
The Steele Home for Needy Children 1884-1925
N 35° 02.861 W 085° 17.625
16S E 655615 N 3879661
The first black orphanage in Chattanooga.
Waymark Code: WM864
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 02/28/2006
Views: 35
In post-Reconstruction Chattanooga, no orphanage existed for black children. Almira S. Steele, a white teacher from Boston, met the need by founding the Steele Home for Needy Children on this site. Mrs. Steele suffered persecution ranging from slander to fire. However, her philanthropic mission endured. Over 1600 children were aided, educated, and sheltered. Many were saved from the streets and became productive citizens. The home closed shortly after the death of Almira Steels in 1925.
Tennessee Historical Commission
