As Cogswell Hall advanced into 21st
century, its focus became serving women
of all ages and backgrounds. The leaders
on the Cogswell Hall Board found that
there was a need to help all women
including those with disabilities. As society
has developed, so has this organization.
When the needs of the community change,
Cogswell Hall molds to meet those needs.
Today Cogswell Hall has opened its doors
to men and women, as well as people with disabilities. Cogswell Hall meets the challenge of accepting diversity in a world where diversity is not always appreciated.
century, its focus became serving women
of all ages and backgrounds. The leaders
on the Cogswell Hall Board found that
there was a need to help all women
including those with disabilities. As society
has developed, so has this organization.
When the needs of the community change,
Cogswell Hall molds to meet those needs.
Today Cogswell Hall has opened its doors
to men and women, as well as people with disabilities. Cogswell Hall meets the challenge of accepting diversity in a world where diversity is not always appreciated.
Throughout the years, Cogswell Hall has helped
people in need from a variety of backgrounds and
has grown to bring comfort to people who need a
caring community. The mission began as a way to
help young girls who had been incarcerated in the
Cleveland Workhouse to become functioning
members of society. Mrs. Benjamin S. Cogswell was
a leader in the Non-Partisan Women’s Christian
Temperance Union (WCTU), which was responsible
for establishing social reform for women. Under
Mrs. Cogswell's leadership, the WCTU formed the
"Missionary Committee of the Open Door" in 1878
to provide young women temporary shelter, training,
employment services, and spiritual guidance.
From her experience of working with the young girls at the Cleveland Workhouse, Mrs. B.S. Cogswell realized the necessity of providing a home for these “friendless girls,” and training them to become productive citizens. The Missionary Committee responded to this need in 1892 by securing a “big desirable house” at Scovill Ave. and E. 37th (known as Forest St.) “to train girls to be self-helpful while giving them the benefits of home-life.” The home was later relocated to the near West Side of Cleveland and moved to its final location on Franklin Boulevard in 1914. Even after Mrs. Cogswell passed away 26 years later, her mission to help young women continued throughout the century. In 1952, the original Home for Friendless Girls” was renamed in her honor as Cogswell Hall.
people in need from a variety of backgrounds and
has grown to bring comfort to people who need a
caring community. The mission began as a way to
help young girls who had been incarcerated in the
Cleveland Workhouse to become functioning
members of society. Mrs. Benjamin S. Cogswell was
a leader in the Non-Partisan Women’s Christian
Temperance Union (WCTU), which was responsible
for establishing social reform for women. Under
Mrs. Cogswell's leadership, the WCTU formed the
"Missionary Committee of the Open Door" in 1878
to provide young women temporary shelter, training,
employment services, and spiritual guidance.
From her experience of working with the young girls at the Cleveland Workhouse, Mrs. B.S. Cogswell realized the necessity of providing a home for these “friendless girls,” and training them to become productive citizens. The Missionary Committee responded to this need in 1892 by securing a “big desirable house” at Scovill Ave. and E. 37th (known as Forest St.) “to train girls to be self-helpful while giving them the benefits of home-life.” The home was later relocated to the near West Side of Cleveland and moved to its final location on Franklin Boulevard in 1914. Even after Mrs. Cogswell passed away 26 years later, her mission to help young women continued throughout the century. In 1952, the original Home for Friendless Girls” was renamed in her honor as Cogswell Hall.
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As time progressed, Cogswell Hall adapted its mission to serve the changing needs of society. It moved from a rescue mission to a proactive home, broadening its reach to young working women. These women had difficulty finding well paying careers and establishing themselves in society as reputable businesswomen. By 1952, the focus of Cogswell Hall therefore changed to providing young businesswomen with affordable housing.
As the needs of women in society continued to change, Cogswell Hall responded by shifting its focus accordingly. Women who were starting to receive equal rights and equal education opportunities were now able to support themselves. Elderly women were now finding it difficult to live on a fixed income provided by the government. In response to this need, in 1970 Cogswell Hall opened it doors to elderly women, who could not afford to live on their own. Throughout the century, Cogswell Hall remained a safe haven for all women who needed a place to live and were given comfort, safety, family, and friends.
