The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
THE SCRANTON FREE KINDERGARTEN
ASSOCIATION.

by lecture by Miss Lucy Wheelock. of
Boston. That very evening the
nucleus to the present Free Kin.
dergarten association was formed
and officers and committees ap-
pointed. These officers were regularly
elected at a meeting held January IA.
1899, at the residence OF Mrs. Thomas
Dickson.
The first free kindergarten In Scran-
ton under this association was opened
February 20, 1893. on Mulberry street
under the charge of Miss Farnhar.
In the fali of the same year, rooms were
secured nj SlS Washington avenue, ana
Miss Mary G. Salisbury, of Cleveland,
Ohio, installed as kindergartener. Miss
Salisbury was pupil of Madame
Kraus- Roclte. of New York city. and
was teacher of wide experience. uh-
der the sympathetic management ana
rare tact with children the Kindergar-
ten No l. as 1t was now called, became
one of the most interesting of our city
charities. In connection with her work
and under the management of the asso-
citation u class for the training Of kin
dersarteners was organized. OF the
members of this class. which
was graduated the following June.
several now hold prominent po-
sitions in our community. Amoni, these
are Miss Sarah Fordham, kindergarten
in Miss Gerecke's private school; the
Misses May and Edith Hull, In charge
Of the Daisy Memorial kindergarten at
Archibald Ridge: Miss Lillian Morris.
principal of private kindergarten In
Hyde Park and also Of the kindergarten
work in the Home for the FriendleSs;
Miss Gertrude Northup, principal Of the
Jewish kindergarten; Miss Elizabeth
Wolfe, principal Of a private kinder
garten in Jermyn.
In March, 1894, a second kindergarten
was opened in the Mission Chapel OF
the Second Presbyterian church at
Green Ridge under Miss Helen Cheney.
Of Massachusetts.
About this time two free kindergar-
tens, supported by private individuals,
were opened. Reports OF the work
were read at the regular meet
ings of the association, and their prog
ress watched with interest. One of
these kindergartens was at Simpson.
supported by the Simpson & Watkins
company. the second at Duryea, sup
ported by the Old Forge company.
The third year saw new kindergar-
ten opened In the Jewish Synagogue.
Much interest had been shown by the
Rabbi Feuerlicht and his people. and
they offered free of charge the use OF
their chapter room. The material and
furniture for this kindergarten were
also furnished by them. and the only
expense to the association was the sa-
larry Of the teacher. Miss Gertrude
Northup. of Glenburn. was given this
present date. The enrolment of chill
| dren here Is about forty ,and embraces
representatives from homes Of all ma
tiOnalitieS and creeus
At the beginning of the fourth year
| the work had increased to such proper
tions that II was necessary to secure a
superintendent. who should have the
supervision of all kindergartens, be
principal of the training class. and have
charge of the centre kindergarten. Miss
Katharine Clark, Of Boston, was ap-
pointed and took charge In September
1895. Such was the interest manifested
and the good results were so apparent
| that our association attracted the at
| tention of one whose charitable in
clnations and power of doing good
We're already well known in Scranton
where her interests were strong on ac.
count of her childhood spent in our pro.
| ductive valley. Although her home Is
| now In New York, and although her in.
| terests are wide and varied, her longing
to do for those "home" people some
good that would reach far beyond the
| present and be recorded only in the
limitless future, turned her thoughts tc
the needs of our fast increasing popula.
tions. Mrs. Frances A. Hackley, in the
summer of 1895, notified our president
Mr.. A. d. Holland, that she would take
upon herself the support of several kin.
dergartens, the location to be decided
upon by the association. The supervi
sion also to come from the association
In memory of a little daughter whose
short life has thus become a lasting
| power for good, Mrs. Hackley gives
these kindergartens. and in touching
tribute adds the fondly remembered t.
our ever dear and untranslatable kin
dergarten. Thus we opened three
DAISY MEMORIAL KINDERGAR
| TENS
in September. 1895. In Hyde Park, or
South Main avenue. is one of these A!
in all our work. so here we have select
ed rooms in such locality that we car
| be in the midst of the class which W,
| wish to reach and benefit. Miss Mimi,
l.. COwan, of Alliance, Ohio, a gradual,
of the Scranton Training school class
| of '95, Is principal of this kindergarten
She is assisted by Miss Annie Rose. ais,
a graduate of the same school and class
The kindergarten has over sixty chill
dren enrolled, and has an average at
tendance of As. Another Dais!
Memorial kindergarten is situat
ed at Archibald. Here every day ar
gathered together more than sixty chill
dren, all bright and eager and interest
ing. Mrs. Fowler, of Carbondale. Il
principal of this kindergarten assiste,
by Miss Lizzie Hitchcock, Of Greel
Ridge. The little folk Of Archbal,
thoroughly enjoy this great privilege
and our present accommodations In tn
German church have proved too small
by far. So Mrs. Hackley is going t
provide building purposely designe,
for kindergarten and in the fall o
the present year we hope to have room
for at least one hundred children. TIL
third kindergarten supported by Mrs
Hackley Is the one at Green Ridge, for
This Is another kindergarten with ac
commodations for fifty children. Mis-
Bessie Rice, Of Green Ridge. is the prin
cipal and istdoing most faithful wor
among both children and parents. AZ
ter these three kindergartens wer
opened Mrs. Hackley's attention wa
called to part of Archibald called tn
Ridge" where there is little settle
ment with population of about fiv
hundred, nearly all foreigners. Her
she opened one Of her most encouragin
kindergartens, In January Of the pres
ent year. Surrounded by little circl
Of thirty or forty children very few G
whom can speak or understand Eng
lish. The teachers. Miss May and Mis-
Edith Hull, every moaning open {
these little neglected specimens G
childhood some Of the mysteries of tn
great and wonderful world about then
Very slowly does this work have to b
done, but none the less gratifying ar
the results.
There Is no need. we know, for U
to try to express to Mrs. Hackley ou
appreciation of what she has done. Sh
has only to look into the faces Of thes
children In her various Kindergarten,
whom she is bringing into q new worlt
and In whom she Is awakening new Iii
and courage. to see her reward. N
words of ours could equal the eloQuenc
Of those happy faces.