The Wisconsin Angel

Cordelia was a ray of light to grieving soldier families. Once the Civil War was over, seeing as there was little use for the Harvey Hospital, she converted it into the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. It housed around 700 children, saying "We will take care of your wives and children." Opening on January 10, 1866, Cordelia Harvey was the Home's first superintendent.

Originally housing 84 children, by the end of Harvey's term, 40 children had found homes. The rest lived happily in foster homes. Every superintendent of the home was caring and loving, trying to have each orphan live in a comfortable, happy home. But, as economic pressures increased, the Orphans' Homes had to be shut down. The final owners of the Orphans' Home took care to find every one of the remaining children a home.

"I would not exchange the memory of their grateful faces and their heartfelt 'God bless yous' for anything in this world."
~ Cordelia Harvey