German Protestant Orphan Asylum

Dates:

Established - 1874

Closed - 1941

Locations:

1st site - West Liberty Borough

2nd site - Oyer Avenue (1908)

Note: There never was an Oyer Ave but Oyer Alley which doesn't exist any more and would have been an illogical choice as it was on a desolate hillside above Hazelwood, far removed from its original location on Pauline Ave. My mapping program suggested a Boyer St. Further checking using the reprint of the 1911 Atlas of the City of Pittsburgh showed the Boyer St is now called Belle Isle Ave. This is a logical choice as Belle Isle is almost directly across West Liberty Ave from the final location of the orphanage.

Information courtesy Al Lenkner.

3rd site - 161 Pauline Avenue (1917)

4th site - 2200 West Liberty Avenue

Also Known As:

Founder:

John Henry Demmler

Sponsoring Agency:

Smithfield Congregational Church and other German Evangelical Protestant Churches

Notes:

John Henry Demmler was the founder of Demmler Bros. Tinners' Supplies.

Location of Records:

Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh - part of the records of the Smithfield Congregational Church: Microfilm Reel 3 - Orphan's Home (1874-1941) - Contains an alphabetical index - provides some details about each child - may include the parent's names - information is sometimes written in German - Call Number: AIS Micro 74:25

Sources:

PA Department Vertical Files (Orphanages)

1895 Greater Pittsburg Handbook **(r917.4886 K17)**

Directory of the Philanthropic Agencies of the City of Pittsburgh, 1908, 1913, 1917, 1923, 1928 **(r361 K27)**

1937 Directory of Social Agencies

1940 Directory of Social Agencies