On May 14, 1903, the Berachah Home opened in Arlington with a dedication ceremony.

Established by reformers Reverend J. T. Upchurch and his wife, Maggie, the campus served as a sanctuary for unwed mothers and unhoused women. Beyond simple redemption, residents received an education, vocational training, and essential child-rearing skills, empowering them to be self-sufficient upon leaving the program. Uniquely for the era, the home prohibited adoptions, requiring mothers to raise their own children.

While the home closed in 1935 and the original buildings are gone, the Berachah Cemetery remains at UTA’s Doug Russell Park. The 80+ burials—mostly young women, infants, and stillbirths—serve as a poignant reminder of the hardships they endured. Ultimately, the program provided a life-changing foundation for countless women.

Attendees at the Berachah Home’s dedication ceremony
Photo Credit: UTA Special Collections / J. W. Dunlop Photograph Collection

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 05-14-26