Leake and Watt's Children's Home

The Leake and Watt's Children's Home is an orphanage in New York City.

History
John George Leake (1752-1827) was a New York lawyer who had no children or siblings. He died on June 2, 1827 at his home on Park Row. His estate had personal property valued at about $300,000 and real estate of equal value. In his legal papers was an unsigned and undated draft of a will in his handwriting. He left money in his will to create a home for orphaned children, and assigned his friend, John Watts, to administer the home. John Watts is sometimes referred to as John's "brother-in-law." The Public Administrator of New York took charge of the estate, ruling that Leake had died intestate. After a court case the money was released to the orphanage but his real estate was taken by New York.

Orphanage
The orphanage was designed by Ithiel Town and constructed by Samuel Thomson. The original plan was as the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine nears completion, the orpahanage was to be torn down. Instead, a renovation of the orphanage was completed in 2006.

Timeline

 * 1831 Leake & Watts Orphan House is founded in New York City for "the maintenance and education of helpless orphan children" by the John Watts, according to the terms of a bequest by his brother-in-law, John George Leake.
 * 1843 The Leake & Watts Orphan House moves to the current site of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan.
 * 1850 Leake & Watts Orphan House opens its doors to girls.
 * 1890 The Home is moved outside the city to the 40-acre farm of Edwin Forrest, the grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
 * 1921 The "cottage system" is implemented at Leake & Watts. First implemented for girls, the system featured six cottages with cottage parents, housing 10-30 girls each on the Yonkers campus.
 * 1937 A Social Services Department with trained social work staff is established.
 * 1944 The Foster Home Department is established.
 * 1947 Leake & Watts merges with the Orphan Home and Asylum of the Episcopal Church and the Sevilla-Hopewell Society of Brooklyn.

Archive

 * New-York Historical Society

Selected coverage in the New York Times

 * New York Times; December 9, 2004, Thursday. "The former Leake Watts Orphan House, one of the most monumental Greek Revival temples in New York City, still stands after 161 years as a poignant testament to social history and to the transformation of Morningside Heights from suburb to city. It would really take something to overshadow ..."
 * New York Times; June 24, 1990. "As masons lay course after course of stone for the south tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for the first time in decades, it seems that this huge structure may actually, someday, be completed. As masons lay course after course of stone for the south tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for the first time in decades, it seems that this huge structure may actually, someday, be completed. But an interesting discovery by a genealogical researcher - the identity of the architect of the 1843 Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum that still stands on the site - could reopen the question of a landmarks designation for what remains of the asylum."
 * New York Times; December 3, 1961. "Leake and Watts Children's Home in Yonkers Marks 130 Years; Cottage Colony on Hudson Aids Young to Better Lives. Before the turn of the century a child had to be an orphan of 'respectable' parents to gain admission to the Leake and Watts Children's Home. The main building of the institution accommodated some 500 children in dormitories."
 * New York Times; December 18, 1900. "Leake Heirs Sue The State. Seek to Recover $86,608 -- How They Trace Their Relationship to John George Leake. The State Court of Claims met yesterday in the City Court Building and took testimony in the claims of the heirs of John George Leake against the State. The action is to recover $86,608.35, the amount realized by the State from the sale of the property of Mr. Leake, which escheated to the State because he was supposed to have no heirs."