| 1883 |
During the years following the Civil War concern
was expressed throughout the Washington County community for
the orphan children with no apparent place to live other than
the County Alms House where many homeless adults were also living.
By 1883 an action plan was implemented as a group of prominent
citizens came together to form a new non profit corporation:
The Washington County Orphan’s Home. Together they were
able to raise enough funds to purchase the property at 355 South
Potomac Street, in Hagerstown, and to hire a superintendent
and several other staff. In a report to the board of managers
in 1918 then superintendent, Walter Esmer noted that "It
was the first successful attempt in the State of Maryland of
the people of a county, without state financial assistance,
to care for their county’s dependent children".
Then on November 8, 1883 seven year old Eddie and his five year
old sister, Edith moved out of the Alms House and into the safety
of the new orphanage. That first year welcomed 69 children into
care. They were to become the first of thousands to follow.
|
| 1885 |
| Only two years later it had become clear that
the majority of children in need of were not orphans. In the
first of a series of adaptations to changing times and needs
the home changed its name to "The Washington County Home
for Orphan and Friendless Children" and amended its charter
so that its’ purpose was expanded to provide for orphans
and destitute children who came under the organization’s
care. |
| 1927 |
| For the next 44 years the Home continued to
provide care for children at the original location in Hagerstown.
Then in 1927 a move was made from the aging facility to a newly
constructed modern building located on 60 acres in the rural
community of San Mar ten miles away. |
| 1981 |
| The name was officially changed to reflect
the move to the community of San Mar. |
| 1987 |
| In March, 1987 the board of managers made the
decision to specialize care to adolescent girls and to increase
the services offered. At the same time an extensive renovation
of the facility was completed. |
| 1990 |
| The Edward and Pauline Anderson Transitional
Living Home is opened for girls successfully completing the
program in the main group home. |
| 1991 |
| San Mar is licensed as a Child Placement Agency. |
| 1992 |
| Operating under the Child Placement Agency
a program of Treatment Foster Care is begun. Whereas the original
intention of the program is to provide an additional resource
to girls completing the group home children and youth may be
placed into homes without ever having been in any other San
Mar program. Once again through the foster care program San
Mar is able to provide care for both girls and boys. |
| 1993 |
| The Maryland State Department of Education
licenses the San Mar Educational Program |
| 1994 |
| The San Mar Educational Program is upgraded
to status as the San Mar School |
| 1997 |
| On August 1 the Jack E.
Barr Therapeutic Group Home opens. The program has a capacity
for 8 girls. By November 21 the program is operating at full
capacity where it will remain for a long time. |
| 2002 |
| On
February 28th San Mar receives national accreditation from
the Council On Accreditation for all residential, educational,
and treatment foster care programs operated by the organization. |
| 2003 |
| San
Mar is fully certified as meeting the Standards of Excellence |
| 2004 |
| The Maryland
Department of Human Resources grants San Mar a license to
operate as an Adoption agency. The organization is offered
a $400,000 grant from the Department of Juvenile Services
to construct and operate a Shelter Care program for girls.
The board commits to conducting a capital campaign to raise
1.2 million dollars for matching funds for the shelter and
for a multi purpose center to serve all the girls in care. |
|
2005
|
|
San Mar is licensed as an Adoption Agency
|
|
2006
|
On July 26 the shelter opens and the first girl moves in.
In September the organization is re-accredited by COA.
|
|
|
