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\nSometimes you find amazing things almost in your backyard – this is one of those times.<\/p>\n
\nSometimes you find amazing things almost in your backyard – this is one of those times.<\/p>\n
In 1894, Reverend JT Upchurch established the Berachah Rescue Society in Waco, Texas with the purpose of\u00a0redeeming and aiding prostitutes and other fallen women.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0In 1903,\u00a0a<\/em>fter being driven from Waco by angry fellow Methodist church members who opposed his aiding prostitutes, Upchurch and his wife Maggie Mae moved to Oak Cliff to continue their mission. \u00a0Soon after they purchased twenty-seven acres of land to establish the\u00a0Berachah Home<\/strong>\u00a0for homeless girls, usually these girls were pregnant. \u00a0It soon became known as\u00a0Rescue Hill<\/em>.<\/p>\n Girls came from Texas and the surrounding states to have their babies and learn to care for themselves and their babies. \u00a0Upchurch did not believe that mothers and children should not be separated so adoption was not an option until the mother had cared for her child for one year.<\/p>\n By 1928, the home had expanded to 67 acres. \u00a0On this land a hospital, nursery dormitory, dining room, print shop, handkerchief factory, chapel, office building, schoolhouse, 1,000 seat auditorium, barn, and a cemetery were built. \u00a0The girls worked at the print shop, the handkerchief factory, as teachers and did other task around the home. \u00a0Funding was provided\u00a0by businessmen from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. \u00a0Upchurch published The Purity Journal to keep them informed about their mission work.<\/p>\n In the early 1930’s Reverend Upchurch’s health began to fail and in 1935 the home closed. \u00a0It was reopened in 1936 as an orphanage, the Berachah Child Institute, by Upchurch’s daughter, Allie Mae and her husband, Reverend Frank Wiese. \u00a0In 1942 the property was purchased by the Christian Missionary Alliance.<\/p>\n It is unknown how many girls had past through the doors of the Berachah Home. \u00a0It is also unknown how many children were born. \u00a0I wonder what became of the mothers and the children that were residents. \u00a0Reverend Upchurch and his wife dedicated their lives to an important cause, although they were ridiculed by many they continued on mission.<\/p>\n The University of Texas purchased the property in 1963 and still currently owns it. \u00a0The only remaining evidence of Rescue Hill is\u00a0The Lost Cemetery of Infants. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n One has to assume since The Berachah Home was a home for unwed mothers that there were some complications with some births. \u00a0There are approximately 80 grave sites in the Cemetery. \u00a0Most are marked by a flat stone with either a first name or a number, such as Infant #1. \u00a0Last names were not included to protect the unwed mother’s anonymity.<\/p>\n I have lived in Arlington since 1975 and until about a week ago I was unaware of this fascinating piece of history. \u00a0While a student attending The University of Texas at Arlington, \u00a0I actually lived about 300 yards from this site. \u00a0Yesterday I visited\u00a0The Lost Cemetery of Infants<\/strong>. \u00a0I was touched by what I found – simple graves of forgotten babies who had no past, present, or future. \u00a0I now wonder what happened to the hundreds of children that would leave the home to follow the\u00a0backroads of their lives.<\/p>\n This site is special and I encourage people to visit\u00a0Rescue Hill.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Not much there except a history of a lot of folks that were touch by the Reverend Upchurch and his family. \u00a0I have included a photograph of each of the markers at this cemetery (sorry a couple are out of focus). \u00a0Please take a minute to remember each and every one of them.<\/p>\n There is not a footprint to small to leave an\u00a0imprint on this world……….unknown<\/i><\/p>\n LOST CEMETERY OF INFANTS \u00a0 (Doug Russell Park – northwest corner) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 801 West Mitchell Street \u00a0– Arlington, TX<\/p>\n