South Park Settlement

Last updated
South Park Settlement (1897) South Park Settlement, San Francisco ("The Commons", 1897) 01.png
South Park Settlement (1897)

South Park Settlement was an American settlement movement-era settlement established in the South Park neighborhood of San Francisco, California on January 2, 1895, by the San Francisco Settlement Association (organized April 14, 1894, and incorporated). It was founded in one of the crowded districts of San Francisco. The pretty little oval park on which the Settlement House faces was formerly the fashionable residence district of the city. But within a few blocks on either side of South Park were many little streets, whose crowded tenements furnished homes for less prosperous working people. [1] Its goals were to establish and maintain a settlement in San Francisco as a residence for persons interested in the social and moral condition of its neighborhood; to bring into friendly and helpful relations with one another the people of the neighborhood in which the settlement was situated; to cooperate with church, educational, charitable and labor organizations, and with other agencies acting for the improvement of social conditions; to serve as a medium among the different social elements of the city for bringing about a more intelligent and systematic understanding of their mutual obligations; as well as to do social and educational work in the neighborhood; co-operate in the civic work of the city; and investigate social and economic conditions. [2]

Contents

Although this was a "social settlement", rather than a "university" or "college settlement", the proximity to San Francisco of the two universities, that the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University at Palo Alto, brought to the settlement the inspiration of university life and the practical help of members of the teaching and student corps. The president, vice-president, and another member of the settlement countil were members of the university faculties, and several others were alumni. [3]

By 1929, the settlement had ceased to exist, and the 2520 Folsom Street building was being used by the Mission Club Center of the YWCA. [4]

1894

In 1894, Jane Addams, of Hull House, Chicago, visited San Francisco, and as a result of the interest aroused by her, a committee was formed to consider the advisability of establishing a settlement in San Francisco. [5] Shortly after, the organization was effected, the offer of an annuity for the work of the association, from Phoebe Hearst, enabled them to select a house. [5] Later in the year, the San Francisco Settlement Association leased and fitted up the house at 15 South Park Street. The experiment to be tried, which began in January 1895, was modeled after the methods of the university settlement workers in the slums of large cities, and more particularly from the ideas of Addams, who work in the districts given over to the poor in Chicago were so successful. Dr. Haynes of the Department of Political Economy and History at the University of California had charge. Professor Bernard Moses was elected President of the association in November. [6] At the time, the institution was being supported wholly by subscriptions from the public. [7]

South Park Street (1895–1906)

History

The South Park Settlement began work in January 1895 in a small way at 15 South Park Street. [2] The beginning of the work of the settlement was centered in a kitchen garden, which was removed to the settlement house. [5]

1897 South Park Settlement, San Francisco ("The Commons", 1897) 02.png
1897

In October, 1897, it moved to a larger house at 84 South Park Street. [2] That house was an old-fashioned residence that had become a common tenement house. It contained thirteen rooms, and was four stories in height. There were six rooms which could be used for public purposes, and there was accommodation for six residents. [5]

In 1900, the San Francisco Boys' Club was merged in the settlement. In March, 1901, Phoebe Hearst purchased and remodelled the two houses at 84-86 South Park Street, and added the Shaw gymnasium. [2]

Neighborhood

South Park was an old-fashioned residence district far down town in the business-factory quarter. The community varied in condition from the prosperous business man and the poor but steadily employed workman to the waterfront contingent verging on destitution. The people were largely native born of American, Irish and German descent. [2]

Architecture and fittings

The Settlement House and equipment were one of Hearst's many generous gifts to the people of California. The main building contained club rooms, shops, cooking and sewing departments, and quarters for ten residents. To the rear was an attractive little hall, with a seating capacity of about 400, which was used as a gymnasium, for lectures and concerts, and also for numerous and varied club entertainments. [1]

Activities

1903 Sunday afternoon children at South Park Settlement (Social Service, 1903).png
1903

The workers made various efforts for neighborhood and civic betterment; worked hard for a playground for the section; made investigations into school attendance; and were largely instrumental in preparing the way for an adequate child labor law, and for a better law covering the work of women. They carried on in cooperation with the University of California, Berkeley lectures on trade unionism. [2]

The settlement maintained clubs of girls, boys, young men, women and older women. It provided instruction given in carpentry, printing, brushmaking, and Venetian ironwork for boys. There was gymnasium work for boys, girls and women. Other classes included dressmaking, millinery, plain sewing, embroidery and cooking, singing, literature, and economics. There were stereopticon ethical talks for the children on Sunday afternoon. Summer work included camps for women and girls and a boys' camp in the Fruit Belt picking fruit. [2]

