Fairhaven Home and Hospital

Social as well as medical problems had to be addressed in early Sacramento, and resolved one way or another. In 1898, the Peniel Mission, a Los Angeles-basedgroup, opened Fairhaven: “A Christian Home and Hospital for the care of unwed mothers [as well as] destitute and erring girls and theirchildren, or any woman needinghelp. Anon-sectarian Christian home where we aim to help girls and women to a pure and useful Christian life.”

Initially, Mrs. J.H. Glide rented a small house for the Mission on 2nd and Front Streets, where Fairhaven stayed

Fairhaven Home for Unwed Mothers, postcard, 1920, 65th Street residence, delivery room on side, second floor.

untilNovember24,1900,whenMrs. E.B. Crockerdeededover herCrockerMansionafterthe Fairhavenmanager notedthe emptiness of the mansion’s 22 rooms and appealed to Mrs. Crocker. Afterthe deedingwas completed, $5,000wasraised to remodel and help furnish the establishment. Local merchantsmadedonationsofbeds,blankets,anthracitecoal, and otheritems. Thetwowomeninchargereceivedno salaries— theirhusbands were employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Most doctors also donated their services.

When businesses and “undesirable” neighbors encroached, Fairhaven offered to sell the property back to the Crocker heirs, and this exchange was made in 1913 for $20,000. With that money, three acres of farm land and a housewerepurchasedinColonialAcres,448063rdStreet. An upper floor was converted into a ward, labor and delivery room. Onenurseservedasanesthetistanddoctor’s assistant.

In compliance with stateregulations, a one-storyhospital was built and opened in 1950. However, when blood and blood products were required to be kept on hand, the cost proved too great and, in 1972, deliveries were discontinued. While the need for protectingthe privacy ofunwed mothers was diminishing, Fairhaven continued as a home for single mothersandtheirchildrenuntil 1979, whenthebuildingwas remodeled for retirees.45

Fairhaven Home for Unwed Mothers, Hospital, 1950, 65th Street. Courtesy Fairhaven Home.