Celeste Revillon Winans

Celeste Marguerite Louise Revillon Winans (1823 – March 19, 1861) was an American philanthropist from Maryland. Winans operated a well known and large soup kitchen in Baltimore, operating it until her death in 1861. In 2021, she was named to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.

Biography

Early life Celeste Marguerite Louise Revillon was born in 1823. She was the first daughter of George and Marguerite Louise Bonjour Revillon, who would have a family of eleven children. She had French and Italian ancestry and grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia. was a prominent engraver and also owned a ship caulking business. The couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1850. In Baltimore, Thomas Winans built a magnificent estate, Alexandroffsky on West Baltimore Street at Freemont Avenue inspired by the towns in Russia he had visited when overseeing his railroad work.

Charity On June 15, 1854, Celeste Winans encouraged her husband to purchase the German Evangelical Reformed Church across the street from their estate to be used as a soup kitchen for the needy. Celeste Winans would serve between 600 and 4,000 meals daily for needy residents of Baltimore. Her charity was recognized throughout the city. This was in an era before formal government relief (welfare programs) and charity for the needy was typically the domain of wealthy individuals and local charity groups, often supported by religious denominations who were also missionaries. The Winans also provided rooming, and even built neighborhood housing for working class people.

Death and legacy On March 19, 1861, Celeste Revillon Winans died at the age of 38, several days after giving birth to a stillborn baby. She was buried in Green Mount Cemetery.

For her contributions as a philanthropist to the city of Baltimore, she was named to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 2021.