The Berachah Home: Reform and Redemption on the Road to Righteousness

By Jason S. Sullivan, Arlington Historical Society

As part of our Arlington 150 blog series in partnership with the Arlington Historical Society, we’re highlighting the places, people, and stories that have shaped our city over the past 150 years. This month, we're exploring the impact of the Berachah Home.

The late 1800s and early 1900s saw a period of intense reform. Social views were changing amid growing temperance movements, with brothels and saloons targeted and pitted against salvation. Many advocates sought to restore morality. One such endeavor was the Berachah Home—Berachah is a Hebrew word meaning "blessing"—a haven providing a life-changing foundation for over 2,000 women and children. Established by religious reformers and social crusaders Reverend J. T. Upchurch and his wife, Maggie, the home operated for over 30 years, aiming to prepare residents for a pure, pious, and productive life.

The Upchurches began their ministry in Waco in the 1890s, starting a home to help “fallen women” become honorable again. Met with opposition from religious leaders—especially for working with prostitutes—the couple moved to Dallas and began a similar mission. Prostitution was common during this era, with many young women lacking other viable employment. For an unmarried woman who became pregnant, regardless of the circumstances, social stigma and financial hardship were difficult to overcome.

In 1903, the Upchurches started the Berachah Industrial Home for the Redemption of Erring Girls—better known as the Berachah Home—initially outside Arlington, but later absorbed into the city limits as the town grew. A larger, more ambitious endeavor than those in Waco and Dallas, the facility provided domestic, parenting, vocational, and life skills to women who were often young, unwed, unhoused, and pregnant. Most were in their teens or early twenties. Though often labeled as "fallen" or "needing rescue," many simply needed help to get back on their feet. Above all, residents had to be eager for redemption. The charitable uplift home, rooted as a training school, was founded on the motto: "Have faith in God."

Residents received vital skills and support, empowering them to be self-sufficient upon departure. Unique for the era, the home prohibited adoptions, requiring mothers to raise their own children and stay with the program for at least a year.

Days were structured, beginning with getting children ready for the on-site nursery. Education, vocational training, chores, work, and prayer filled their days, though women reunited with their children each evening. Over time, education became a central focus, with Upchurch emphasizing the importance of well-educated young women.

As it expanded, it became a bustling campus with dormitories, classrooms, a nursery, chapel, and communal amenities. An on-site print shop and a small handkerchief factory produced goods sold to help raise funds, while donors, pledges, and gifts served as primary financial backing.

Growth in the 1920s was halted by the Great Depression. Enrollment peaked around 1930 with over 100 residents. Rising costs amid insufficient funds forced the home to close in 1935, though it was subsequently used as the Berachah Child Institute, an orphanage. The land became part of the UTA campus in the 1960s.

While the buildings are gone, the legacy lives on through a Texas Historical Marker and in books, such as Home for Erring and Outcast Girls by Julie Kibler. There is also an engaging exhibit at the Fielder Museum with photos and information, along with archive materials in UTA's Special Collections.

Throughout his career, Upchurch helped organize a handful of churches, published The Purity Journal, and authored several articles and booklets on religion. He also published a novel in 1924 titled Behind the Scarlet Mask, drawing from his experiences. Best known for his work with the Berachah Home, the reformer passed away in 1950 and is buried in Dallas.

Berachah Cemetery

Today, the most prominent reminder of the home is the Berachah Cemetery, located on the UTA campus at Doug Russell Park. Tucked away in tall trees near a parking lot off Cooper Street, with the faint murmur of traffic nearby, the site serves as a quiet, secluded resting place.

Lacking an entry sign—though two historical plaques mark the site—the burial ground is enclosed by a chain-link fence. Because most headstones are flat rather than vertical, the cemetery blends seamlessly into the surrounding trees.

Nonetheless, the cemetery contains over 80 burials—mostly young women and infants—serving as a poignant reminder of the hardships they endured. Most headstones are simply adorned with a first name: Albert, George, Sammie, Ruth. Some are identified only as "Baby" or "Infant," and are often numbered. While many deaths stemmed from childbirth complications, poor nutrition, and infant frailty, a measles outbreak claimed many lives as well. Small toys, trinkets, and stuffed animals are frequently placed at the children's headstones, left as gifts from visitors—bittersweet, gentle offerings to those who lived and died in such brave brevity.

Sometimes referred to as the "Lost Cemetery of Infants" or the "Baby Cemetery"—often with negative or derisive connotations—the historical significance of the home and the meaningful work of Rev. J. T. Upchurch are frequently overshadowed by folklore and ghost stories.

Recognizing its historical impact, the site was honored with a Texas Historical Marker in 1981. The home remains a proud part of Arlington's history, serving as a reminder of the town's early days, the power of faith and forgiveness, and the lasting impact of social reform.

Author's Note

What strikes me most about Berachah Cemetery is how it hides in plain sight—easy to miss if you don't know it's there. As someone who has visited many cemeteries, this one feels distinct. It has a history rooted in hardship, yet the grounds are remarkably serene. Along the cemetery's edge is the sound of running water, likely a small creek in the trees, creating a soothing, ambient effect.

Cemeteries are often a broad microcosm of area residents across generations and walks of life. But this cemetery is unique in that everyone here is tied to the Berachah Home and a specific era. They share a deep commonality, and their life journeys are closely intertwined. There's a poignant blessing in that, making this cemetery a truly special part of Arlington's history.

About the Author

Jason S. Sullivan is a blogger exploring the past and present of Arlington. He has contributed local history articles to the City of Arlington’s website, Downtown Arlington’s blog, and Arlington Today magazine. As a board member, newsletter editor, and social media manager for the Arlington Historical Society, he is instrumental in sharing local history and preserving stories for future generations. In 2023, he received the Debbie Reynolds-Hazen Award, recognizing a younger individual for leadership in collecting and preserving Tarrant County's history. Visit his blog at JasonSSullivan.com.