The fully organized clubs of the settlement contained about 350 members. With but few exceptions, these were drawn from the families of fairly prosperous American or Irish-American wage-earners. The Settlement workers had always aimed to furnish opportunity, suggestions and companionship, at the same time encouraging self-government and initiative on the part of club members. All the older clubs were entirely self-supporting, and some of them made large contributions to the support of the Settlement. Several had no directors, while in others the "worker" was merely the most active and helpful of the club members. The Settlement residents made no special effort to bring in club members. The young people of the neighborhood knew of the opportunities offered by the Settlement and the standards of conduct which it demanded. They were drawn into clubs by friends or presented themselves in more less completely organized groups, asking for a meeting place and direction. The number of clubs and their membership were limited only by the capacity of the house. [1]

The Settlement workers did what they could to help the more general civic and economic development of the city. Many contributions were made to the local labor paper and meetings were arranged to enable the labor leaders and large employers or professional men to become better acquainted. The special civic work undertaken by the Settlement was the securing and enforcement of laws for the protection of children. For two years, the Settlement workers took the initiative in the efforts to secure an adequate child labor law. [1]

Treat Avenue (1906–11)

During the period of 1906 to 1911, the settlement was located at 720 Treat Avenue. [2]

1906 earthquake and fire

After the 1906 earthquake and fire, although the South Park house was only slightly damaged during the earthquake, it, with its equipment, was ultimately burned and the settlement workers in company with thousands of their homeless neighbors camped out in China Basin. Most of the residents and volunteer workers at once offered their services to the Relief Committee and for several months, assisted in the organization and distribution of relief. Miss Eaves, the head worker, returned from New York City, where she had been on leave of absence during the previous winter, and organized social and sewing centers. Dana Coolidge, with funds offered by Selah Chamberlain, established a brick cleaning camp at Palo Alto and gathered there the younger boys of the boys' clubs, who were able to earn considerably more than their own living, and many of whom for the first time contributed to the support of their families. [2]

Although scattered over miles of devastated territory in camps and tents, many of the South Park neighbors reported themselves to the former residents of the house at relief stations, and demanded, first of all, the re-establishment of the settlement. One of the young men's clubs pitched its tents in front of the ruins of the old house, determined to stay there till it should be rebuilt. [2]

But it appeared then, and time proved, that the region about South Park was probably to be a commercial district, and as many of the people had moved farther out, it was thought wise to re-establish the settlement work at 720 Treat Avenue and to await the development of city reconstruction before fixing upon a permanent location. With the money remaining from a small legacy and chiefly through the energy and enthusiasm of Jean Parker, the treasurer of the council, and of W. H. Hutton, in charge of the boys' club, a large, rough, cheap club house was quickly built and the work reorganized with a nucleus of old club members. [2]

In spite of the loss in equipment by fire, the work rapidly grew to proportions as great as in South Park, and the possibilities for work to be done were great and far-reaching. [2]

Folsom Street (1911–)

In 1911, the settlement relocated to 2520 Folsom Street. [2]

Neighborhood

The location was in the heart of The Mission district, the thickly populated residence district of the working classes of San Francisco, with outlying factories. The community varied from a few old wealthy families and prosperous businessmen to a shifting population in inadequate lodging houses and refugee shacks. The neighbors were largely native born, with a cosmopolitan minority. [2]

Activities

The settlement had clubs for girls, women and boys. Instruction given in manual training and debating. There was a gymnasium and cross country walks, for boys; and German language, sewing, and embroidery classes for girls, as well as a gymnasium. Classes were offered in civics and social economics. There were prospective moving picture lectures on educational and historical subjects. Summer work included a camp for boys in Sonoma County, California picking berries. There were outings to Belmont, California for mothers and girls. [2]

The recreational work of the settlement at 2520 Folsom Street was carried out by a large number of small clubs, gymnasium, folk dancing, and singing. These clubs were allowed to use the gymnasium for dances any evening. Each club had a social evening once a month, when refreshments were served. They had moving pictures, musical programme and dancing every Saturday evening. [8]

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Park, San Francisco</span>

South Park is a small urban park and eponymous neighborhood in the larger South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, California, consisting of 0.85 acres of public ground. The neighborhood centers on the small, oval-shaped park and South Park Street, which encircles the park. South Park is bounded by Second, Third, Bryant, and Brannan streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Neighborhood House</span> United States historic place

