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The Protestant Children’s Home was chartered in 1880, with a mission to care for “the friendless, homeless, unprotected children or orphans” in Northern Kentucky. The need for a Protestant-sponsored orphanage became evident as the Catholic Church already had several such institutions in the area. Amos Shinkle, a successful coal dealer and devout Methodist, spearheaded the effort. He personally funded the purchase of a lot and the construction of the first building at the corner of 14th and Madison Avenue in Covington. Designed by architect Samuel Hannaford, the initial facility was dedicated in December 1882 and could house about fifty children. Shinkle’s philanthropy didn’t stop there; in 1887, he offered to match all other donations to create an endowment for the home’s ongoing operation.

For many years, the home operated as a traditional orphanage, accepting children from infancy to age 16. The institution’s funding came from donations from wealthy philanthropists and the community, including small monetary gifts and even food like chickens and vegetables from working-class families.

By the early 20th century, the neighborhood around the home’s original location had become heavily industrialized, with smoke and noise from nearby railroad shops and other businesses creating an unsuitable environment for the children. This led the board of trustees to seek a new location. In 1924, they purchased a 25-acre parcel of land adjacent to Devou Park. A new fundraising campaign secured over $225,000 for the construction of a new building.

The new facility, also designed by the Hannaford firm in a Colonial Revival style, was dedicated in 1926. This move provided the children with a spacious, serene environment away from the city’s industrial grime, with sweeping views of the Ohio River. The new campus included a large front portico and ample space for the children to live and play.

Following World War II, a significant shift occurred in the types of services needed for children. Advances in healthcare led to fewer “true” orphans, and new social programs like Social Security provided financial stability for families, reducing the number of children needing residential care due to financial ruin. As a result, the number of children residing at the home declined throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

In response, the institution began to redefine its purpose. In the early 1960s, the nursery department closed, and the home began limiting residents to those six years and older. A major turning point came in 1979 when the home officially changed its mission to serving “mildly emotionally disturbed children and pre-delinquents” between the ages of 12 and 16, with most referrals coming from the juvenile court system or social service agencies. This marked a complete departure from its original role as a traditional orphanage and a transition to a residential treatment facility.

The final significant change for the institution came in 1990 when the board officially voted to change the name to the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. This new name reflected the fact that the home was no longer identified with a particular Protestant denomination and its services had expanded beyond just residential care. Today, the organization, now known as CHNK Behavioral Health, has continued to evolve, providing a wide range of services including residential and outpatient treatment, therapeutic foster care, and addiction services to children, adolescents, and their families.

While the name and mission have changed, the legacy of Amos Shinkle and the original institution continues to live on in the work of the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. The historic building near Devou Park remains its main campus and a testament to over 140 years of service to Northern Kentucky’s most vulnerable youth.

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Historical Records

The Kenton County Public Library has digitized a number of historical records from the Protestant Children’s Home. These include the following:

• Admittance Record Book, December 1882 – June 1896 (Oversized)
• Admittance Record Book, February 1883 – April 1902
• Book of Resident Notes, December 1882 – June 1896
• Custody Record Book, January 1883 – February 1911
• Record Book, January 1883, 1884 -December 1914
• Record Book, July 1883 – September 1884
• Record Book, June 1896 – March 1913
• Record of Visitors to Children (1941, 1942)
• Secretary’s Book, January 1909 – December 1914
• Visitor’s Register, January 1883 – June 1906
• Blueprints

GenKY – Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky Records

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Contributed by Shawn Logan | contact@kyhi.org

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⁘ Works Cited ⁘

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• The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, 13 May 1909
• The Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Kentucky, 19 December 1882
• The Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Kentucky, 20 December 1882
• The Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Kentucky, 21 December 1883
• The Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Kentucky, 25 May 1883
• The Kentucky Leader, Lexington, Kentucky, 1 May 1888

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