Our founder

It Began in London

Believe it or not, the story of Glade Run first began on the streets of London, England. Way back in the year 1846, walking along Leman Street in the district of Whitechapel, a 25 year-old gentleman was caught by a violent storm. As was customary to the time, he sought shelter in the first friendly dwelling; it so happened to be an orphanage.

The elderly man who answered the door made him, a stranger, welcome in this home, and showed the young man an area fit to care for seventy-five orphans. In the center a tablet read:

JEWISH ORPHANS ASYLUM
ERECTED BY ABRAHAM LYON MOSES
To perpetuate the virtues of his deceased wife
ABIGAIL MOSES
WITHIN, THE ORPHAN SHALL FIND COMPASSION

Our founder, the Reverend Dr. William Passavant, was that young man. So moved was he by the mercy that he witnessed during a chance rainstorm, it would inspire his life and calling back in America. Glade Run’s 1904 semi centennial literature sums up this happenstance meeting well: “There are no little things with God. What men call little, He uses to shape the purposes and lives of men and nations.”

The First Orphanage

By 1852, Passavant would have the opportunity to organize an orphanage at the old “Pittsburgh Infirmary” (eventually to become today’s UPMC Passavant) then located at the intersection of Roberts and Reed Streets in what is now Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Sister C. Louisa Marthens was appointed as our first Matron on April 15th of that Year. She would serve until 1862.

Sister C. Louisa Marthens, our first Matron

The First Orphans’ Farm and Director’s House

Within the first year of the orphanage’s existence, 25 acres were purchased from Joseph and Mary Zeigler to Pastors William A. Passavant and Gottlieb Bassler; the men thought young boys would be better suited to country life. Possession was taken in April 1853 and during that summer, the land was prepared: a well was dug, out-buildings erected and a gothic cottage was built for the director (added onto numerous times, this building still stands today as Glade Run’s foundation and marketing offices). Bassler was called to take charge of the proposed farm school and he moved into the Director’s residence with his family in April of 1854.

By May of 1854, the time had come to move the first eight orphan boys to the country because the old Pittsburgh home was well beyond capacity. Interestingly, the girls would spend another 10 years living in Pittsburgh (amidst a cholera epidemic) before being moved to country homes in Rochester; they would finally join the boys in Zelienople in 1894.

As early as possible in the spring of 1854, ground was broken for a main building, located a hundred yards from the Director’s house and facing Beaver Road. The cornerstone was set on July 4th with a great ceremony. This building was no small deal; it housed offices, work, school, a dining room, a kitchen and bunks for nearly eighty children. Until this building was built, the boys had slept in the attic of their school at the large brick residence of Reverend Schweitzerbarth on Main Street in Zelienople. This first main building would serve as the first of three used by Glade Run; it burned down on December 9, 1862.

Hardship from the Beginning

The year 1854 was unfortunately plagued with a fierce drought. With the drought, “What the heat did not destroy, clouds of grasshoppers consumed.” Flour rose in price from five to twelve dollars per barrel; inflation of many other items and labor costs occurred as well.

The first main building at Glade Run

Also, 1854 saw a major cholera outbreak. It is reported: “September 14, 1854, the cholera broke out with fearful violence in Pittsburgh. In a fort-night nearly a thousand persons were numbered with the dead.” While 1,000 people may not sound as devastating by today’s population, keep in mind that the total population census of Pittsburgh in 1850 was only about 46,000 people- imagine Pittsburgh’s entire population only taking about half of the seats in Heinz Field!

The epidemic resulted in a wave of orphans at a time when shortages caused spikes in prices. To even further strain the situation, contributions during this period of hardship reportedly fell off by half. So what was the financial condition of the organization at this precise moment?

On the 1st of April, 1854, the remaining debt on the farm purchase, the cost of the Director’s home, and the bills to support the orphan families were paid. When this was done, only seventy five cents remained in the Treasury! Despite the lack of any secure funding, the pastors still proceeded with the contracts to begin the future main building (pictured at right).

