Part I
This information was compiled by FELC member Nancy Baden, a long-time CDC
volunteer, through her review of archived FELC newsletters. The history of the CDC is
important for us to have as a reference point as we continue to grow and as we carefully
consider the relationship of the church to the CDC. We are grateful to Nancy B. for this
history and for her volunteer efforts and to all the volunteers who have supported the
CDC in many ways over the years.
Even before there was a child development center on the premises of First English, the
people of First English joined eight other Austin area Lutheran congregations to start
Springdale Day Care Center on the east side of Austin. This center opened at Ebenezer
Baptist Church in September of 1968. The chief objective of this Lutheran coalition was to help families in the low-income bracket. The center reached capacity on the second
day of operation, with twelve children on the wait list. Agnes Lundstedt was the First
English liaison to the Springdale Day Care Center Board of Directors.
By late 1969, while the Springdale Center was an ongoing operation, First English had
joined in the effort to support the creation of a child care center at San Juan Lutheran
Church through provision of material and financial resources. By the middle of 1971,
the two child care centers (Springdale and San Juan) were being supported by fourteen
Lutheran churches in Austin and were serving 80 children, aged 2.5 to 6 years of age.
Tuition was based on each enrolled family’s weekly salary and ranged from 55 cents to
$11.50 per week.
In October of 1971, FELC created a committee to study the feasibility of a child care
center and/or Kindergarten at FELC. This was the second such study. By May of 1972,
the FELC council gave its full support to the child care center proposal. Later in May,
the proposal was placed in front of the members of FELC at a congregational meeting.
The congregation voted unanimously to move forward with the establishment of a child
care center on the premises of FELC.
By June, the first board of directors was named, consisting of nine people, including
Leroy Haverlah. The child development center borrowed $2500 for start-up costs. In
July, by-laws, personnel policies and general operating policies were created and Ms.
Janet Torres was selected as director. The center opened on September 5, 1972 with
21 of 35 available slots filled. A fundraising garage sale soon followed.
Enrollment increased, with children from Iraq, Germany and France, as well as children
who were Mexican American, Black and White. Ma Bell donated telephone poles used
in the construction of playground facilities that Fall. The congregation was encouraged
to donate kitchen appliances, clothing, furniture, jars, blankets, rugs, and a handyman.
Congregational members were encouraged to serve as substitute care givers, serve
afternoon snacks and share hobbies with the children. Margaret Jensen sewed nine
dolls for the center and the FELC Young-at-Hearts held a doll party to stuff them. A
fundraising yard sale was held and raised $200 for a dishwasher. By January of 1973,
Ginna Franke became director.
By March of 1973, a cook position was posted; wages were listed at $1.70 per hour for
the 20 hour per week position. All staff were considered full-time employees as far as
vacation and sick leave were concerned.
In April, all memorial donations that came in on the death of Hoye Eargle, were
donated to the CDC at his wife, Mayre’s, request. She was on the CDC Board at the
time. Those donations totaled almost $1000, which reduced the CDC’s remaining debt
to only $1000.
In May of 1973, a scholarship fund was established by the Board, in keeping with the
original concept of FELC providing child care as a community service by enabling
children of university students and others with limited income to receive quality childcare. These scholarships paid up to two-thirds of tuition. A committee of three, including
Leroy Haverlah, reviewed applications. FELC members Henri Atkinson and Agnes
Lundstedt joined the Board in June of 1973.
To be continued …
