responded, stating that over 400 veterans were again
residents of said homes.)There were now more than 9000 veterans, many of them New Yorkers, residing in four National
Homes established shortly after the war. These four National Homes were located in Togus, Maine; Dayton, Ohio;
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Hampton, Virginia. One Soldiers’ Home, established in 1851, was located in Washington, D.C.
This was a Home for Regular Soldiers who were disabled, crippled or well advanced in years and could only house 400
men. Using these numbers, General Slocum explained the reason why the need was so great for a Soldiers' Home here in
New York.
had risen to over 101,000 dead, wounded and missing. Ex-Governor Edwin Morgan of New York observed veterans
returning home disabled, unemployable, and homeless and seen the need to establish a refuge. He pushed the issue until
the State Legislators passed an act to incorporate a State Soldiers' Home on April 24, 1863. This was two years before one
of the last acts signed by Abraham Lincoln incorporating a National Asylum for disabled volunteer soldiers and sailors of
the Civil War.
Large contributions were made but a State Board of Trustees, after canvassing the area found that patriotism was now
running high in the North. The thought of returning veterans being turned out into the street or housed in asylums and
poorhouses was absurd. Families and friends were reluctant to have their veterans committed to an asylum so the idea
was dropped.
In 1872 Major-General Henry A. Barnum, Department Commander, G.A.R., raised the issue once again. He convinced
Legislature to pass an act incorporating a Soldiers’ Home. Ironically, no funds were appropriated for the project and after
several attempts, the G.A.R. in 1875, decided to appeal directly to the public. The response was overwhelming and on May
15, 1876, Governor Samuel L. Tilden signed the act the Grand Army of the Republic Soldiers' Home of the State of New York
was incorporated. Corporal James Tanner took the lead. At the request of Tanner, The Reverend Henry Ward Beecher
spoke at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn; raising over $14,000 in just 35 minutes. After a four-year struggle, the New
York State Soldiers’ Home was becoming a reality.
On June 1, 1876, notice was given to all places interested in hosting the Home. The following responded: Elmira
offered 50 acres and $25,000; Penn Yan offered 188 acres on Lake Keuka and $5,000; Watkins offered 200 acres and $5,000
and Bath offered 220 acres and $6,000 in cash and offered the services of the Davenport Institute for Orphaned Girls for
soldiers who were admitted. Bath won after a tie breaking vote.
On Wednesday, June 13, 1877, the GAR semi-annual encampment was held in Bath to coincide with the cornerstone
laying ceremony. No fewer than 20,000 people attended including twenty reporters.
On April 8, 1878, the Grand Army of the Republic Soldiers’ Home of the State of New York was transferred to the state and
renamed the New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.
On Christmas Day, 1878, the first 25 Civil War veterans admitted to the Soldiers' Home sat down to a banquet.
Billed as the greatest event of the year 1879 in the Conhocton Valley, the formal opening of the New York State
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home took place on January 23, 1879. The 13th Department Encampment would take place on
Wednesday, January 22, 1879, to coincide with the opening.
Among the many guests and speakers were Commander-elect General James McQuade, General Wm. F. Rogers
(Department Commander), The Honorable William Prior Letchworth of Buffalo, Past Commanders Corporal James Tanner,
John C. Robinson and Henry A. Barnum. General Henry W. Slocum and the Letchworth Rifles under the command of
Captain Abram B. Lawrence, of Warsaw were also present.
On Wednesday, Commander Rogers called the Annual Encampment to order. In his opening address he remarked that
no other public building was ever erected for the same number of men at such a small cost. For this, Rogers
recommended that Superintendent E. C. Parkinson should be praised. Commander Rogers then pointed out that the
Soldiers' Home was the incentive needed to bolster the membership of the G.A.R., proving how essential the G.A.R. was to
their comrades in need.
General Slocum, President of the Board of Trustees, in his speech shared that New York State had contributed 445,758
men, or 1/6 of the 2,690,401 soldiers that answered the call to defend our country. More than 1,500 New Yorkers who had
resided in almshouses, or poorhouses, before the war answered the call to proudly serve their country. (In March of 1877
a survey was made of the 60 poor-houses in New York State; only 28 responded, stating that over 400 veterans were again
residents of said homes.)There were now more than 9000 veterans, many of them New Yorkers, residing in four National
Homes established shortly after the war. These four National Homes were located in Togus, Maine; Dayton, Ohio;
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Hampton, Virginia. One Soldiers’ Home, established in 1851, was located in Washington, D.C.
This was a Home for Regular Soldiers who were disabled, crippled or well advanced in years and could only house 400
men. Using these numbers, General Slocum explained the reason why the need was so great for a Soldiers' Home here in
New York.
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The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was
founded on April 6, 1866 by Benjamin F.
Stephenson, M.D. in Decatur, Illinois. It was the
largest organization of the Union's Civil War
veterans and membership was limited to
honorably discharged veterans of the Union Army,
Navy, Marine Corps or the Revenue Cutter
Service who had served between April 12, 1861
and April 9, 1865. By 1890, membership would
number 409,489 veterans. Five US Presidents
were also members of the GAR.
“Posts” were formed in communities and Posts
within a state were referred to as a
“Department.” In 1868, Commander-in-Chief
John A. Logan issued General Order No. 11
calling for all Departments and Posts to set aside
the 30th of May as “Decoration Day;” a day for
remembering the sacrifices of fallen comrades.
