May Hildreth, New Future Society, The Day Book, Chicago newspaper, March 27, 1915
SHE IS FAIRY GODMOTHER TO LITTLE WAIFS
Miss May Hildreth, a Chicago girl, who plays fairy godmother to dozens of little children of the slums, proteges of the New Future society, a philanthropic organization. finding homes for homeless children is the special work of the new future society.
Today, Coulter house in Chicago is a residence hall at the university of Chicago. A beautiful old building housing over 300 residents and hosting events often related to theater and arts.
coulter house, university of chicago
According to the university history, this building was named for John Merle Coulter, an eminent scholar, who was hired in 1894 to head the botany department.
100 years ago in Chicago, the Coulter house was a refuge center for girls being rescued from the sex trade and white slavery. though not the same address, There is a possibility that the benefactors of this Coulter house could have been related to the university professor.
chicago tribune sept. 20, 1913
A new video series researching the people involved, as well as the girls rescued at the Coulter House - Home for Girls can be found here;
I came across an old newspaper article in the Chicago Tribune about criminal charges filed against a couple who were prostituting out a 16 year old girl. My curiosity aroused, here's what I've found on the Coulter House-Home for Girls, and the people involved.
If any of these people were your ancestors, please comment and leave me a message or comment.
click images to enlarge
Kate Adams on Hoyne Trail, Chicago tribune, Sept 20, 1913, newspaper article
Police had made arrests in a brothel, a prostitution house, in this article referred to as 'a house of ill repute', including the arrest of a teenage girl 16 years old at the time, named Esther Watson. she was taken into police custody on Sept. 8th and held in juvenile detention for a month. She was then moved into a rescue center for girls called Coulter house.
Police issued a warrant on the married couple who were running the house, AL and Anna Harris for harboring a minor in a prostitution house. Al and Anna Harris turned themselves in the day after the girl was taken into custody, on Sept. 9th, 1912 at 8 pm.
The case against the Harris couple is brought to court 13 times in the next 10 months, but case is delayed or passed on to a new judge every time.
Giving a push to have the case heard and to stop the court delays is Kate Adams, superintendent at Coulter House-Home for Girls where young Esther Watson, who is now 17 years old after almost a year of court delays, is fostered while awaiting court trials,
Kate Adams has written to the state prosecutor. She states that the refuge center she's in charge of houses girls rescued from prostitution as well as white slavery (most likely referring to indentured servants which in the process of being abolished). She also states that the community is inquiring and eager to have the case heard for prosecuting alleged child traffickers AL and Anna Harris. Kate Adams then states that the 'vice interest' (referring to the arrested couple) has claimed that they are above being prosecuted.
*the title of article refers to the supervisor of the rescue center for girls, Kate Adams, pushing for the state prosecutor, Hoyne, to take action on the case.
names involved;
Esther Watson ; 17 year old forced into prostitution
AL Harris ; arrested for pimping/prostitution related
Anna Harris; arrested for pimping/prostitution related
Kate Adams; runs Coulter House-Home for Girls
Coulter House-Home for Girls; refuge center for girls under 18 involved in prostitution and white slavery (indentured servants) located at 2119 Calumet Avenue, Chicago, IL
officer Bell and officer Kinder; arresting officers in the Harris case
Harrison Street Police Station, Chicago, IL ; location of booked arrests in Harris case
Judge Sabbath, Judge Topkins, Judge Cooper, Judge Burke, Judge Kersten ; judges involved in Harris case
State Attorney Hoyne and Assistant State Attorney Barrett; prosecutors for the Harris case
house of ill repute; prostitution residence; 1608 and 1610 south Wabash avenue, Chicago, IL
