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.
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.
Copyright © 2007-2012 Cogswell Hall. All Rights Reserved.
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.