Houchen Settlement House facts for kids
The Houchen Settlement House was a special place founded in 1912. It was located in El Segundo Barrio in El Paso, Texas. It was part of a bigger idea called the settlement movement. This movement started in the 1880s and was very popular around the 1920s. It aimed to help people from different backgrounds connect.
The main goal was to create "settlement houses" in poor city areas. Here, volunteers from middle-class families would live. They hoped to share knowledge and culture with their neighbors. They also wanted to help reduce poverty. These houses offered services like daycare, education, and healthcare. They worked to make life better for people in need.
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Why Settlement Houses?
Between 1890 and 1910, over 12 million people moved to the United States. They came from countries like Ireland, Russia, and Italy. Many found jobs in factories, which were growing after the American Civil War.
However, many immigrants lived in crowded, unhealthy homes. They often worked long hours for little pay. Children sometimes had to work to help their families. A writer named Jacob Riis wrote a book called How the Other Half Lives. It showed people the tough lives of immigrants in New York City. This book helped raise awareness about their living conditions.
Many famous settlement houses opened in the United States. Chicago's Hull House was started by Jane Addams in 1889. Others included Denison House in Boston (1892) and Henry Street Settlement (1893). The University Settlement House (1886) was the oldest. These houses helped inspire "settlement schools" in rural areas. Examples are the Hindman Settlement School (1902) and the Pine Mountain Settlement School (1913) in Appalachia.
By 1913, there were 413 settlement houses across 32 states. By the 1920s, this number grew to nearly 500. Later, Dorothy Day continued this idea with her "hospitality houses" in the 1930s.
American settlement houses followed a plan called "scientific philanthropy." This meant they didn't just give money. Instead, they gave people tools and resources. The goal was to help families break free from poverty. Workers feared that a strict social class system, like in Europe, would grow in the U.S.
Starting the Houchen House
The Houchen Settlement House opened in 1912. It was in Segundo Barrio in El Paso, Texas. El Paso was chosen because it was right on the border with Mexico. Many Mexican immigrants were moving there.
The Houchen staff faced big challenges every day. These included poverty, limited education, and high infant deaths. The Mexican Revolution also caused many people to seek safety in El Paso. El Paso became known as the "Ellis Island" for Mexican immigrants. The Mexican American population in Segundo Barrio grew very fast. In 1900, there were about 8,748 Mexican residents. By 1930, this number jumped to 68,476.
Methodist missionaries started the Houchen Settlement. They wanted to improve the lives of people in Segundo Barrio. They tried to earn trust by offering public healthcare. They also worked to fight poverty and opened a day school for children.
Houchen had two main goals at first. One was to provide a safe place for single Mexican women who worked. The second was to open a kindergarten for local children. The staff aimed to help Mexican American immigrants fit into American society. They believed in the "melting pot" idea. This meant different cultures would blend together.
One missionary, Dorothy Little, said Houchen was a "sentinel of friendship" between America and Mexico. She believed they could share the best of both cultures. Some people thought Houchen tried to convert Mexican women and children to Methodism. Missionaries often taught Christian Americanization. This was aimed at young people and women who used Houchen's services.
Early on, Anglo missionaries faced challenges. They wanted to attract Mexican Americans to their programs. But some community members were hesitant. This was not because of the services offered. It was because of Houchen's link to Protestantism. Even with great medical care and activities, some mothers didn't want their children to attend. They feared the connection to Protestantism.
However, Houchen eventually became a trusted community center. Many Mexican American women who attended as children later worked there. Some became nurses or teachers. These women helped make Houchen a more trusted place for the community.
Learning at Houchen
The Houchen Settlement House offered many learning chances for children. They could learn to read, write, and speak English well. Houchen even had a bilingual kindergarten class. This helped students smoothly switch from Spanish to English. After kindergarten, first grade was taught only in English.
The kindergarten classroom felt welcoming. It was decorated with Mexico's national colors: red, white, and green. It also had the American flag. This class also helped working parents by providing childcare. Houchen staff respected the Spanish language. Many became fluent Spanish speakers themselves.
Missionaries worked hard to show they were providing services, not just charity. Students and adults paid a small fee for classes. This fee helped support the programs. It also made people feel invested in their own learning and community.
Houchen wanted to create a healthy community. One way was by opening a gymnasium class for boys and girls aged 8-16. Students learned about good posture and developed muscles. They also talked about the importance of being clean.
Fun themed parties were also held regularly. These gave young men and women a chance to socialize in a safe environment. Missionaries saw these parties as a way to teach American social customs. Many students who attended Houchen's youth programs later returned as adults to work there. For example, Elizabeth Soto attended Houchen programs as a child. She later came back to El Paso as a Houchen resident after college. Missionaries encouraged young people to go to college and pursue higher education.
Important Mexican-American Women
When Houchen first opened in 1912, most of the staff were Anglo missionary women. The first Mexican American woman hired was Ofilia Chavez. She worked as a student helper. Until 1950, Mexican American women had little say in how Houchen was run.
Over time, more Latina women joined the staff. By 1950, seven Mexican American women held important positions. These included Mary Lou López, María Rico, and Elizabeth Soto. These young women had grown up in Methodist programs. They chose to follow in their teachers' footsteps.
These Latina women were seen as Houchen's success stories. They helped bring about important changes to Houchen's rules. Many Segundo Barrio residents finally saw someone from their own background working at the mission. This growing Latina staff helped Houchen become more of a social service center. It moved away from being just a religious mission.
Because they were young Mexican American women, they could connect with the community. They bonded with students in a way that Anglo staff could not. For example, Catholic priests were allowed to perform baptisms at the House if parents asked. This policy would have been unheard of before. Activities at Houchen also became more connected to the Mexican American community. In the 1950s, two LULAC chapters were started through Houchen. One was for adults and one for teenagers. Even gender-based classes, like carpentry, became available to young women.