These men forged the beginnings of an organization despite a terrible combination of adversarial forces: no savings, a 50% reduction in church contributions, a loss of farm revenues due to drought, an explosion in orphan population and the associated daily expenses due to cholera, plus a sharp increase in prices for staple supplies and builders!

Yet, somehow they persevered and had a roof on the big building by November of 1854. As it was reported: “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good…The households had prevision. Money came in various ways with which the workmen were regularly paid. When the year closed, humble and grateful hearts sang…”

A Milestone Timeline

July 4, 1854

The cornerstone of the main building is laid with ceremony. Rev. Gottlieb Bassler is named the first director.

The first buildings are built on campus

Today's foundation office began as a small gothic cottage in 1854

1855

1855 G. C. Holls is named the first headmaster.

1854 – 1860

The Orphans’ Home and Farm School serves 57 children ranging from 5 to 20 years of age.

1861

William Passavant and Gottlieb Bassler deed the 25 acres to the Deaconess Community.

1861

100 additional acres are deeded from Zelie Passavant to the Deaconess Community.

1862

Incorporation as the Zelienople Orphans’ Home.

December 6, 1862

The first main building is destroyed by fire

1863

Construction of the second main building begins.

The second main buiding sat where the current "old main" sits today

1864

The Rev. D.L. Debendarfer is named director.

April 14, 1867

The large barn and two adjacent buildings are destroyed by fire. It is supposed that this is the work of “a malicious or half-witted incendiary.”

1870

275 additional acres are deeded from Zelie Passavant to the Deaconess Community.

1877

The Rev. John A. Kribbs is named director.

May 7, 1887

The second main building is destroyed by fire.

1890

The third main building is dedicated. It still stands today.

1889-1926

Sister Catharine Foerster serves here.

1909

The Reverend Dr. Charles Wesley White is named director.

Dr. White with a young resident around 1930

1934

The Deaconess Community deeds all property to the Zelienople Orphan's Home.

1942

The Reverend Stewart Proper is named director.

1946

The Reverend Phillip Sieberling is named director.

1955

The name is changed to the Lutheran Children's Home of Zelienople.

Rev. Sieberling, shortly after the name change

1972

Farm operations are discontinued.

The Reverend A. Theodore Swanson, Jr. is named director.

1979

The Reverend Dr. Ned Elsass is named director.

1981

The foster care program begins.

1984

The name is changed to Lutheran Youth and Family Services.

1989

The Reverend Dr. Charles T. Lockwood is named executive director.

The Reverend Dr. Charles Lockwood

1990

1990 Lutheran Youth and Family Services initiates the first organizational strategic plan.

1993

Lutheran Youth and Family Services develops a continuous quality improvement structure and an operational processes.

Lutheran Youth and Family Services begins wraparound services; the agency is one of two to pioneer these services in Allegheny and Butler Counties.

1994

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy is constructed to provide on site school facilities to children in residence and in surrounding areas.

1995

Lutheran Youth and Family Services earns accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Lutheran Youth and Family Services begins to provide residential treatment services.

1996

Lutheran Youth and Family Services begins outpatient and family based community services

1998

The name is changed to Glade Run Lutheran Services to reflect expansion to serve the adult population.

1999

Dedication of the new specialty services building for Glade Run Adventures.

2000

Glade Run’s animal assisted therapy program earns accreditation by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA).

Glade Run dedicates a greenhouse, extending the use of the horticulture program to four seasons.

2001

The annex building, Glade Run’s new residential treatment facility, is dedicated.

2008

Glade Run is selected to implement the Sanctuary Model. The 3 year path to certification begins.

2009

Dedication of the new wing of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy, the David A. Yundt Learning Center.

Glade Run begins an autism educational program at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy.

Ground breaking of the David A. Yundt Learning Center,
posthumously named in honor of a board member

2010

Glade Run opens a transitional age residential treatment facility program, providing residential care and independent living skills preparedness to youth ages 16-21.

Glade Run discontinues foster care.

2011

The thought leaders’ conference invites national experts to consider the future course of Glade Run’s mission. A new management structure and training philosophy emerges.

The agency achieves Sanctuary Provider Certification.