The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-12-12
THE SINCLAIR COLONY
Features CT Its Condition When
It Actually Started.
FINELY HOUSED IN HELICON HALL

FINELY HOUSED IN HEL1C0N HALL
About a Dozen Small Families VIII
Live For First winter Season In
Roof Near Englevvood, n. J.-Specinl
Provision Made For Children-Sepa.
rate Dining and Common Sleeping
Room-socinl Equals as Workers.
With the LIST of November the serv.
antless, cooperative home colony ex.
pertinent initiated by Upton Sinclair
took definite shape, a dozen or fifteen
small families having taken quarters
for the winter In the large and unique
mansion on the western brow Of the
Palisades, near Englewood, N. j.,
known as Helicon Hall.
The original Rlan eontemplates n
group of k%itchenless and servantless
cottages about Il central dining and So
cial hall or inn. For the first winter
season, however, those who have join
ed In the experiment are willing to
compromise to the extent of living In
separate apartments under the same
roof. The house. which was formerly a
high class private school for boys and
which stands or Il ten acre plot, with
woods stretching away for miles on
two sides and a magnificent outlook
wocfu-o nj ny,n. tho x-c11nr ~ fhn YIo11,
ensack, has been purchased by q stock
company in which Mr.. Sinclair has a
controlling interest and Of which he Is
president.
This company has leased the proper
ty to Il membership cooperation COM
prising those who are or may be inter-
ested in the experiment. Thus in the
management of tie affairs Of the COL
ony all members have a voice, whether
they have capital invested in the col
0ny or not.
The experiment is purely one in
household or domestic economy. e.,
to create a comfortable and satisfying
country home within the reach Of
those earning moderate professional in
comes in which the care Of children
from infancy may be delegated to ca
pable and expert persons. with such
cooperation as parents may be dis
posed to give, and the performance Of
the necessary work Of the household
by persons who can be and who expect
to be treated as social equals. While
membership in the colony does not i'm
ply any obligation to take part in the
household routine, the directors give
preference to members who offer their
services, provided they are satisfac-
tory. The colony at this stage numbers
about forty adults, including workers,
and fifteen children.
The house is we'll adapted to CO.
operative homemaking, with its ample
parlors, dining room and assembly
rooms, its billiard parlor, bowling al
ley, swimming tank and large oblong
trees, shrubs, fish pools and winding
pathways. The immense four sided
fireplace at the point where the court
yard is curtained from the front spa
cious hallway forms Il natural common
meeting place for this multiple family.
Professor William Noyes Of the
Teachers college has been chosen pres
ident Of the colony. and his wife, Mrs.
Anna Noyes, has been employed rs the
manager. Mrs. Cora l.. Potter, wife Of
one Of the other directors. has been
engaged to take charge of the chill
dren's department. She will be assist
ed by severa! Of the mothers. \ profess
sional kindergarten will train the chill
dren during part Of the day. a sepa-
rate dining room is provided for the
children. fitted with low chairs and ia
bles and %cupbonrds for the table serv-
ice, the children being invited to help
lii the serving of their own meals.
There is also a common sleeping room
for the children. but parents do not
place their children there unless they
prefer it.
Carrying out the idea of social equals
rs workers, Mrs. Lillian Davis, a Cor
nell graduate and domestic science eX
pert. takes charge of the kitchen. Will
several efficient helpers; two Yale stu
dents are looking after the stable ant
janitor work. while Il Providence man
ufacturer serves as assistant manager
and an e~x-Tennessee lawyer and stu
dent Of human brotherhood helps Mrs
Davis chopping hash and cleaning ket
ties. Mrs. Bertha wilkins. we'll known
In the west as Il socialist writer and re
former. undertakes to organize tn,
laundry work. For the sake Of har
mony both vegetarian and meat meals
are served Mt separate tables. and tn
expense of the entire living is divide,
pro rata, allowing for a moderate III
come on the capital invested.
Dcer Killing In Sullivan County.
Fifty-three deer were killed In Sull
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