St. James Soldiers Home - St. James, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 00.235 W 091° 37.039
15S E 621392 N 4207151
Memorial to the Soldiers Home with all the cornerstones of all the old buildings
Waymark Code: WMV5V1
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/28/2017
Views: 0
County of marker: Phelps County
Location of marker: Jefferson St., Missouri Veterans Home Main Dr., St. James
Marker Text:
While serving as the president of the General Lyons Corp. No 38, Women's Relief Corps, St. Louis, Missouri, Hellen E. Day became aware of a number of cases in which Civil War Veterans were sent to National Homes, thus separating them from their wives and families. Mrs. Day -- a former teacher who helped supply comfort bags to Union Soldiers and whose husband was a veteran, helped establish the Missouri Women's Relief Corps Association -- a corporation dedicated to founding a home to care for veterans and their wives.
On April 18, 1895, the William James Mansion and the surrounding 60 acres were presented to the Women's Relief Corps, Department of Missouri by Mayor Reitz of St. James, Missouri. Funds for the purchase of the property were donated from the heirs of the James Mansion and residents of St. James and Phelps County.
The property was later transferred to the Women's Relief Corps Soldier's Home Association. The St. James Soldier's Home opened on November 1, 1896 with 34 rooms available to ex-Union Soldiers and their wives. On June 25, 1897, the Home was presented to the State of Missouri, its present caretakers.