Thomas Street Playground, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1901

In the collections of the Worcester Public Library, Worcester, Mass. http://www.worcpublib.org/

J.J. Ryder, Co.

Image from page 286 of the Worcester Magazine, May, 1901 (Vol. 1 No. 5) in the article "Vacation Schools" by Helen A. Ball. Published by the Worcester Board of Trade.

A young girl holds an infant, the youngest member of the vacation school, at the Thomas Street Playground in 1901. During the early 1900s, the playground at the Thomas Street School was one of several sites in Worcester, Massachusetts of vacation schools that were designed to promote organized recreational activities for children during the summer months. Participants ranged in age from 5 months to fourteen years. During their five-week session they worked on small samplers, made paper windmills, and, of course, played on the playground.