Oxford Orphanage

The Oxford Orphanage's 40-acre campus is situated on the highest hill in the area just north of downtown Oxford. The St. John's College building was THE building on campus for many years, until Letitia Walker donated funds for the new building for young boys in the late 1880s. In the early 20th century eight cottages were constructed, four for girls and four for boys. The Superintendent, Treasurer, Chaplain, Dean of Students, Farm Manager, and Printing Department Manager each acquired their own residences.

The John Nichols School and Blue Lodge Vocational Building replaced the older spaces available in the old College and the smaller printing, electrical, and woodworking shops. The York Rite Memorial Chapel and St. John's Administration Building, both completed in the mid-1950s, were the last major buildings constructed on the campus.

Through the 1960s and 1970s the older cottage buildings had to be destroyed; they were absolutely crumbling. Beginning with Gray Cottage and ending with Shipman, newer, more efficient cinderblock cottages were constructed. The campus of today resembles the campus of a century ago in layout alone, but to anyone who grew up there, it will remain home.

 

Aerial View of the Campus
(1951)

Old campus from College St
(4-B, 1-B, and St. John's building)

Old campus from Forest Ave
 

Original St. John's College

The Walker Building

Old Printing Department
 

First Girls' Cottage

Fourth Girls' Cottage (4-G)

Another of the Original Cottages

 

Superintendent's Residence

Treasurer's Residence

Dunn Building

 

Fire at the Royster Building

Royster Building's Ruins

Demise of the Duke Building, 1984

 

Laying of the Gym Cornerstone
(Sudan Band playing on platform)

the Grand Master, Maurice Parham, and A.D. Gray at the Gym Cornerstone laying

Construction of Regan Cottage
 

Old Administration Building

St. Johns' Administration Building

John Nichols School Building

 

York Rite Memorial Chapel
 

Laying of the St. Johns' Building Cornerstone