The Baby Fold history

In 1904, the name changed to the N.A. Mason Deaconess Home and School.

In 1905, the Deaconess Society sent a new graduate of their Training School, Nellie Randle, to Normal to get the Mason home organized as a home for young children.

In 1939, Reverend William and Gwendolyn Hammitt were named as Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent and they got busy making significant improvements to the agency.

November 14, 1941 Agency’s name officially changed to “The Baby Fold” and a new statement of purpose was formulated: “To provide Christian care and training to dependent and homeless children from birth to six years of age”.

In his 1951 history of the Baby Fold that is recorded at the McLean County Historical Museum.

In 1966 The Baby Fold began a residential program for children with emotional and behavioral challenges.

In 1971, Special education services were first offered through the Child Development Center, which later became Hammitt School.

Taking care of little babies reminded people of Jesus' story of the good shepherd, and in 1980 the name of the home was changed to the Mason Deaconess Home and Baby Fold.

The Baby Fold purchased and completely renovated the historical building in 1999, renaming it ‘The Family Center’ to house foster care and adoption services, family support services, clinical services and to provide a training center for staff and gymnasium and chapel for the children.

Since 2002 The Baby fold and Hammitt School has even supported a high school for older students.

Community Schools grew from Fairview Elementary to include Cedar Ridge in 2017.

In the fall of 2018, Hammitt Junior/Senior High School students moved into the new space from their rented location on Towanda Avenue.