Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
SETTLEMENT IN
WEST END OF CITY
DOES GREAT WORK
Helps People of District by
Teaching Them to Help
Thems elves.

/ Doing work that is helpful to hun
/ dreds and practical to the last De
gree, the West End Settlement is one
/ of Rock Islands younger philanthrop-
ic institutions. Formerly there was
little organized effort to elevate moral
| standards, increase Industrial effici-
ency and teach Christianity among
the people living in the western part
of the city-a district which needed
these things more, perhaps, than any
other section. One of the first to face
the situation with a practical plan
was Mrs. w. B. Barker, who began
/ by holding prayer meetings in the
/ homes and finally organizing a Sun
day school, which met in a building
at the corner of Seventh street and
Seventh avenue, rented for the pur-
pose.
Meeting with success, Mrs. Barker
interested people of means and SEA
cured larger building just across
! the street, where the real settle
ment work was taken up, girls and
mothers sewing circles being organ
lied. Through the active assistance
of Mrs. ]. H. Hauberg, formerly Miss
Sue Denkman, it became possible to
erect home for the growing institu-
ton and a site was secured at the
corner of Fifth street and Seventh
avenue. AS soon as the basement
was completed it was occupied and
the work continued there. The other
b fu-n CT I'll,
1909. In the three wars that have
elapsed since the work has grown so
that the present quarters are cramped.
ARRANGEMENT OF BUILDING.
On the top floor of the building is
the domestic science room fitted with
working room, g.ass top tables, cook
ing utensils, gas burners, etc, for a
class of IA. Off this room is small
dining room where the pupils are
taught TO set a table properly and at
tractively, and to serve a meal COR
rectly. There are a well filled fruit
closet. a china cupboard and a num-
Der of supply rooms and lockers for
work. On the second floor are the
living apartments of the Sett. ement
workers, assembly room with seating
capacity of 300, clothes rooms and two
class rooms. On the first floor are
, the gymnasium, the kindergarten
room, the baths, toilets and furnace
rooms.
I About the building is an ample
yard supplied with swings, sand boxes,
slides, etc. 1t is used as play
/, ground for the children and good use
: is made of it.
All classes of people are admitted
to membership. giving the full enjoy
ment of the privileges. Attendance
upon Sunday school, Wednesday
night prayer meetings, or gospel SER
vices on Sunday evenings for three
+ successive meetings is all that is re-
quired to qualify one to join, and no
l fees are charged except in special
classes.
Much Of the work done is by volun-
teers who receive no compensation.
There are, of course, some paid
workers. Miss Grace Hanawalt of
Chicago is domestic science teacher
Miss Adeline Erickson, kindergarten
teacher, and Will Robb, physical di-
rector. Miss Bella Carpenter teaches
without pay, classes in typewriting
and stenography. Others have donated
their services at various times. All
are under the direction of Mrs. Bar
ker, who manages the institunun.
Students from Augustana college and
others volunteer to lead religious ser
vices and w. B. Barker is superin
tendent of the Sunday school. The
Sunday school has an enrolment OF
about $50, with an average attend.
ance of two-thirds of that number.
HELPS MORAL TONE.
The Settlement does not provide
boarding or lodging, nor does it aim
to dispense charity outright. Its up
lifting influence is exerted through re-
ligious instruction, the inculcation OF
habits of industry and cleanliness, and
the general improvement of the moral
tone of the community. This is done
II in various ways. There are girls and
Il women's sewing classes which meet
weekly, and cooking classes for girls
k and boys. Materials are furnished by
, the Settlement, and the finished prod
s. ucts in most cases go to the makers
If A merely nominal fee is charged
e Physical culture classes for boys. girls
8 and women are conducted several
l. nights weekly in the winter season
Once a month musical program, with
II the numbers by members, is given, and
d the attendance always is large. Holt
e days are observed with appropriate
It exercises. There is q boys drum corps
nf ~
Is J. H Hauberg. which has regular meet.
ings and every summer enjoys an out.