The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-23
UNION FRESH AIR CAMP
Joint Missions Successful
Summer Charity at
Westfeld.
TO EXTEND THE PROJECT
Essex Christian Endeavor
Union Actively Co
operating.
TO EXTEND THE PROJECT

Union AcClveIy 20
operating.
One Of the most successful of the sum-
mer charities through which the better
favored Of fortun share their benefits
with the less fortunate is the camp of
the Union Fresh Air Mission, at West
field. 1t is located in a beautiful grove OF
about FIVE acres in extent, on Westfield
avenue, a mile from the village. The
surroundings make it peculiarly fitted for
summer camping. and here during the
hot months the mission entertains an av-
erage of $50 women and children, giving
each a ten-day holiday, where they can
enjoy themselves in the woods and fields
eddy be the first work taken UP by the
restraint or restriction.
The work being done at Westfield has
attracted the attention of the officials of
the Essex County Union of Christian En-
deavor societies. and there is talk of es-
tablishing a similar amp in this county
Miss Kate Hamilton. superintendent of
mission work of the G.. e, and Rev. Dr.
]. Clement French. of Park Presbyterian
Church, have been considering the matter
for some time, and DR.. French said re-
Gently to a reporter for the Newark
ssEvening News" that it would undoubt-
eddy be the first work taken up by the
society in the fail.
ssThe plans are not in any way COM
plete.e said he, but 1 have presented
the subject in a number Of churches, and
| know that the work IS bound to meet
with approval, n by next summer We
will be able TO take care of our W peo-
pie in our own county. There are plenty
of beautiful spots about here now going
TO waste. ana to establish a camp would
draw attention to a locality. which would
increase real estate values, besides do
ing for the poor and sickly that which it
is plainly our duty to do.
miss Hamilton spoke Of a site near
Caldwell. but no location has been de-
cided upon. The Westield plan. how
ever, is the one we will probably adopt.
The origin of the Westfeld fresh air
camp is credited to George E. Wooife,
who is connected with the Board of Edu-
cation of the borough Of Manhattan, who
has also spent many years in mission
work on the East Sid of New York City.
In the course of his mission work Mr.
Wolfe noted that there was no provision
made by any of the fresh air charities
for mothers and their younger or sickly
children, where they could be together,
and the children be under material care
He saw also that in many instances It
was impossible to assist the needy and
deserving because the mothers and chill
dren could not be separated.
IN 1894 Mr.. Woolfe purchased a wood
lot on the outskirts of Westield, and the
idea came to him that this piece Of wood
land could be utilized to give women and
small children an outing. The matter
was laid before the Rev. 3. L. Fox, who
has charge of the East Eleventh Street
Mission. and David NJ. TORY, a New York
banker. They were impressed with the
idea. and decided to try an experiment.
In the spring of 1895 the lot at Westheld
was cleared of underbrush, and as there
was no building on it, a large tent was
nut 10 for shelter, and on July l a party
nf fortv-two mothers and children were
installed in the tent under the charge
of Miss Sarah Curry as natron. Miss
Curry had previously been in charge of
a dav nursery in New York City, and
was peculiarly adapted to the work in
hand.
The first ten days demonstrated beyond
4 doubt that a large amount OF good
could be accomplished by such a charity.
II was rather rough. but the women and
children took to it, and were greatly bene-
flied in health. Several other people were
interested in the matter. donations we're
solicited. and the camp was kept open ten
weeks.
In March of 1896 delegates from most Of
the Epworth leagues and Christian En-
deayor societies of Union county met with
the founders of the camp and the Union
Fresh Air Mission was organized. The
work Of the camp was divide into de-
partments, and each department placed
in the hands of a committee. In place of
the tent. a rough but substantial frame
building was erected, with a capacity Of
accommodating 100 people; a kitchen was
built. and the grounds were put in good
sanitary condition. All of these imprtsve-
n1ents we're paid for by voluntary con-
tributions.
Last wear a large auditorium was added
which took the place of the old tent. as a
dining room. and a place for holding re-
hgious services. When the camp was
onened his year, July l, tents were done
sway with altogether and there Is neW
on the grounds besides the auditorium, 4
kitchen for cooking and baking, a dornli-
tory building with sleeping acconamoda-
lions for one hundred. a day nursery
building where the babies are taken care
Of and a laundry and dormitory combined
where the washing is done and Where
there is room for about seventy-five 70
sleep. The latter is a new building this
year.
Everything about the place IS rough,
as might be expected about a camp in the
woods. but it is clean and comfortable
The children have plenty Of room n which
to play, and there are swings ana other
arrangements for their amusement. On
rainy days they play in the auditorium.
Those who receive the benefits Of the
camp are deserving and needy mothers
with children less than six years old, So
lected In the crowded on the
East side Of New York BY Rev. =. L. Fox.