The New York herald., 1921-05-29
CHILDREN'S CLUB
TO COST $1,50O,OOO
Plans Announced for Gift
to City's Youth of Mr.. and
Mrs, August Heckscher.
GROUND is BROKEN
Cornerstone Will Be Laid in
Autumn at Fifth Avenue
and 10th Street.
SIX STORIES IN HEIGHT
Will Also House Offices of So
ciety for Prevention of
Cruelty to Children.
GROUND is BROKEN
SIX STORIES IN HEIGHT

Club life for children is the latest
development in the programme of well
fare work. Parents of means viii be
able to boast OF no more attractive,
costly and completely equipped recrea-
ton and pleasure centre than that
which is soon to be erected in Fifth
avenue from 1o4th to 105th street.
The architects plans for this gift of
Mr. and Mrs. August 'Heckscher were
shown yesterday in the offices Of
julius FRANKIE of the firm of Maynicke
K FRANKIE, at % Madison Square North.
The building, which is to cost about
$500, 900, will be the home of the New
York Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children and the August
Heckscher Foundation, the latter re-
Gently organized to provide protection
and shelter TO boys and girls who run
away from home and who otherwise
get into trouble and are placed in the
hands Of the authorities.
Enchanting as Dream Palace.
No dream palace could be more en-
chanting than this huge home for waits
and incorrigibles. 1t VIII be like visit
ing fairyland to the youngsters who
are brought there to await the courts
decision as to their future. And the
Idea has seemed so novel, 1t holds such
promise for the raising OF the morale
OF the hitherto troublesome and un-
manageable youngsters, that it has been
decided to open the big gym and the
swimming pool and the theatre and
many of the other attractions of the
clubhouse to other boys and girls. In
fact. Mr. and Mrs. Heckscher and the
directors of the organization hope to
see the Fifth avenue building become
a favorite gathering place Of the young,
and they look forward to the adoption
of the idea by other cities.
The ground has already been broken
for the foundation. which viii be An-
ished and the walls partially up be-
fore the corner stone is laid. So many
OF the members Of the society go away
for the summer that 1t has been decided
to postpone the laying of the corner
stone until autumn. Meanwhile the
building will progress as rapidly as pos
sible
The children's club, which has al
ready been named the "Home for Hap
piness." wnl be six stories and Colonial
In architectural style. II win cover an
entire block on the Fifth avenue side
and viii have nm entrance TO the So
ciety's offices and rooms on the uptown
side. while the children will enter on
the downtown side.
Every floor viii be replete with joys
specially arranged for the young folk
or devoted 10 their health care. in the
basement will be examination rooms
where mental and physical experts will
preside Clinics for dental optical and
aural work viii be established here. On
the first floor will be the offices OF the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children. They will occupy the left
wing, where on this floor will also be a
reception room. fireproof vaults for stor-
ing the societys records and a special
department fitted with a kitchen where
children that are picked UP in the city
and brought 70 the society viii be
housed and fed while awaiting the ar
rival Of their parents
Fully Equipped Thentre.
The theatre. New York's first really
big pleasure house Of he kind will be
on this floor. The theatre will be COM
pletely equipped with dressing rooms.
rENNfTN anu HI Tile necessary li&uHlQH
aids. and II Is expected that not only
will the children themselves give little
plays but that companies viii occa-
sionally present special performances for
their benefit The theatre will seat 500.
On this same floor win be lecture room,
IN exhibition room and various club
rooms for the Heckscier Foundation ac-
tivities
Playrooms for boys and girls, eight
claEsrooms and rooms for manual train
Ing, domestic sciences and other classes
will also be on this floor
Life IL not 10 be all play for the girls
and boys who enjoy the privileges OF
the new club. In order to keep them
from being bored with too much enter
tainment or wcaried from too much
work. nicely balanced programme can
be arranged with the Fouudation's
equipment. For Instance lu the kim
dergarten on the third floor lessons viii
be given by the best teachers. Adfoin-
Ing this study room Is big playroom.
Here also is the running brook. which
j. q sort of introduction 10 and purifier
for the swimming pool The running
brook Is pool of wadlng depth and IA
between tho chidron's locker rooms
and the big swimming pool As they
enter the pool from their showers they
wade through the brook
Play Park on Roof.
Then there IS another big outdoor
wading pool on the roof Of the theatre.
where there are numerous other rqs-
cinating features FOR the diversion and
recreation OF boys and girls. ITO play
park, rs Il IS called Il TO be fitted
up with teeter boards. swings, chutes
and ever 30 many other amusement
features, and the roof park will DO
screened from view by a row Of palms.
Dormitorles Tor babies wiz be pro-
vided on this floor, Very young chill
dren suffering from neglect VIII he
housed here until their home cordi-
tions can be improved or some arrange
ment can he made to give them a fairer
start In life.
ono may slide right into tho GYM
rasiuni from the locker rooms on tho
fifth floor. chute Is to be installed
for tho sake OF speed and ease. The
dressing rooms are on the sixth floor
by system or doors Il can be 30 ar.
ranged that tho children can get thsii
"tote bags IA which 20 placS thell
wearing apparel change Into their gym
or swimming suits. take a shower ant
enter the gym or tho pool without corn
Ing In contact with the representative
OF the Society for tho Prevention q
Cruelty to Children or ~ the Founda
tion.
The pool and the gym may be use
by outside children, but no one VIII ,
permitted 10 enter either without firs