The burning heat of summer arrived early in 1890 Indianapolis. By the end of June, the heat wave had taken the lives of 37 people, including 22 children under the age of two years. To ease the suffocating heat impacting the health of children, especially those from poor neighborhoods, Rev. Oscar C. McCulloch, pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, 623 N. Pennsylvania St., circulated a letter among medical professionals inviting them to meet on July 2, 1890, with the Charity Organizations Society to develop a plan to meet the crisis. It was resolved to institute the “Summer Mission to Sick Children,” but where?
The Citizens’ Street Railroad Co. owned Fairview Park (present site of Butler University) and donated six acres at the south end of the grounds for the summer mission program. The street railroad also provided free transportation from all parts of the city to the women and children going to the summer camp. Three large and three small tents were set up for a hospital, a kitchen, and “for the comfort and convenience of those attending the Mission.” From mid-July through August, 187 children and 99 mothers enjoyed the refreshing clean air and sunshine at Fairview. Those attending were referred by their family physician and in addition to two nurses and a cook, 125 lady visitors “ministered with gentle hands” to the needs of those attending the Summer Mission. The daily contact with trained professionals enabled the mothers to acquire “better methods for caring for their babies and themselves.” The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis Journal, and Indianapolis Sentinel solicited funds to support the Mission and donations of provisions, clothing, ice, medicine, furniture, toys, swings, and hammocks made this first Summer Mission to Sick Children a success.
Each subsequent year, from June through August, more mothers and their children were provided with an opportunity to escape the summer heat, dust, and unhealthy air of the city, if only for a day of rest under the cooling trees. In the fifth season, McCulloch Cottage, a permanent hospital building, was erected and additional rustic structures were built over time, enabling the camp to accommodate more people per day. Newspapers frequently published a list of individuals, businesses, and organizations donating money or items for carrying the work of the summer mission.
The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star were at the forefront in encouraging and reporting on fundraising projects. The North Side Merry Workers and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Railway Postal Clerks were among the groups hosting lawn “fetes” with ice cream and cake, lemonade and cigars, and concerts given by The News’ Newsboys Band that provided venues for raising donations the Fresh Air Funds. Other events, from street fairs to children selling lemonade not only in Indianapolis, but in surrounding cities and towns helped to fill the Fund.
In addition to supporting the Summer Mission to Sick Children at Fairview Park, The Indianapolis News Fresh Air Fund contributed to a ten-day retreat at The Vacation Camp for Mothers and Children at “The Bellefontaine” cottage at Bethany Park, a Disciples of Christ meeting ground in Morgan County. The News also supported a week-long Fresh Air Camp for boys at Winona Lake in northern Indiana. In 1906, Cory’s Woods, a little west of Oaklandon, in northeastern Marion County, became the site of The News Fresh Air Farm. Easily accessible to Indianapolis by road along Pendleton Pike; by rail along the “Big Four” (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway – C.C.C. & St. L Ry); or by interurban along the Indiana Union Traction Co Indianapolis to Muncie line, the Fresh Air Farm sprawled across a woodland, the western edge beneath the shade of maples and beeches, along the winding banks of Indian Creek whose clear shallow waters provided children with delightful times of wading and splashing about. A meadow of wildflowers let the boys and girls gather bouquets to bring back to their mothers and elderly campers. Cottages and tents were put up and made ready to receive children and their mothers who would benefit from a few days in the country away from the city heat and smoke.
Cheeryvale was the name selected for the farm. Children had been asked to submit names and nine-year old Marie Conner submitted Cheeryvale because the name suggested a cheery place with children having cheery times. The success of the farm was dependent on the generosity of a charitable public and each year creative activities joined with the more traditional lawn fetes and lemonade stands in raising much needed funds. One of events that many happily looked forward to seeing annually was the Pioneer and Veteran baseball game in Irvington. Played on a Saturday afternoon in August on Irwin Field at Butler College, the “antiquarian teams” were composed of prominent Irvington men over the age of forty-five. Having seen a real ball game within the past year was deemed “professionalism” and a bar to a player’s eligibility. Humorist Kin Hubbard illustrated the scorecard, its whimsical ads providing revenue along with game ticket sales and the sale of peanuts and crackerjacks. Over the years, the Pioneer and Veteran baseball game raised hundreds of dollars for the fresh air fund. In 1910, the game donated $450 (2025: $15,817) and a new cottage at Cheeryvale was named “The Irvington.”
In 1917 with America’s entry into World War I, Cheeryvale merged with the Summer Mission for Sick Children. Six years later Fairview Park was being prepared for the future site of Butler University and Fairview Settlement, a summer camp for sick children under the auspices of the Family Welfare Society, opened south of the park.
