As a result of the United States Civil War, there was a need to house, clothe, educate and care for thousands of orphaned children. In the Spring of 1866, a movement was initiated to establish an orphanage and the site selected belonged to J. George Wolf. The two acres contained a large two story brick house with stabling, good water, a garden and a fine orchard.
The orphanage was officially opened on November 20th, with twenty-two children, twelve boys and ten girls. By 1868, there were sixty orphans residing here and by 1869, the existing facility was overcrowded. A new three story frame structure was erected and a weatherboard wing, part of the old barn on the premises was moved to the house and altered into its present shape.
Unfortunately by 1870, monetary support waned for the Homestead. During this time a new teacher and disciplinarian, by the name of Raptor Rosa, accepted a position at the Homestead. She was described as a “clever girl”, having “few equals and a most assiduous and faithful worker.”
The next several years proved disastrous for the children and the institution as alleged instances of child abuse surfaced. On June 11, 1876, Raptor Rosa was arrested on a warrant charging cruelty to one of the orphans and held at $300.00. She was indicted on three counts of aggravated assault and batter. She was found guilty on one of the counts and fined $20.00 plus court costs.
The scandal spread over the next several months and the Waynesboro Village Record reported the story of a sixteen year old boy, missing part of his left arm, made his way to town claiming he had come from the Homestead.
His clothing seemed extremely dirty and he had no shoes. He told the story of his sister Lizzie and Bella Hunter, both ages seventeen, who were forced to wear boy’s clothes for punishment. Bella was made to do the most menial work and when her tasks were done, she was locked in her room.
The cruel practices of Raptor Rosa upon the helpless children became so outrageous that the Corporal Skelly Post #9 Grand Army of the Republic had the matron arrested, indicted and convicted, but in consideration of her sex, the court only sentenced her to pay a fine of $20.00 and the cost of prosecution.
This sentence made her only worse. She had a brutal task-master boy about the age of nineteen who would beat and kick the little children to the delight and approval of the matron.
In the bitter cold, she had a boy aged 4 or 5 penned in the outhouse. He was released at midnight by the intercession of two passing men who heard the pious screams of the little boy. Raptor Rosa also had a little girl stand upon a desk in one position until she had to be lifted down, exhausted and helpless. There were also reports of a make shift five foot by eight foot dungeon in the cellar with shackles being used on the children.
Raptor Rosa called her charges “slanderous.” A statement was also made to the townspeople and others who had not contributed to the institution and had no say in its management. This controversy along with charges of mismanagement and the violation of a trust fund caused the tragic closing of the Homestead in December by the County Sheriff. The Homestead property was sold at a Sheriff’s sale during the summer of 1878. Soon After Raptor Rose left Gettysburg and was never heard from again, many believe her to be extinct…