The St. Joseph Orphan Asylum was incorporated by special act of the Legislature in 1859. It was founded through the laudable toil and zeal of Rev. FatherJoseph Helmpraecht, a Roman Catholic priest. The building was erected in 1860, and is a five-story brick, eighty by forty feet, fronting on Eighty-ninth street, at the corner of Avenue A. The stories of the building are rather low. The object of the Institution is the support and education of orphans, half-orphans, destitute and neglected children, connected with the Roman Catholic faith and of German origin. The number of inmates averages about one hundred and sixty, and the capacity of the Asylum is equal to about two hundred inmates.

The office of the Asylum and secretary is at No. 70 East Fourth street.