St. Joseph's Orphanage

Saint Joseph's Orphanage

Most Reverent Bishop John B. Morris

Sisters Pancratitus, Anthony, Meinrada, Gregory, & Andrew

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In 1907 Bishop John B. Morris purchased 720 acres 5 miles north of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Morris intended to build a refuge for children and disabled adults, where they could thrive in a rural farming environment.

The Bishop hired the well-known architect, Charles L. Thompson, to draft the building plans. The Italian style villa is as beautiful as it is functional. Part of the Bishop's dream was for the Catholic orphanage to be self-sustaining, and self-sufficient. A sewer system, electrical plant, and two large water tanks, along with a large kitchen, chapel, classrooms, and farming spaces provided the tools the Bishop and staff needed to become independent.

The 56 thousand square foot building took around 2 years to finish, starting in 1908 and finishing around 1910. It was named after the foster father of Jesus, St. Joseph, who is recognized as the patron saint of orphans and workers.

Starting in 1907, nuns from the Benedictine order of Saint Scholastica's Convent were sent to help run the orphanage. They offered school classes to the residents and local children. 64 Children and 5 adults were the first group to move into the new building in 1910. Although the Catholic Church owned and ran the orphanage, children were not turned away due to faith or ethnicity.

Over the years, the nuns and orphans established a thriving working farm. Dairy cattle, ducks, chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, rabbits were raised on the grounds. Around 300 acres were devoted to active farming; helping provide food and a source of income for the nuns and children. Bishop Morris believed that by incorporating the farm and orphanage together, the church could provide for the physical needs of the children as well as the mental and social needs they would need to become independent, employable adults.

Around 1917 the Military Department approached Bishop Morris to lease 320 acres of the orphanage's land. The newly constructed orphanage building would serve as a military officer's hotel and other parts of the land were used for training activities. The nuns and children moved to a building in Little Rock that was owned by the Catholic Church while the Hotel Belmont was in operation. In 1921, after the end of American involvement in WWI, the building was returned to the orphanage.

"St. Joseph Center is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with
a mission to preserve and restore this historic property through sustainable farming; food production; programs that educate; promote agri-tourism; and community outreach. outreach."

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For more about the building and events, contact the Saint Joseph Center of Arkansas (SJCA).

Many children and adults formed happy memories during their time at Saint Joseph's. As many as 3000 children have benefited from the nuns care since 1907. The orphanage closed for residents during 1978 and reopened soon after as a daycare center.

Over the years, former residents have organized reunions. Food, memories, and stories are shared as they return with their families to the building.

In 1976 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the past 110 years, the building has been able to stay open with creative reuse of space. Americorps, local artists, religious retreats, events, and community farming are just a few of the ways the St. Joseph's orphanage building is continuing to serve its community.