The name was eventually changed to Memorial
Day.
The GAR was active in pension legislation, relief
work and establishing Old Soldiers’ Homes
throughout the country. This book, “FROM
SOLDIERS’ HOME TO MEDICAL CENTER,” tells
the story of how the Dept. of New York, GAR,
established one such Home, the New York State
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home at Bath.
founded on April 6, 1866 by Benjamin F.
Stephenson, M.D. in Decatur, Illinois. It was the
largest organization of the Union's Civil War
veterans and membership was limited to
honorably discharged veterans of the Union Army,
Navy, Marine Corps or the Revenue Cutter
Service who had served between April 12, 1861
and April 9, 1865. By 1890, membership would
number 409,489 veterans. Five US Presidents
were also members of the GAR.
“Posts” were formed in communities and Posts
within a state were referred to as a
“Department.” In 1868, Commander-in-Chief
John A. Logan issued General Order No. 11
calling for all Departments and Posts to set aside
the 30th of May as “Decoration Day;” a day for
remembering the sacrifices of fallen comrades.
The name was eventually changed to Memorial
Day.
The GAR was active in pension legislation, relief
work and establishing Old Soldiers’ Homes
throughout the country. This book, “FROM
SOLDIERS’ HOME TO MEDICAL CENTER,” tells
the story of how the Dept. of New York, GAR,
established one such Home, the New York State
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home at Bath.
General Slocum continued with the contributions made by the public
and the cost of the Home. In his closing remarks, General Slocum
stated “Although this is now a State institution, and must be hereafter
supported by the State, it bears the name of ‘The Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Home of the Grand Army of the Republic.’” He also stated, “Here is
erected a monument which will perpetuate the Grand Army, whose
comrades can appreciate the services of the humble heroes who will
be gathered within these walls.”
General Slocum then read a dispatch from Edwin F. Brown, Governor of
the National Home in Dayton, Ohio, saying 800 New York veterans of
the Dayton Home “. . . united with him in sending greeting and
congratulations.” (Governor Brown was unable to attend the ceremony
due to delay of the train.)
After the glee club and audience sang “Marching Through Georgia”
Past Department Commander Tanner was introduced amid cheers of
the crowd. Corporal Tanner began by stating that although he had
never broken down in front of an audience, he thought he might today,
merely because the Home was finished.
Tanner reminisced about how Senator Ira Davenport, E. C. Parkinson
and he reported to the Senate Committee on Finance seeking approval
for their proposal. He also spoke of the first subscriptions secured in
Brooklyn and the mass meeting led by Henry Ward Beecher at the
Academy of Music. Beecher had told him “. . . when the work got heavy
and we needed help . . . he would go to every city, town and village and
lecture for us.”
Tanner announced that they would not be content with just three
buildings, not while there were wounded and disabled soldiers in the
poorhouses and the National Homes. Tanner again called for a building
here in which to hang in a prominent place every tattered battle-flag of
the state.
Tanner then spoke of his visit with Governor Brown of the National
Home in Dayton, Ohio and remarked that hundreds of New York
veterans had asked him for the opportunity to return to New York.
Tanner had promised them that a Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home would
soon be built. Tanner now spoke of how those men are “. . . gazing
eastward with longing eyes, hoping we will send for them.”
Corporal Tanner concluded his speech by stating, “In the name of
those who suffered and died for the Union we ask the help of the
people of the State for these men.”
The Home was now officially opened.
and the cost of the Home. In his closing remarks, General Slocum
stated “Although this is now a State institution, and must be hereafter
supported by the State, it bears the name of ‘The Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Home of the Grand Army of the Republic.’” He also stated, “Here is
erected a monument which will perpetuate the Grand Army, whose
comrades can appreciate the services of the humble heroes who will
be gathered within these walls.”
General Slocum then read a dispatch from Edwin F. Brown, Governor of
the National Home in Dayton, Ohio, saying 800 New York veterans of
the Dayton Home “. . . united with him in sending greeting and
congratulations.” (Governor Brown was unable to attend the ceremony
due to delay of the train.)
After the glee club and audience sang “Marching Through Georgia”
Past Department Commander Tanner was introduced amid cheers of
the crowd. Corporal Tanner began by stating that although he had
never broken down in front of an audience, he thought he might today,
merely because the Home was finished.
Tanner reminisced about how Senator Ira Davenport, E. C. Parkinson
and he reported to the Senate Committee on Finance seeking approval
for their proposal. He also spoke of the first subscriptions secured in
Brooklyn and the mass meeting led by Henry Ward Beecher at the
Academy of Music. Beecher had told him “. . . when the work got heavy
and we needed help . . . he would go to every city, town and village and
lecture for us.”
Tanner announced that they would not be content with just three
buildings, not while there were wounded and disabled soldiers in the
poorhouses and the National Homes. Tanner again called for a building
here in which to hang in a prominent place every tattered battle-flag of
the state.
Tanner then spoke of his visit with Governor Brown of the National
Home in Dayton, Ohio and remarked that hundreds of New York
veterans had asked him for the opportunity to return to New York.
Tanner had promised them that a Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home would
soon be built. Tanner now spoke of how those men are “. . . gazing
eastward with longing eyes, hoping we will send for them.”
Corporal Tanner concluded his speech by stating, “In the name of
those who suffered and died for the Union we ask the help of the
people of the State for these men.”
The Home was now officially opened.
