Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Kohimarama

Grey Lynn

Mrs Arbacle, Murdoch Road (1887-1888). "Ladies from town and country, expecting their accouchement, can be received by Mrs Arbacle, Murdoch Road, Surrey Hills, Ponsonby, who has all the qualifications of a Ladies Nurse, and the Comforts of a Home. Highest references." (NZ Herald 21 July 1887, p.1)

Mrs Camille Von Meyern, “experienced nurse”, Cross Street, Richmond Road, “near Costley Institute”. (NZH 8 October 1901) She was the wife of artist Alfred Von Meyern (died 1893), and died at her Cleveland Road, Parnell home, 4 February 1916. Miss Ellen Von Meyern held classes in an "Academy of Fine Art" at the same address, until 1903.

Nurse Isabel Cleal's Nursing Homes (c.1920-c.1940s) - Firth Road c.1920-c.1922. Selbourne Road c.1922. 5 Firth Road c.1925. "Castlemaine", Selwyn Road, c.1939, 59 Dignan Road, Pt Chevalier, 1941. Registered as a maternity nurse 7 July 1926. Died 1960 aged 76.

Nurse Louisa Beuth (c.1907-c.1925). 1907, at Stanley Street, Arch Hill. From c.1910, 101 Crummer Road. Husband George William Beuth died there 15 December 1925. Louisa Beuth died 4 September 1942. Not found on registers for midwives or maternity nurses 1926-1932.

Mrs Gerken, Hanover Villa, 3rd house Cockburn Street off Richmond Road, 1903. Moved to Rose Lynn House, 1 Coleridge St, Grey Lynn, 1905

Nurse Petersen, Wellpark Ave. (1924)

Bromley Nursing Home (c.1930- at least 1945). 100 West End Road, Grey Lynn.Practitioner: Nurse Louisa M Comber. Appears to have operated as a midwife in private residences from 1925.

Fairhaven Nursing Home (1913 - at least 1945), Great North Road/11 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn. Practitioner(s): Nurse Annie Butterworth

According to a message on Rootsweb, Fairhaven was taken over at some point by the Motherhood of Man, renaming the house "Fairleigh", running a private maternity hospital, a day nursery, and "arranged accommodation for unmarried pregnant women using a system of home  stays with host families, as well as running an adoption service." Fairleigh hospital closed 1978 and the Society was struck off the Incorporated Societies register in 2000. Auckland Museum Library database says that the movement was founded by Mrs May Harvey. The hostel at Surrey Crescent closed 1978 (Auckland scrapbook, December 1978 - February 1980 p 37) The society wound up in 1997. (NZ Herald, 1997 Sept 8 sec A p 7) I have been advised (as at 2 September 2013) that the site is now used as a halfway house, Fairleigh Lodge.

"The Motherhood of Man Movement" is the effort of some earnest and capable women to meet the situation arising from the arrival of war babies. The Government and civic authorities should welcome this voluntary help in a matter that concerns us all. I walked past our military hospitals and saw the fine provision made for the sick and wounded, a proper and humane work. It would be a scandal and a reflection upon us if the best were not promptly provided for the helpless. The ladies require a home for the mothers-to-be and the children. Who will assist? The demand is urgent and pressing. MOTHERHOOD OF MAN MOVEMENT.

Auckland Star 27 August 1943

WARTIME BABIES

A HOME FOR WOMEN

MOTHERHOOD OF MAN GROUP

"Blossoms in the dust" they have been called—but there is an organisation of warm-hearted, kindly people in Auckland, who are determined that baby victims of the war shall be allowed to bloom into full and sunny life. The Motherhood of Man Movement was recently formed by a group of men and women, who are endeavouring to gain the response of the general public in helping girl-mothers and their war babies. But the movement has an even wider aim than this. It desires to help all needy mothers, whether married or unmarried, and to bring the influence of motherhood into all human affairs, educational, political and spiritual. The first plan is to open a home in one of the suburbs for wives of soldiers overseas and their children, young widows, and expectant and unmarried mothers. Women will be able to stay at the home for some months, and no discrimination will be made between married and unmarried mothers. "The old prejudice against unmarried mothers is dying out among younger women, said the honorary correspondence secretary, Mrs. Mary Miller.

The staff of the home will consist of a matron, a trained nurse with a Plunket certificate and a gardener. The home will grow its own fruit and vegetables. Since the movement plans to take from the Child Welfare Department babies not placed in private homes, and accommodate them at the residential home, the expectant mothers there would no doubt find it good training to look after the little ones. The movement is, however, continually receiving inquiries about adopting children, indicating the sympathy and generosity of people to- day. "There are more inquiries than we have babies to supply," said Mrs. Miller. In this way the movement is giving help to unmarried mothers. The adoptions are arranged through the Child Welfare Department, which has been most helpful. On the other hand, there are other unmarried mothers, who want to keep their babies, and by boarding them at the residential home the movement will make it possible for the mothers to work in the daytime and return to their children at night.

