The director of the Children’s Guardian Home feels strange at quitting time, now.  She locks the doors and leaves the building.  Rosie Butler says that feels odd because the doors weren’t locked before.  Not until this week.  The state is no longer sending children to the Guardian Home.  (Mary McDermott prepared this story when the last child left.)

The home will stay “open” with Rosie and another staff member.  But, right now, all they can do is look for ways to re-use the building.  Rosie told me she hopes that leads to opening the home to children, again, someday.  That’s her “Plan A” even if the home operates on a smaller scale.  But, she also said she’s open to other ideas that would satisfy neighbors in Irvington and allow the building to remain in service to the public.

Rosie will lead a re-use committee that looks for alternatives to what the home had done for more than 120 years.  She’s waiting to learn who will be on the committee with her.  They’re supposed to have a report ready by December 1.  But, Rosie would like to have an idea about its future by September 1st — so she can make a pitch to the City-County Council for funding in 2010.

Everything takes money, Rosie said.  So, she’s happy to have the help of Rupert’s Kids, now.  They’re helping to take care of the grounds during the study period.  A newsletter from the Guardian Home says a new Guardian Home Foundation “will be staying around to help support the future use of the Home” and it’s accepting donations.