| Charles Page's Cross | |
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| [Source] |
Origin
Charles Page (1860 - 1926) was a philanthropist who was born into poverty and when he grew up used his money to aid with orphans and widows. Dismayed that there were so many unwanted and unloved children he built several homes to take care of as many children as he could. During his lifetime he built several orphanages, going as far as legally adopting twenty one orphans from the streets after their orphanage went bankrupt. The houses he built for widows and orphans were provided with free water, gas, electricity and rent along with a quart of milk per child per day. When he died of influenza hundreds attended his funeral. The cross was given to him by the first family he provided for.
Effects
After Charles Page passed the cross he always wore was given down to his daughter Mary Ann. Mary Ann was residing in the family home when it caught on fire. The continuing hope to save as many children from a life of poverty and the prayers of the countless lives Page changed for his lineage to be protected the cross absorbed the fire. Lucile Page (his second wife), who was living in the house adjacent, declared the fire was extinguished by the Volunteer Fire Department however no records of them ever arriving at the scene were found.