Sitting kitty corner across from old Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Trumbull in Detroit stands the church and rectory of St. Peter's Episcopal Church.  There in the late 1940's the pastor of the church, Fr. Ecker tended to the needs of his church.  Fr. Ecker cared about more than just his parishioners and their families.  He was concerned about the children of the city.  Children abandoned, abused and neglected by parents and now by the society.

Fr. Ecker volunteered as part time chaplain at the Wayne County Youth Home.  There he came in contact with troubled and troubling boys.  He watched as the boys were often released from the place only to return again and again.  Some boys on release would simply go back on the streets.  No adult would take the time to care and guide them to adulthood.  In some cases some of the boys were not released at all.  They stayed in the “lock up” setting because they had no place to go. There were no adults to claim them.  They were too young to be sent to the streets. Fr. Ecker was disturbed by the situation. He expressed his feelings to a Wayne County Juvenile Court Judge.  He suggested to the judge a couple of boys with no place to go might be given into his custody and he would house them at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.  The judge agreed.  In a few short months, Fr. Ecker had two boys now under his wing.  The seed was planted.  It would sprout into what is today St. Peter's Home for Boys.

In the beginning there was no Board of Directors. In the beginning Fr. Ecker simply borrowed, begged and solicited money, clothing and food to help him make a difference in these boys lives.  His parishioners helped where they could but it was not enough. The population was now at four. The needs were growing.  Mr.  Leslie H.  Green and his son Robert N. Greene took an interest.  They became the benefactors for the Fr. Ecker's efforts of providing a home for troubled and troubling boys. But the need was greater than the plan.  Fr. Ecker recognized, as did his supporters, a more planned approach was needed. The rooms of the rectory would never be enough.  So in a group of parishioners established a Board of Directors and on May 22, 1950 incorporated into St. Peter's Home for Boys. 

The summer of 1950 was a time of hopeful plan and a hopeful future. The September 1950 Board of Directors meeting however was not about future goals.  Tragedy had visited the once hopeful plan of establishing a boys home.  The leader, the inspiration, the soul of the project was dead.  Fr. Ecker had been killed in an automobile accident, while transporting one of the boys back to the St. Peter's. 

Significant

 Events

• 1950 St. Peter’s Home for Boys Incorporated

• 1950 Father Ecker dies in automobile accident

• 1962 Ground Breaking for Joy Road Building

• 1963 Robert Greene, benefactor, dies.

• 1964 First boys move into Joy Road Building

• 1970 West Garage Converted to Social Service Building

• 1972 Education Building Built

• 1974 Relationship Therapy Program Established

• 1976 Boy’s at St.  Peter’s Win 1st Prize Float Detroit Bicentennial Parade

• 1980 East Garage Converted to Conference Area

• 1984 Modified P.P.C. Therapy Program Established

• 1985 Social Service Wing Added

• 1985 Old Social Service Area Converted To Administrative Offices

• 1996 Self Employment in Arts Program (SEAP) Established. Name changed to Literacy Education and Arts Program (LEAP) in 2004

• 1997 Team Therapy Program Established

• 1998 New Administrative Wing Added

• 2000 St. Peter’s Home for Boys Celebrates 50th Anniversary

• 2001 Old Administrative Area Converted to Education Offices

Fr. Mangrum, the new pastor was placed in charge as superintendent of the home and the Mr. Green and his son Robert continued to provide the majority of the financial support.  The population continued to grow through the fifties.  The need for additional employees grew.  A cook was employed, a housekeeper, and child care workers.  By the end of 1950's the population had grown to fourteen boys and the church rectory was inadequate.  The Board of Directors started planned a new facility to house the growing population.  Having secured the permission from the Episcopal Dioceses to use three acres of land adjacent to St. Martha's Church on Joy Road, a successful capital campaign was launched. In 1962  A ground breaking ceremony took place.  In November 1962 the boys were moved into the new facility. 

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