North East Neighborhood House (NENH) is a building in the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The building housed a social services organization established in 1915 by Plymouth Church, a Minneapolis congregational church. The roots of the organization go back to Immanuel Sunday School, established in 1881 near Second Street Northeast and Broadway Street Northeast. The school later built a new building, Drummond Hall, near Second Street Northeast and 15th Avenue Northeast. The church expanded its programs to include various social services and clubs for neighborhood residents who had immigrated to Northeast Minneapolis from France, Germany, and Scandinavia. The demographics of the area had changed by the 1910s, though, and most of the newcomers were from eastern Europe. These newcomers still needed social services, but since most of them were Catholic, they were unwilling to accept Protestant religious education. The attendance dropped, forcing Drummond Hall to close in 1913.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Heinz House</span> Settlement house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sarah Heinz House was a settlement house in at the corner of Heinz and Ohio streets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US. It adjoined the H. J. Heinz factories. The house's mission was: to provide wholesome social and recreational opportunities; to utilize leisure time and energy; to study individual requirements and awaken and direct latent ability; to develop Christian character and train for efficient citizenship the young people of the community; to draw together neighborhood residents and friends for mutual helpfulness: to train for service in the community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Blanche Peixotto</span>

Jessica Blanche Peixotto was a Jewish-American educator and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denison House (Boston)</span>

Denison House was a woman-run settlement house in Boston's old South Cove neighborhood. Founded in 1892 by the College Settlements Association, it provided a variety of social and educational services to neighborhood residents, most of whom were immigrants. Several notable women worked there, including Nobel Prize winner Emily Greene Balch, labor organizer Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, and pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. The original site at 93 Tyler Street is a stop on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelia Foster Bradford</span>

Cornelia Foster Bradford was an American philanthropist and social reformer. She established a settlement house in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1894.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivington Street Settlement</span>

Rivington Street Settlement was an American settlement house which provided educational and social services on the Lower East Side of the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. Under the auspices of the College Settlements Association (CSA), it focused on the mostly immigrant population of the neighborhood. Originally located at 95 Rivington Street (1889-), other locations later included 96 Rivington Street (1892-1901), 188 Ludlow Street (1902–), 84-86 First Street (1907-), and Summer Home, Mount Ivy, New York (1900-). The Rivington Street Settlement was established by college women, was controlled by college women, and had a majority of college women as residents. The Rivington Street Settlement was a kind of graduate school in economics and sociology, with practical lessons in a tenement–house district - a kind of sociological laboratory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Settlement of Philadelphia</span>

College Settlement of Philadelphia is an American outdoor camp and school located in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Established in 1892, it was originally associated with the settlement movement under the auspices of the College Settlements Association (CSA) to provide educational and social services in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, focusing on the mostly immigrant population of the neighborhood it served, and providing a home to the children and young people of the neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casa de Castelar</span> Settlement house in Los Angeles, California

Casa de Castelar was an American settlement in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in February 1894, during the settlement movement era, by a local branch of the College Settlements Association called the Los Angeles Settlement Association (LASA). Casa de Castelar was the first settlement house in the city, and the first settlement house west of the Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Valley Social Institute</span>

Orange Valley Social Institute was an American settlement house established during the settlement movement era to provide educational and social opportunities for the people of the neighborhood. It was located close to Newark in The Oranges' hatting district at No. 35 Tompkins street, Orange Valley, New Jersey. Opened April 1, 1897, under the auspices of a committee of citizens of Orange, New Jersey, it was later governed by a Board of Directors of the Settlement Association. It was maintained by private contributions. Head residents included Bryant Venable, The settlement contained a kindergarten, boys' games club, basket weaving club, shuffleboard club, mothers' meetings, chair caning club, bowling club and a library. In the first nine months of 1902, 497 persons borrowed 3,568 books, while there was an average daily attendance of about 30 at the reading rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodrich Social Settlement</span>

Goodrich Social Settlement was the second settlement house in Cleveland, Ohio, after Hiram House. It organized on December 9, 1896, incorporated May 15, 1897, and opened May 20, 1897 at Bond St. and St. Clair Ave. It was established by Flora Stone Mather as an outgrowth of a boys' club and women's guild conducted by the First Presbyterian Church. Its aims were “to provide a center for such activities as are commonly associated with Christian social settlement work". It was maintained by an endowment. The Goodrich House Farm, in Euclid Point, Ohio, was part of the settlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice P. Gannett</span>

Alice P. Gannett was an American settlement house worker and social reformer. The Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is named in her honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Chicago Settlement</span>

University of Chicago Settlement was a settlement of the University of Chicago. It was established January, 1894, by the Philanthropic Committee of the Christian Union of the University of Chicago. Initially, two graduate students were in residence "to provide a center for educational, religious and philanthropic work." Mary McDowell became head resident September 15, 1894.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neighborhood House (Chicago)</span>

Neighborhood House was an American settlement house in Chicago, Illinois. It was opened in October 1896, by Samuel S. and Harriet M. Van Der Vaart, under the auspices of the Young People's Society of the Universalist Church, of Englewood, Chicago, and with the assistance of teachers of the Perkins, Bass, and D. S. Wentworth public schools. It was officially established in the Fall of 1897 by Harriet Van Der Vaart as the outgrowth of the kindergarten opened the year before "to bring together for mutual benefit people of different classes and conditions."