"How Can I help?" "What can I do to help?" Offers in this strain have been gratefully received from many people, said Mrs. Miller. One is a trained kindergarten teacher, who will give some of her time to the home. At present donations towards the home and furniture, and gifts of clothes and accessories for mothers and babies are sought. It is hoped that eventually homes will be established in every district, each accommodating 20 women. Plans are now being made to register the movement with headquarters in the Victoria Arcade. The chairman of the committee is Mr. D W Faigan, and the two original conveners were Mrs W Harvey and Mrs E A Leighton, the latter being known for her work in connection with the Barnardo homes. The Motherhood of Man Movement is an adventure with a vision. It believes that mothers must take a stand and introduce a better way of life if peace is to be won and preserved. It wants a more constructive plan of education -along mental and spiritual lines, by means of educative films, well-chosen literature, and above all, the guiding principle of Christianity.

Auckland Star 23 October 1943

Part of the excellent work of the Motherhood of Man Movement in the past 12 months has been the arrangement of 53 adoptions and the placing of 45 expectant mothers in temporary homes. The annual report states that valuable help has been given many unmarried mothers at a critical period, and the sympathetic understanding given by the movement has saved many a girl from the drastic step of ending her own life. Expectant women who are married have also sought advice. The co-operation of matrons of maternity homes and private people in country districts, who have sheltered girls during the waiting period, is acknowledged with gratitude, as is also the help given by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children and the Child Welfare Department. St. Mary's Homes have taken a number of girls who were anxious to keep their babies and learn the art of mothercraft. The report states that the movement no longer considers it would be wise to establish a home for unmarried mothers, as was originally planned, because it is thought better that these women should not be cut off in groups from the rest of the world, but should learn to mix with their fellow-beings. However, "Motherhood of Man" centres are still visualised. The report states that a central block would contain administrative quarters, a day nursery, dining room and kitchen. Around this block would be grouped suitable buildings in which a mother would be able to make a home for herself and her child. The mother could go to business during the day when the child would be under skilled care in the day nursery or creche. This creche could also be available to women of the district.

There would be accommodation for babies awaiting adoption, and mothers from the country awaiting confinement or recuperating after it would find there a suitable resting place. The movement has given support to the Home Service Association in its efforts to secure help in the home for overworked mothers.

The report states that the executive has given up its rooms in Victoria Arcade, but interviews are still arranged by mail and by telephone.

Auckland Star 16 November 1944

Sherwood Tower Nursing Home, Stanmore Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland (1912-1914). Practitioner: Nurse Charlotte Annie Flewellyn

"An inquest was held yesterday at the Magistrate's Court by Mr E C Cutten,  coroner, into the circumstances surrounding the death of May Isabel Otto, aged 23 years. The young woman died at the Auckland District  Hospital on February 1, some days after she had suffered a miscarriage  at a nursing home in Ponsonby. Chief Detective McMahon appeared for the  police and Mr A M Gould for Nurse Flewellyn, at whose private hospital  the miscarriage occurred. Evidence was given by deceased's mother, Dr C E Coldicutt, and Dr A B McCutcheon. The former gave evidence regarding  the young woman's positive statement that there had been no interference with her whatever. Both doctors stated that deceased's condition was  consistent with her .statement, and that the miscarriage was probably  due to a general state of ill-health. Dr McCutcheon said that death wag  due to puerperal septicemia. Charles Herbert Clifford, an express  driver, said three months, ago deceased told him of her condition, and  of. his responsibility, and suggested- he should see someone who could  help her. He was not aware of anything being done, however, and was  surprised when he heard the girl was at Nurse Flewellyn's under an  assumed name.

"Charlotte Annie Flewellyn, owner of a private  nursing home in Ponsonby, said that the girl came to her place on  January 20, and asked for a situation, either as nurse or general help.  Witness, who was in need of help, put her on to a case at once. The  miscarriage, which was in witness's opinion natural, occurred on January 24. In answer to further questions, she said she did not tell the  inspector when she called that the girl was lying in the house, because  she wanted to keep the matter quiet to give the girl a chance. She had been nursing for 25 years, and knew the public health regulations. Since this case her home had been closed by the authorities.

The  coroner found that the cause of death was general septicemia, following a miscarriage. There was evidence of a desire on the girl's part to  procure a miscarriage, but no evidence to show that it had been caused  by other than general ill-health. It had been shown that there had been a breach of the regulations by the nurse, who had failed to call in a doctor until the day after the miscarriage occurred. There was nothing  to show, however, that this slight delay had affected the girl's chance  of recovery.

(NZ Herald, 11 February 1914)

Moved to "Elgin", Mill Road, Whangarei (1920-1922).  (1864-1942). Husband Henry Flewellyn.

