Summer Mission at Fairview Park

Description:	This postcard shows the Summer Mission (also called Fresh Air Mission) at Fairview Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1890 by Reverend Oscar C. McCulloch, the Fresh Air Mission ran a summer camp for sick children from Indianapolis and it also offered services for nursing mothers. The charity provided food, housing, medical care, and health and nutrition information to the participants. This mission was part of a national movement at the time, which believed that providing fresh air and natural, open spaces would be beneficial to inner city children. Summer Mission was situated on six acres of land at the southern end of Fairview Park. J. C. Shaffer of the Citizens Street Railroad Company, which owned the park, provided the land as well as free transportation for children who were selected by doctors and nurses to visit the mission. The Fresh Air Fund raised money to support the charity and local newspapers often advertised the missions work. Additionally, concerts and dances were held in Fairview Park to raise further funds. When the Summer Mission started in 1890, it was chiefly a collection of tents, but as funds increased, cottages and other permanent structures were constructed, such as those shown in this picture.
Publisher:	M. L. Photo
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/363
Collection:	Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Copyright:	No Copyright - United States
Geography:	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 39.835129, -86.176765 39.835129 -86.176717
Subjects:	Postcards Fresh-air charity Child welfare Children Baby carriages Tents Hammocks Parks Amusement parks Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History Fairview Park Fresh Air Mission Summer Mission Fresh Air Fund

Further information on this record can be found at its source.