Neighborhood House is an American community center located in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1896, as North Broadway Social Settlement it was renamed Neighborhood House in 1902, when it incorporated.

Whittier House was an American social settlement, situated in the midst of the densely populated Paulus Hook district of Jersey City, New Jersey. Christian, but non-denominational, its aims were to help all in need by improving their circumstances, by inspiring them with new motives and higher ideals, and by making them better fitted by the responsibilities and privileges of life. It cooperated with all who were seeking to ameliorate the human condition and improve the social order. It opened in the People's Palace, December 20, 1893. On May 14, 1894, it incorporated and moved to 174 Grand Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence House (Baltimore)</span> Settlement house in Baltimore, Maryland

Lawrence House was an American social settlement in Baltimore, Maryland. Its beginnings were in 1893, when Rev. Dr. Edward A. Lawrence and a friend took up lodging at 214 Parkin Street. Lawrence died suddenly later in 1893, and in his memory, the Lawrence Memorial Association organized in 1894 and purchased a house at 816 West Lombard Street. The settlement incorporated in the Fall of 1900. In 1904, the place was enlarged by the addition of the adjoining house, 814 West Lombard Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic Service House</span>

Civic Service House was an American social settlement and a school for citizenship, located at 110-112 Salem Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Established October, 1901, by Pauline Agassiz Shaw as a center for civic education, recreation, and organization for the common good. The house set out to do specialized settlement work along civic lines, and purposed to reach a constituency approaching or within the privileges of citizenship. The character of work was that with adult immigrants, in clubs, classes, lectures and civic committees. The constituency included Jews, Italians, Poles and Irish. Improvement clubs, educational classes for men and women, occasional concerts and recreational features were available, but these were subordinate to the effort for civic betterment. Children's work was not included, and social features were made incidental to a program of study and service.

Lowell House was an American social settlement, the first in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1900, it formed an association in 1903.

Amity Church Settlement was an American settlement house founded in 1896 and auxiliary to Amity Baptist Church. It was located at 314 West 54th Street in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. Its purpose included the religious and social well-being of the neighborhood. Services included educational classes, lectures, and poor relief. The director was Rev. Leighton Williams, Pastor. The undenominational spirit and able management of the House attracted confidence and financial assistance from outside Baptist lines. Its basal function was that of establishing residence in the crowded neighborhood where its work lay and bringing to bear upon the labor in hand the influence of the home. It sought to unite the idea of the Church and of the social settlement. The settlement was unincorporated, and was maintained by Amity Baptist Church and by voluntary contributions. The work was classified as (1) religious, including the various church services; (2) educational, including kindergarten, industrial school, evening classes, public lectures under the board of education; (3) medical, including dispensary and nursing work; (4) social, including Workingmen's Institute, social clubs and entertainments; (5) relief work; and (6) neighborhood work, including visitation and all work outside of the building, as well as promotion of neighborhood interests.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "South Park Settlement, San Francisco, Cal., By Lucile Eaves, Headworker". Social Service: A Review of Social and Industrial Betterment (Public domain ed.). League for Social Service. 1903. pp. 49–52. Retrieved 1 May 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Woods, Robert Archey; Kennedy, Albert Joseph (1911). Handbook of Settlements (Public domain ed.). Charities Publication Committee. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 1 May 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ Gavit, John Palmer; Taylor, Graham (1897). "SOUTH PARK SETTLEMENT. CHARACTERISTIC WORK IN A SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOOD. BY FANNIE W. MCLEAN". The Commons: A Monthly Record Devoted to Aspects of Life and Labor from the Social Settlement Point of View. Chicago Commons: 1–2. Retrieved 1 May 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. ↑ "MISSION CENTER TO GIVE OPERA". The San Francisco Examiner. 4 March 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 1 May 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Bertha; Earle, E. Lyell (1898). "SOUTH PARK SETTLEMENT, SAN FRANCISCO". The Kindergarten-primary Magazine. 10: 698–99. Retrieved 1 May 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ "25 YEARS AGO TODAY". San Francisco Chronicle. 8 November 1919. p. 20. Retrieved 1 May 2022– via Newspapers.com.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. ↑ "THE SOUTH PARK HOME. A RECEPTION AND TEA TO CELEBRATE THE FORMAL OPENING". The San Francisco Examiner. 27 January 1895. p. 16. Retrieved 1 May 2022– via Newspapers.com.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  8. ↑ Commonwealth Club of California (1913). Public Recreation (Public domain ed.). Transactions of the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco. p. 224. Retrieved 1 May 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  9. ↑ Men and Women of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries. L. R. Hamersly. 1909. p.  393.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.