By Alison Barnet
The other day as I was researching charities in the New York Streets neighborhood—a South End project I’ll tell you about as the Feb. 25 opening comes closer–I was struck by how institutions of years ago seemed so open, helpful, and low-cost, and I wished we had more of that today. Not to say that today’s charities don’t help the poor, drug addicted, and homeless.
Here are some of the entries in ‘Directory of Charitable and Beneficent Organzations,’ 1899:
South End Dispensary (inc. 1893), 53 Dover St. Free medical and surgical treatment for the poor of any class or place; small charge for medicines. The physician visits patients in their homes at any hour.
Wells Memorial Association (inc. 1879), 987 Washington St. Affords working men and women, 18 or older, of any race or creed, who pay $1 a year, cheerful and comfortable club-rooms with bathrooms, reading-room, library, game-room. Classes of 20 weekly lessons for men in mechanical drawing, electricity, steam engineering, etc.; for women in millinery and dressmaking; for both sexes in elocution, dancing, and deportment. Social gatherings, debates, lectures, entertainments.
Louisa May Alcott Club (1895), 17 Oswego. Open four evenings a week. For girls over 7 years. Classes in cooking, English, reading, writing, English literature, miniature housekeeping, plain sewing, embroidery. Also a drawing class in which boys are admitted.
Reading-Room for Workingmen (1897), 1068 Washington St. Object, to provide a free social home for friendless and destitute men, of any race, creed or residence. Weekly concerts, etc.
South End Day Nursery, 49 Dover St.( inc. 1887). Cares for children under 7 years, of any race or creed (who have been examined by a physician), while their mothers are sick or at work, upon payment of 5 cents a day. Provides food at cost for overnight. Has outdoor playground.
Oh, sure, men were taught technical subjects, while women were confined to sewing, but what else is new? What if we had those charities today? Wouldn’t they make a difference?
And the prices! You could have a doctor come to your house and pay only a few cents. Compare that to insurance premiums today!
Alison Barnet is a longtime South End resident and author of five books, including four volumes on the history of her neighborhood.