Whiteside Maternity Home (1910-1915), 15 Elgin Street, Grey Lynn. Practitioner: Nurse Margaret Elizabeth Canty

Nurse Canty lived with a Miss Newall, dressmaker, at 30 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, from 1900.  Then, she advertised for a 9-room house to rent, and shifted to St Marys Road in 1904, opening a nursing home in a "healthy, elevated position". Nurse Beeche, "late of Women's Hospital, Sydney" took over the St Mary's Rd home in late 1905. Nurse Canty "resumed work" in 1907 at 4 Yarborough Street, off Dedwood Terrace. In 1910 she took over Whiteside Maternity Hospital, 15 Elgin Street in Grey Lynn. In 1915 moved to another maternity nursing home, 15 Huntly Avenue off Khyber Pass. She advertised quite prolifically in the newspapers.

Nurse Jessie Janet Porteous, 3 Wallingford Street (c.1921-1923), 22 Disraeli St, Ponsonby (1923-c.1925), Wallingford (1925-c.1935), 76 Crummer Road (c.1935- to at least 1945). Husband?: George A Porteous, a stable hand in 1929, 3 Wallingford Street. Registered in 1927.

Nurse Mary M O'Brien, "Marlowe" 27 Campbell Road (later renamed Prime Road) (1928-c.1939)

Mrs Southernwood and Miss Kennedy, 13 Firth Street (1929). Neither were nurses, but Mrs Southernwwod kept a spare room clear to take in cases, and Miss Kennedy was her sister who helped out, as did a Mrs Cleal. (Illegal and unlicensed hospitals, BAAK A49 19836 Box 78, R6901628, Archives NZ)

St Clare Maternity Hospital, 26 Williamson Ave (1937-1956/1957).Proprietor: Nurse Hooker

Kia Ora, 39 Beaconsfield Street, Grey Lynn (1928-1936). Mrs Annie B Johnson.

The Inspector of Private Hospitals gave the home and Mrs Johnson a "bad report" in 1928, but she still received a licence. However, in 1936, when the Inspector returned, a damning report was sent to the Medical Officer of Health in Auckland, stating that Mrs Johnson was "unreliable and untruthful," the inspector making negative points regarding bathing preparations for patients, sterilisation of outfits, basins, bedpans, state of the bathrooms, security of morphia, and chart keeping. The inspector recommended that the licence be revoked immediately. The Medical officer asked her to surrender her licence in July 1936, which she did by September that year. (Letters on file, R6901598, BAAK A49 19836, Archives NZ)

Herne Bay

Nurse Christina Woolley, "Narrabri", 17 Salisbury St. (c.1936-c.1959)

The house was built c.1900 for Edward Drinkwater. From 1927-1939, it was owned by Michael Joseph Savage. He rented the house to others from 1936. A printer named Vern F. Woolley was occupying the house as at 1939, but there are reports of births there from 1936. In 1942, the Public Trustee sold the property to Christina Woolley. The “Narrabi Maternity Home” was set up in the house by 1945, apparently run by the Woolleys, and was to last until the late 1950s. This was licensed by the Health Department in 1949 for four beds. By 1960, the house was the site of the St Anthony’s Obstetric Hospital, later St Anthony’s Rest and Convalescent Home until 1978. That year, for a brief period, 17 Salisbury Street was a Rudolf Steiner School (until the school moved to Amy Street in Ellerslie in 1979).

A past patient described (April 2014) Nurse Woolley's practice in the mid 1950s as one where she took in unwed mothers, referred to them as "fallen women" and made them sign their babies over for adoption. In the 1940s however Nurse Woolley operated a standard private maternity home.

Nurse Bonner, 27 Herne Bay Road (1916-1917), Shelley Beach Road (1920). May have started up convalescent home, "Treves Milward", St Heliers Bay Road, 1923

Nurse T J Nash, 23 Bayfield Road (1922) Woodcote Maternity Home, cnr Sentinel and Jervois Roads (1924-1925)

Instructed by MRS T J NASH, will Sell at their Rooms, JELLICOE CHAMBERS (Corner of Queen and Wyndham Streets), FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 ... A FINE 8-ROOMED HOUSE, situated at the CORNER OF JERVOIS AND SENTINEL ROADS, HERNE BAY. The House is replete with all modern conveniences, telephone, hot and cold water, gas stove, electric light, drainage (2 pwc's), etc., etc. The grounds are laid out in lawns, concrete paths and yard. Section 90 98. FIRST MORTGAGE £1650. (Star, 16 September 1925)

Nurse Warbrick (1926)

Nurse Sykes (1945)

Kohimarama

Nurse Emma Ellen Noon, Speights Road (1930-1931), Kohimarama Nursing Home/Point View Hospital, 109 Kohimarama Road  (1931-1936). Point View taken over by Nurse Rose Guthrie Bishop and Nurse Dorothy Muriel Brown in 1941 from Wahroonga in Howick.

"Close to waterfront, elevated, seaviews." (Auckland Star 4 July 1931)

 Nurse Noon registered No. 2379, July 1926, trained as a midwife at St Helens Hospital, Auckland. In 1932, gave her address as Selwyn Road. (NZ Gazette 1932, Register of Midwives and Maternity Nurses. Also 1929). In 1927, her address was given as c/- Mrs Tyler, Valley Road, Glen Massey, Ngaruawahia. (NZG register, 1927).