The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-30
Paper on the Lighthouse Restaurant
Of Philadelphia.

u large anu growing IHllSIldH lelupei :
ance social settlement, to which it gives
its name.
This unique enterprise is of interest
to the Women's Christian Temperance
Union workers, as well as to Christian
philanthropic people, who have at heart
the abolition of the drink evil and the
best means of combating its malignant
influences. 1t is a place which every
white ribboner will desire to visit when
in Philadelphia. Located in the densely
populated northeast section of the city,
it is easily reached by trolley on JEFF
ferson and Master streets, few blocks
south of the Baptist Temple, where the
w. c. T. L. convention was held. The
Lighthouse occupies several buildings
on Lehigh avenue, near Second street.
This plan was inaugurated some years
ago by Miss Esther Warner Kelly, the
Sabbath school teacher in the mission
attached to the Episcopal Hospital on
Lehigh avenue. Miss Kelly was impress
ed with the urgent need of establishing
in the Kensington mill district some
effective means for diverting the swarms
of hot and thirsty factory workers
from the pernicious influence of the sa-
loon; and for coming in closer social
touch with the mill-people for the pur
pose Of social uplift.
Through the generosity of Christian
philanthropists, chief among whom was
DR.. Howard Kelly of Baltimore, the
large building at Lehigh avenue and
Waterloo street was purchased and the
Lighthouse restaurant began it's benef-
cent existence The excellent and low
priced bill of fare and the cleanliness
and cheerfulness of the place, soon
made it a popular resort of the workers.
The institution was successful from the
start. Always self-supporting, it now
brings an annual income of $500 toward
the expense of carrying on the general
work, which has developed into a val
liable form of social settlement work on
a Christian basis.
The growth of the restaurant is sig
nifcent. At first only coffee, milk and
rolls, eggs, soup and soft drinks were
served, and to men only. Later, ten
cent dinner of meat, potatoes, coffee,
bread and butter was tried. On these
lines, however. expenses exceeded re.
ceipts, and in. January, 1898, after a
three years experiment, fully appoint
ed restaurant was undertaken, with a
fifteen cent dinner as its chief feature.
Additional space was secured, and the
many mill women who had come to the
kitchen window with their kettles, for
hot dinner were given accommodation
in a separate neat dining room
During the first year the receipts ad
vanced from $2,SO3.64 to $6,26S.Sl; the
second year the total receipts were$ TO-,
272.S7. Out of this last sum, the res
taurant, besides meeting the expenses of
the restaurant proper, including gas,
coal, and ice, paid for furnishings,
$3S392; for wages, $l,55650; for rent
for the social rooms 1910; and at the
end of the year handed over $5l5.70 to-
ward the expense involved in running
the social settlement No salaries how
ever, are paid for the management. the
work being entirely labor of love.
The best time, perhaps, to visit the
Lighthouse is at the noon hour. The
scene is an impressive one. The whis
ties of the big mills blow promptly, the
rumble of machinery dies at once, and
in another moment the crowds pour into
the streets on the run for dinner. Only
a half hour is allowed in most of the
mills, then all must be at work again.
Many 90 to the saloons for free lunch
with beer, but every day about $50 men
and women-and of late boys and girls
sit down to a hearty dinner at the
Lighthouse. 1t is easy to apprehend that
the Lighthouse has become an active
competitor against the drinking places,
the policy shops, and the theatres in
the neighborhood, and those places where
human character and destiny are the
prize. The extent of its influence is
realized when it is known that within
an area of less than five blocks square
surrounding the LighthOuse-an area
not exceptionally crowded with such
places-there are thirty three saloons,
four bottling establishments, and nu-
merous speak easies" and policy shops
Huge mill buildings, many occupied by
several firms, are scattered thickly
through the district and thousands of
small two story dwellings, containing
six to eight rooms each, house the null
titude of workers. Out of the weekly
wages of the community, it is stated,
$35 900 must be paid to the saloonkeep
ers each year to enable them to pay
their license fees alone, so that it is
large amount of money is
diverted from its legitimate channels.
Worst of all the wagons of the bot
tiers are busy daily serving strong drink
i'll the homes through every street. And
all the saloons have their side doors for
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