Upon her death in 1853, Dorothea Abrahams left most of a considerable estate for the establishment of a home for indigent or widowed ladies. Under the direction of George Wymberley

Jones De Renne (see 18.1) and Joseph Connerat, Norris was selected to design the building on two tything lots facing Broughton Street. Construction began on the three-story, 90 × 40–foot building in 1856 and was complete by 1858. It was described in a local newspaper as having “32 chambers, each with a fireplace and closet.” Four bays were added to the west c. 1900. The building was acquired by SCAD in 1989.