When it comes to child care, there is another exciting option! The House of the Seven Gables Settlement is just what you and your child are looking for...

Caroline Osgood Emmerton founded The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association in 1910. Emmerton was a Salem philanthropist, vitally concerned with human services and historic preservation. Observing the increasing need to care for the influx of immigrants who were rapidly settling in Salem, she became a pioneer in the effort to provide social services for them. Emmerton bought the old Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, hired noted architect Joseph Chandler to help her restore the venerable structure, and opened it to visitors to help fund her Settlement House. The House of the Seven Gables Settlement House, modeled after the Jane Adams’ Hull House in Chicago, was developed to aid new residents to the surrounding Derby Street neighborhood advance both socially and educationally.

The mission of The Gables' Settlement House is to serve the children and families of Salem and surrounding communities through educational, social, and recreational programs in a safe and supportive environment on a sliding fee scale. The goals of The Settlement are to foster independence, intelligence, social skills, and emotional well-being.

Programs for Preschool (ages 2.9 - 5) and School Age (ages 5 - 11) students are developed by highly qualified and exceptionally dedicated staff members. A camp program is available for school vacation weeks throughout the academic year and for eight weeks in the summer. The bustling Settlement House features a computer lab, large and small classroom spaces, a gymnasium, a library, a playground ---all across the street from The House of the Seven Gables and Salem Harbor. All Settlement families become special members of The Gables where their children have full access to the grounds, buildings, and programs.

The Settlement House’s Hours of Operation are as follows:

• Preschool: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Monday through Friday for three, four or five days/week during the school year. Preschool also offers extended hours of 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM or 8:00 AM -5:30 PM.

• After School: 1:45 PM – 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

• Vacation Camps: December, February and April school vacation weeks from
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; extended hours until 5:30 PM are also available.

• Summer Camp: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; extended hours until 5:30 PM; eight weeks in July and August.

• Senior Lunch Program: October – May, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM every Tuesday, excluding school vacation weeks.

The Settlement House is licensed through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and participates in the USDA Food Program through the Massachusetts Department of Education.

For more information please call 978-745-5909 or write to Director, Education and Community Services, 114 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970.