Historical Timeline
1878-1890: The Open Door provides temporary shelter to homeless and “friendless” young women and children at its location on Erie Street (now E. 9th Street).
1889: Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) begins visiting the Cleveland Workhouse to help the young women and girls imprisoned there. WCTU works to provide temporary shelter, employment service, and spiritual guidance for homeless women and girls upon their release from the Workhouse.
1889: Mrs. Cogswell, Chairman of the Missionary Committee of the WCTU identifies a need for a permanent home for “friendless girls.”
1892-1898: A house is rented in the city of Cleveland to provide a more permanent home for “friendless girls” from the workhouse.
1899-1906: The Training Home for Friendless Girls is moved to the corner of Franklin Boulevard and Duane Avenue (W. 32nd). The home is donated by Miss Ann Walworth, a prominent Clevelander.
1913: The Non-Partisan WCTU sells the house on Franklin Blvd. and Duane Ave. to the German Hospital (Fairview Hospital) for a nurses’ residence.
1914: A new training home, designed by Cleveland architect Charles W. Hopkinson, is opened at 7200 Franklin Boulevard, which is the current location of Cogswell Hall.
1918: Mrs. Cogswell, Trustee of the Training Home for Girls, passes away at age 85. She is buried at Lake View Cemetery.
1914-1951: The house serves as a training home for girls from the ages of 10-18. It gives them a secure home and training in independent living and homemaking.
1952: The mission changes to provide a secure home at a reasonable cost for young businesswomen. The name is changed from the Training Home for Girls to Cogswell Hall in honor of the founder, Mrs. Benjamin S. Cogswell.
1970: Cogswell Hall adapts mission to meet the needs of older women of limited income.
1998: Cogswell Hall provides an affordable home for diverse women of all ages and disabilities.
2008: Cogswell Hall begins construction to expand and improve the current building and allow more residents to live at Cogswell Hall.
2009: Cogswell Hall’s new facility opens in the spring for 23 residents. The original historic building re-opens , restored for the first time since it opened in 1914. Cogswell Hall offers affordable housing to both men and women, with 41 rooms in all.
1878-1890: The Open Door provides temporary shelter to homeless and “friendless” young women and children at its location on Erie Street (now E. 9th Street).
1889: Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) begins visiting the Cleveland Workhouse to help the young women and girls imprisoned there. WCTU works to provide temporary shelter, employment service, and spiritual guidance for homeless women and girls upon their release from the Workhouse.
1889: Mrs. Cogswell, Chairman of the Missionary Committee of the WCTU identifies a need for a permanent home for “friendless girls.”
1892-1898: A house is rented in the city of Cleveland to provide a more permanent home for “friendless girls” from the workhouse.
1899-1906: The Training Home for Friendless Girls is moved to the corner of Franklin Boulevard and Duane Avenue (W. 32nd). The home is donated by Miss Ann Walworth, a prominent Clevelander.
1913: The Non-Partisan WCTU sells the house on Franklin Blvd. and Duane Ave. to the German Hospital (Fairview Hospital) for a nurses’ residence.
1914: A new training home, designed by Cleveland architect Charles W. Hopkinson, is opened at 7200 Franklin Boulevard, which is the current location of Cogswell Hall.
1918: Mrs. Cogswell, Trustee of the Training Home for Girls, passes away at age 85. She is buried at Lake View Cemetery.
1914-1951: The house serves as a training home for girls from the ages of 10-18. It gives them a secure home and training in independent living and homemaking.
1952: The mission changes to provide a secure home at a reasonable cost for young businesswomen. The name is changed from the Training Home for Girls to Cogswell Hall in honor of the founder, Mrs. Benjamin S. Cogswell.
1970: Cogswell Hall adapts mission to meet the needs of older women of limited income.
1998: Cogswell Hall provides an affordable home for diverse women of all ages and disabilities.
2008: Cogswell Hall begins construction to expand and improve the current building and allow more residents to live at Cogswell Hall.
2009: Cogswell Hall’s new facility opens in the spring for 23 residents. The original historic building re-opens , restored for the first time since it opened in 1914. Cogswell Hall offers affordable housing to both men and women, with 41 rooms in all.