Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-04

Columbus, Ohio, is the cradle of the
first kindergarten school in the new
world, as well as the place where the
first training school for kindergarten
teachers in Ohio was established. Bos-
ton has for many years attempted to
claim the distinction Of being the first
place in America where Froebers
methods for child-training were tried,
but Boston must yield that honor to
the Western city in the light of GER
tain facts which have recently been
discovered.
The little house where this first kin
dergarten was established still stands
in Columbus. 1t is a humble one-story
frame cottage on the south side of
Rich street, near the center of the
business portion of the city. 1t be-
longed originally to DR.. Smith, whose
memory is preserved to posterity in
bronze statue at the corner of the State
House Square. To-day the building is
occupied by a locksmith whose shop
Is in the front room, and by number
of humble tenants. There is nothing
left to show that it was once the cradle
of the kindergarten movement in the
United States.
In 1858 Miss Caroline Louisa Fran
kenberg, a native of Hanover, who had
been associated with Froebel in his
work at Kielhaw, set up in the histor-
ic house referred to the first school in
the nature of a child garden" ever es-
tablished in the United States. Miss
Frankenberg as early as 1886 had Wis
tied the United States, but in 1910 re-
turned discouraged to her own country.
She remained in the fatherland until
1858. Six years of that time she taught
under Froebel's direction at Kielhaw.
and later, for eleven years, at Dresden
and Bautzen. Froebel had pointed to
the United States as the best country
In which to prosecute his methods on
account of the spirit of freedom, true
Christianity and pure family life, and
Miss Frankenberg finally came to Co
lumbus to carry out his teachings.
Few Pupils Were Obtained.
The files of the Westoote. a German
newspaper of the city, as well as those
of the Ohio State Journal, reveal her
modest advertisement. Owing &c the
fact that the new cult and its teacher
were of German origin and that Ger
man was the language of the school. It
was with the greatest difficulty that
Miss Frankenberg gathered a few pu
pills into her modest rooms. To the
parents the making of paper birds.
boats, caps, modelling in clay, marching
and singing were simply child play. a
capital way to amuse children and
keep them out of mischief 1t was call
ed the play school" Children on their
way to the public or private schools OF
the city never failed 10 peep in at the
window of the play school, and 10
marvel at the children who learned
without books. OF the underlying prin-
ciple OF the kindergarten German citi-
zens. no less than American, had little
! conception
Old citizens OF Columbus recall Miss
Frznkenberg as an accomplished WON
an OF force and determination. In man
ner she was much OF an aristocrat and
| invariably wore q lace cap tied under
/ the chin. while her shapely hands were
always covered with black lace mitts.
To exc out 4 livelihood even in those
frugal times she was forced 10 do lace
/ work and other similar handiwork. IN
which she was skilled. IN her slxtieth
! year she was disabled by fan on The
ice. From Columbus she went &c