Advancing the Kingdom

40 / 150

laws.
There are two brick buildings – one is the
administration building, originally a duplex
residence with basement and three stories
above. We do not know when it was built as
no building permit was to be found in the
city records. However, a plat of that section
of the city made in 1882 shows this building
on the corner.
It contains the apartment (eight rooms)
for the resident members of the staff, the
clinic and day nursery, club rooms for girls,
the assembly room (the church service
is held in this room also) the library and
office. It was purchased by the Church
Extension Society in 1931 for $12,000.
Additions, repairs and furnishings added
about $13,000.00 to the purchase price. The
floors have just been refinished throughout.
Considerable interior decorating was done
last year. Three of the window frames will
have to be replaced in the near future. The
budget askings for 1944 will include an item
for $540.00 with which to paint the exterior
wood-work of both buildings, fire escapes
and fence.
Some roof repairs were made last year.
Much of the plumbing and wiring were
replaced when the building was remodeled
for a settlement program. There are
occasional plumbing troubles. The furnace
and stoker are new. The one heating plant
takes care of both buildings. The fire escape
is inspected annually by the city.
The other building is for boys’ activities.
The building permit was granted in 1884.
It was a three story and basement dwelling
– all of which has been made usable for
the boys. This building was put in good
condition at the time it was purchased. –
1940.
Last summer it was redecorated
throughout, new floor coverings laid and
additional plumbing and shower facilities
installed. The general condition of both
buildings is good but one never knows what
to expect from old age. A hard surface was
put on the playground last summer.
The original purchase price of the boys’
building was $2500.00. Repairs at the time
of purchase included the installation of the
new furnace and stoker and re-building the
chimney, etc. in the administration building
for the heating plant to do double duty.
This work cost about $9,500.00. The total
investment in the property is approximately
$37,000.00.
Kingdom House needs a large assembly
room more than anything else. A gymnasium
that could be used also as a game room and
for large community gatherings would be
ideal. The rooms in the buildings are far
from being what one would like. They are
generally too small, have high ceilings and
are not so easy to ventilate. But the general
atmosphere is home-like and inviting.
The board has tried to gratify the wishes
of the staff in the matter of furnishings,
-giving the head resident much freedom in
choice.
The total budget for the year is $18,
456.70. The [word not clear] [in?] come
is as follows; [sic] From the institution,
$1193.00; Income from endowment,
[$]3400.00; Contributions from religious
groups, $2,000.00 [;] United Charities,
$11,719.70; Community Music Schools
Foundation, $144.00. A found [sic] for
sending children to camp is raised annually.
This is not in the budget. The amount raised
the past two years has been more than
$2,000.00 each year. Donations for Xmas,
Thanksgiving and other special purposes
add considerably to the total for the year.25
Kingdom House possessed a
powerful physical presence in the
neighborhood. It was, as Star-Times
reporter Marie Bliss called it, “An Oasis
In a Hostile Environment”:
…Operated under the sponsorship of the
Women’s Society of Christian Service of the
merged Methodist Church, comprising some
43 units in St. Louis, and deriving about 60
per cent of its support from the Community
Chest, it has become an oasis of stability
and a workshop of character building in
an area where the pressures of economic
need and hostile environment are almost
overwhelming.
Indeed, if there is an institution in St.
Louis which seeks to be ‘all things to all
men,’ women and children, it is Kingdom
House.
Many Departments.
Departments are the Day Nursery,
Young People’s Work, Camps, Finances,
House Furnishings, Library, Music,
Publicity, Service, Supplies and Donations
and Volunteers. The superintendent of
these branches is appointed from a board
composed of one representative for every
25 members of the women’s societies. This
board elects its own officers, the president
being Mrs. W.N. Sellman of St. John’s
Methodist Church.
Volunteers are an indispensable part of
the working force, and are drawn from the
churches and from other sources, among
them Washington University.
A tour with the head resident gave a
good overall indication of the services and
activities provided. The board room and
the simple, but cheerful office where Miss
Louise Stone, secretary, greets callers on
the first floor, together with two rooms of
cultural interest: one a reading room where
periodicals and current literature are to
be made available (subscriptions will be
welcomed); the other a music room with two
pianos, where Miss Eleanor Kuehn gives
lessons twice a week under the sponsorship
of the Community Music Schools.
An Appealing Nursery.
One of the most appealing departments is
the nursery on the first floor, where some 30
kiddies slept peacefully on cots at the time
of our visit. Miss Una Smith, director, was
keeping a watchful eye upon them, with the
aid of an assistant and a volunteer worker.
37
Chapter Two: ‘Forgetting One’s Self in Service to Humanity’ (1928 – 1955)
Kingdom House
possessed a powerful
physical presence in
the neighborhood.
It was, as Star-Times
reporter M arie Bliss
called it,
“An Oasis In a
Hostile Environment”