Lund Family Center History
In the fall of 1890, ten compassionate, resourceful women, met in Burlington, Vermont to determine a means of helping socially abused and rejected women. They drew up a charter for a proposed residential agency which they introduced into the1890 Vermont legislature. The charter proposed an establishment to be known as “The Home for Friendless Women”, which would provide for “poor and friendless women, destitute of the means of support and wherein such women may enjoy the comforts and advantages of a quiet, peaceful Christian home.” On November 4, 1890, the Vermont General Assembly approved the charter with the provision that a meeting of the 10 Corporators be held within six months for the purpose of formal organization. 
On April 12, 1893, the “Home for Friendless Women” opened. In the same month, a 38-year-old “destitute and homeless” woman became the Home’s first resident. It was recorded that she received care for a two-month period and that “she was not a fallen woman.” The Home’s first baby was born to the third resident, a married woman recently deserted by her husband. Her child was born September 12, 1893, with Dr. William B. Lund as the attending physician. Dr. and Mrs. Lund had been clearly identified as interested and involved from the very beginning of the venture. Mrs. Lund was a WCTU Superintendent of Railroad Work.
Many financial problems plagued this young organization. The optimistic, courageous perseverance of the Directors was justified in 1926 by a generous bequest from Dr. William B. Lund in memory of his wife, Elizabeth. The income from this gift, together with well-deserved help from the State Legislature procured through the efforts of Mrs. John E. Weeks, allowed the Directors to expand and modernize the residence, provide adequate hospital facilities on-site and hire competent staff. On March 9, 1928, the name was changed to the “Elizabeth Lund Home.”
For the next 40 years, the Lund Home’s residential and adoption programs flourished. In 1966, under the chairmanship of Major General Ernest Harmon,
a statewide drive was launched to raise funds for the construction of the new building on property owned by the institution. The new structure, built at the end of Glen Road, was completed in 1969.
Over the last 30 years, Trustees, Administrators and Staff have faced increasingly difficult challenges from all fronts. These challenges have required goal-oriented responses to insure that the fundamental mission of caring for women and families in need of help never be lost, but be continuously expanded.
In November 2007, after a yearlong renovation project, the residents returned to a state-of-the-art, beautiful residential space more fitting the work that they do on a daily basis. The bright, newly renovated space allows for 26 pregnant and parenting young women, and their children, to receive comprehensive, therapeutic residential treatment.
Over the course of a century, our name has evolved from the “Home for Friendless Women” to the “Elizabeth Lund Home” to the “Lund Family Center,” when we were named one of the first Parent/Child Centers in the State.
These changes reflect the expansion and adaptation of the Center’s mission which emphasizes the development of strong, healthy families as the key to a successful future for all.
PO Box 4009