The Mitchell Fund - A Tradition of Community Philanthropy
In the early 1900's there were several settlement houses in existence in Hartford. They had been organized in the late 1800's by women who wanted to provide food for the hungry, aid to the sick and classes in all phases of homemaking for new mothers. They also provided limited day care at a cost of pennies a day.
In November of 1907 during the great tuberculosis epidemic, it was noted that Miss Wilkinson of the local Visiting Nurses Association addressed the members of the College Club. As reported in the minutes of the meeting, "she told of desperate conditions on Spruce Street - drunkeness prevails, the women have lost their courage, the children are poorly kept or wholly neglected and without knowing why are sent home from school by the doctors and left to the streets."
In November of 1907 during the great tuberculosis epidemic, it was noted that Miss Wilkinson of the local Visiting Nurses Association addressed the members of the College Club. As reported in the minutes of the meeting, "she told of desperate conditions on Spruce Street - drunkeness prevails, the women have lost their courage, the children are poorly kept or wholly neglected and without knowing why are sent home from school by the doctors and left to the streets."
Under the leadership of president Mary Clark Mitchell, members of the College Club responded to the need by starting a settlement house of their own. Not too long after, four rooms on Spruce Street were rented and members of the Club volunteered to work under the direction of Miss Elizabeth Stoughton, who served as a paid director at a salary of $15 per month. This "College Settlement" as it was known became the main project of the Club for many years. Within just a couple of years, the work load exceeded the Club's ability to provide full support and the decision was made to expand the volunteer ranks through the involvement of non-members. By 1914, the name was changed to the "Spruce Street Settlement Society".
Through the 1920's the need for the types of services offered at the Spruce Street location had diminished and by 1926 the property was converted to a Hartford Post Office substation. New quarters were found at 36 Lawrence Street and this new center was named Mitchell House in honor of our first president. For years the Club continued to support Mitchell House with financial resources and volunteer time. Within just a few decades, the era of the settlement house came to an end, replaced by the development of community centers with similar aims. The College Club ended its official relationship as a community needs continued to evolve and in 1960 what remained of the operations of Mitchell House and other similar entities combined under the name Hartford Neighborhood Centers.
Through the 1920's the need for the types of services offered at the Spruce Street location had diminished and by 1926 the property was converted to a Hartford Post Office substation. New quarters were found at 36 Lawrence Street and this new center was named Mitchell House in honor of our first president. For years the Club continued to support Mitchell House with financial resources and volunteer time. Within just a few decades, the era of the settlement house came to an end, replaced by the development of community centers with similar aims. The College Club ended its official relationship as a community needs continued to evolve and in 1960 what remained of the operations of Mitchell House and other similar entities combined under the name Hartford Neighborhood Centers.