June / July 2011 - The Hays Daily News

Actually, it was named after the
women in the second joyful mystery
of the rosary, where both Mary, the
mother of Jesus, and her cousin,
Elizabeth, were both pregnant.
Now, Mary Elizabeth is a household
word in the area.
“We needed a home for guidance
and nurturing, where the girls could
learn other life skills such as money
management, along with parenting
skills,” said Dinkel, president of the
Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home board
of directors for the first 10 years.
“What a way to be able to welcome
new moms (to be) and embrace
them and be a comfort to
them,” Dinkel said.
Because of the generosity of so
many people, highlighted by Marcotte’s
gift of the house, new mothers
and their babies can find comfort and
safety in the home in much the same
way children of three generations of
the George Philip family did.
George Philip III bought the house
in 1908 from Justus Bissing, who
had built the dwelling as a small twostory
home in 1889. Bissing added
on to the home several times through
the years, ending up with a multibedroom
dwelling and a large yard
that covers three lots.
“He just kept adding on and adding
on,” said George Philip V, who
grew up in the spacious home as one
of four children of George “Scotty”
Philip IV.
Philip V toured the house recently,
for the first time in several years. He
obviously was enjoying himself, and
there were a lot of “I remembers” and
“there used to be’s” as he peeked in
and around corners.
“It was a great house to grow up
in,” he said.
Dinkel is sure those who inhabit
the home now feel the same way.
Ditto for Ron Marcotte.
“He would be very, very pleased,
deeply gratified with what’s going on
there,” Elizabeth Marcotte said.
“I believe,” she said, pausing, “he
probably knows.”
1889
1908
1992
1994
1997
The hands that blessed the house
Justus Bissing builds the home as a small, two-story house.
George Philip III purchases the now-sprawling home.
After 84 years in their family, the Philips sell the house to Doug Shaw.
Elizabeth Marcotte buys the home following the death of her husband.
Marcotte deeded the home to be used for unwed mothers. Mary
Elizabeth Maternity Home is established.
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13 • DAS HAUS