On Reuß's initiative, some Evangelical citizens in Simmern founded the Verein der Inneren Mission (Association of the Inner Mission) in 1849 with the goal of building in the Hunsrück a haven for neglected children. As early as autumn 1850, work could be begun in a small farmhouse in Michelbach with a group of boys. After the acquisition of the needed lands on the Schmiedel, the group moved into the main house in 1851. At the 300th anniversary of the introduction of the Reformation in the Duchy of Palatinate-Simmern by Frederick III, Elector Palatine, the confirmands' institute was opened in 1857 in collaboration with the Gustav-Adolf-Werk, an Evangelical social aid organization. Both these projects are now under the umbrella of the Verein der Schmiedelanstalten e.V., a member of the Evangelical Church's outreach works in the Rhineland. In 1986, the Verein der Schmiedelanstalten decided to build a home in Kastellaun for people with mental handicaps. It was opened in 1998 and named the Julius-Reuß-Wohnheim.