The original Children's Home (1890) |
In 1894 the deacons of First Baptist Church of Monticello met to
discuss the plight of orphan children in Arkansas. They decided
that an Orphan's Home was a necessity. Miss Hannah Hyatt gave her
home and 80 acre farm to the Arkansas Baptist Orphan's Home. Hannah
became the Home's first matron.
In 1923, following a fire that burned the boys' dormitory and
the schoolroom, Mrs. George Bottoms of Texarkana provided major
funding for two new dormitories. As a result of her generosity,
the Home was renamed the Bottoms Baptist Orphanage in 1924.
Residents and staff of the Children's Home (1903) |
Since the 1930s, most of the children in care were not orphans but
dependent and neglected children. In 1961 the name was changed to
Arkansas Baptist Home for Children to better reflect this fact.
The children were no longer housed in large dormitories but in cottages
which reflected a more home like setting.
The opening of the Little Rock Area Office
in 1968 marked the beginning of an era of growth. Today, in addition
to the Home in Monticello, the Arkansas
Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries operates the Baptist
Boys Ranch, the Promise House Maternity
Home, three emergency shelters,
and eight counseling locations.
