Bethlen Naptár, 1953 (Ligonier)
Life in our Bethlen Home
BETHLEN NAPTÁR 233 Since the Convention of 1948, we have reduced our debt of $46,000 to $27,000. In addition to the reduction of the principal on our debt, we have paid the interest on our mortgage and have made the following building improvements and investments: In 1948 all rooms in the main building of the old people’s home were newly papered and the halls freshly painted. The coal furnace in the children’s home was converted to an oil system of heating. For use on the farm, a new disc-harrow, fertilizing machine and soil pulverizer were purchased. In the same year, all three kitchens were equipped with deep freezers. All roads were reconditioned with asphalt. In 1949 a new oil-heating system was installed in the main building of the old people’s home; the age-old, dried-out poplar trees were cut out; two new lavatories were built for visiting guests; a new stock of linen was purchased; the dining room was newly painted, and fluorescent lights were installed. During this year the children’s home was freshened with a new coat of paint, both inside and out, and a laundry machine was purchased. On the farm, the barn and stable were newly remodeled and a combine was bought. A campaign for building funds was begun in the year 1950, during which year the construction of the superintendent’s new home was started. In 1951, the year when the remodeling of the new Kossuth House, headquarters of our Federation, was completed, the construction of the new wing of the old folks’ home was started, and both this building and the new home of the superintendent were dedicated on Labor Day, the thirtieth anniversary of the Bethlen Home, at which time our institution was host to hundreds of people from all parts of the country, who joined with us in joyful celebration. Through the joint efforts of our Federation, our churches, our pastors and our countless numbers of friends who had our interest at heart, it was possible during these four years to pay off in mortgage and interest the sum of $30,000, while another $30,000 was paid for our remodeling program, as well as for the above named repairs and investments. We must add to our list of friends and benefactors those who have since passed on from this life but who left substantial bequests to the Bethlen Home. Through the visits of the superintendent and the annual observance of Bethlen Home Sunday in our churches, interest in our work and the Home has grown so that annually, during the past four years, at least one hundred of our congregations
