New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-30
ST. HELEN'S HOME.
y PARADISE IN THE BERKSHIRES FOR POOR
CHILDREN OF THE CITY.

=
CHUsETTs-TURNED OVER TO THE
USE OF THE TEIBCNE's TINY
FRESH AIR PILGRIMS.
Curusvile. Mass, July 97.-within the boundaries
Of the North American continent few sections van
pqual, and none strpass, for picturesque scenery
eecial prestige and historic interest the Berkshire
redon IN Western Massachusetts, Its cluster OF clear
water lakes chief OF which Is the lovely Stockprose
Bowl and Us mountains. broken-topped and tree
bedecked I'D and around whose sides and summits
the uists change their rich shades as the sun moves
Sesitisn-these charms OF landscape have not I'M
vorthily given TO the Berkshircs the unchanehgeu
title of "Thc switzerland OF America Here 100
Art has added 10 Nature beauty with two distinct
tvye, OF architecture the modern grand and har
msnious all that metropolitan wealth can hope for
and supply; the other characterized by squar" DO
SIM white exterior and green blinds. bespeaking
Lmplcity and comfort, q style immoftalizcd by the
writings OF Hawthorne and Mrs stowe In adui'Ioi
to its picturesQucness and its social pre-eInence-
for every person Is aware that no Of gayety
Is complete without visit 10 the BerkShreS-'hlS
regfon will ever hold unique position In American
History by virtue OF having been. at one time or an
other the home OF many important perSonag"s.
william Cullen Bryant lived here before he went 10
New-York. Ills legendary romance of tn" Indian
Princess" gathered It's materials from mountain
which overlooks the little village OF CurtsviHc.
Oliver Wendell Homes the Dwights. tho Field family
the Sedgwicks g. p James the novelist; the BeccherS
nnd Longfellow- have lived here. Until two
years ago an object OF interest TO visitors was tue
little red cottage overlooking the stockbrdgc Bowl
formerly occupied by Nathaniel liaw'horhe' Inv
cottage has since burned down
Aside from these natural. social and historic a"-
Santages however. the Berkshircs, withln IN" past
few months, have acquired another FEATURE "o''''
permanent and beautiful This new feature was
prompted by a loving memory ana suppor"N ~ ="
bighearted and Opcn-handcd generosity sue" is Is
rare to see The generosity Is that of John f. rar'
sons New-Yorlts eminent lawyer; the memory Is
that of Miss Helen his deceased and beloved daughter
The happiness outAowing from this generosity Is so
vreat both in amount and character that huhureos
hf little Tribune FrcSh-Air children do now. ana
Eousands will in future. think OF "St. iicens liome
a the cheerest and very best place this side OF Para
disc.
Fortv years ago Curtisvillc was thriving town.
Water power was abundant and within radius OF
bne mile dozens of mills were in operation. Later
steam was introduced and sounded the knep OF In
dustry. Mills abandoned ana soon toppieu
Into decay the operatives moved away ana 'her
cottages gradually took on the appearance OF the'
Deserted Village" Centrally located stood TWO
large buildings. the inn and the village store ana
SSsstofhce These too hal not escaped the general
fate Of desolaton Passing these buildings day
after day In his rides and drives Mr.. Parsons OFTEN
hsked himself the question. Could not these pnlo-
{ngs be reclaimed could they not be made useini =
On one Of these drives this thought presented ltsei
u Why couldn't these houses be utilized III enter
tanning poor children from the city," II was
moment when thought and purpose were twin-born'
Proceeding carefully. Mr.. Parsons inquired OF the
neighbors whether such enterprise would cause
them Inconvenience or annoyance Ihey said 'hat
It would not but that. the contrary, II would STIR
them up and add to the life of their village, Truly
treat desideratum in their minds. After con
tutaton with the manager of The Tribune Fresh-Alr
Fund the work of reconstruction began. and with
what success the idea Of Mr.. Parsons materiallzcd
we take pleasure In describing.
The inn, which Is the larger Of the two budirgs
has two full-lcngth portcos, each supported by SIX
columns in 'front.' and two smaller porcbes TO the
kear In the cellar the Kitchen. the laundry ard
the storehose. The fittings modern and complete
Both well and spring waters, carried through pipes,
are at hand; the floor IS cemented. 123 tons OF
cracked stone having been laid under H. and the wal
was reconstructed from the very bottom OF the ouida-
ton. On the first floor are the Office the chiidrehs
dining room, the dining room OF the stan ana The
pyvate APARTMENTS of the superi The second
and third floors are the girls dormitorv. There
sleeping accommodations for fifty little grlS. The
two upper stories also contain a hospital room. a
guest chamber, sleeping apartments for the two
tyomen members of the stan" also sleeping apart
tents for the servants, storehOuSe and closets for
tlothlrS and medicines. Each bed is intended for
two children, and the side Of each Is large box
with swinging lid. intended to hold wearing apparel
The boys dormiory which was formerly the village
store and posOfIice contains ccmentcd basement,
which will be fitted M with Gymrastc apparatus
IN Office two bedrooms for attendants. large assem-
bly, room, where S,inday-sohool will be- held: room
OH the second floor extending tho fun length OF the
building and used as doF7nitoy proper also. dark
l. 90 ~ Rav tr
tpn-tractable subjects. The boys sleeping apart
uents are furnished after the style rs those
used by the girls Four dozen settees are scattered
through the halls and rooms. and two clocks hang
bn the walls The Offices and the rooms occupied
by the staff" are carpctcd with and
furnished with hard oak furniture, Mr.. Parsons orc
maxim being that The best is always the cheapest
To the rear are two good sized lavatories, for
the girls and one for the boys. The equipment "f
these two houses Is all that could b" desired Across
the road In front Of the inn, IS a large barr; This
Is to be fitted mp for playhous" and brought into
requisition rainy days.
A fresllair hone 70 be ideal. must have
stream OF running water: for frcslair younester
Is like duck-hc can live in the water NOR" than
half the time and enjoy every minute Of thc stay.
The beautiful stream OF water which forms ono o!
The inlets OF the sockbridge Fowl ard which courses
between the inn and the boys dormitory. in
slicht degree Influenced the selection Of tn site OF
ST. Helens Home The stream l. prObnIE t"cntN
feet wide and Is crossed by temporary bridge which
structure will be replaced by another OF rustic
character Tht water Is deep enough for good wddng
and vet shallow enough for safety. Extending from
the bridge forty fifty feet down the miidlc OF the
stream is low bench. and this the children delight
m sit by the hour AMI dabbc their feet In The water.
a good percentage Of more ambitious iniividu'lS.
urls H we'll ~ boys don their old clothes and squat
4 lat down I'm the bottom Of the stream. by popular
verdict the water H. the most highly appreciated
mart of the home" The regular swimming place
Is one mile TO The north. Here The use of shall
low, sandy track forming part Of the BOWL ana
situated on the land OF Mr. L"onnrt +. hcch"n"
has been granted by the owner. Every afternoon
from fifty 10 scvcnty-fvc little pilgrims NAY he
seen trudging rcr way, generally with bare feet TO