“A pioneer charity of the country”: NJ’s “Soupy Island” Sanitarium November 13, 2007
Posted by crd2 in Sanitarium, Soupy Island, Uncategorized.trackback
Sanitarium Playground, better known in the hearts of thousands of Philadelphians and South Jerseyans as Soupy Island, appeared at the end of Red Bank Ave. with its mirth subdued by barbed wire. The compound’s shabbiness belied its significance to scores of young Philadelphians whose lives were spent in the stifling airlessness of Philadelphia’s red brick canyons. Founded in 1877 by an organization called the Sanitarium Association of Philadelphia, the compound is a specimen of the late nineteenth century social hygeine movement bound up in well-meaning upper/middle class paternalism. Though the social philosophy that gave rise to Soupy Island implied that poor immigrants were constitutionally unable to care for their own health, by all accounts Soupy Island was — and continues to be — a much needed outlet for the region’s kids.
[SOUPY ISLAND SIGN IN THOROFARE, NJ]
With the support of Philadelphia type-founder John F. Smith, the Sanitarium Association of Philadelphia began ferrying Philadelphia kids to spend an afternoon on the now-defunct Windmill Island in the Delaware in 1877, the efforts of the organization garnered the accolades of public health experts. By 1886, the Sanitarium Association purchased 15 acres on the then-bucolic eastern shore of the Delaware river in West Deptford, New Jersey. As William Hale Beckford put it in his The Children’s Crusade of 1916, the free service was “a pioneer charity of the country”:
The same year that the Sanitorium Association began its retreats across the Delaware, the Reverend Willard Parsons of Sherman, Pennsylvania opened the homes of his congregation to New York tenement children, now known as the Fresh Air Fund. To nineteenth century Americans, lung diseases were a paralyzing threat. Prior to Dr. Robert Koch’s identification that tuberculosis spread by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which so happened to thrive in dark apartments with several families, the curious causal scientific wisdom of the day suggested that the disease was innate to poor, immigrant populations in urban areas. But public health reformers did not see that tenement conditions were just sufficient and not necessary for the propagation of the disease. American health leaders of the late 19th century (many of whom were also religious leaders) attributed the spread of disease to a combination of moral corruptness and ignorance which kept immigrants in conditions of squalor. It was not entertained that conditions of poverty tended to determine whether immigrants lived in habitations where the photophobic bug thrived. For health reformers interested in offering “uplift” or instruction in social hygeine, some were motivated by altruism while others feared that sickness, absenteeism, and social disorder posed a grave threat to American industrialized society.
[SANITARIUM PLAYGROUND SIGN AT FRONT AND RED BANK AVE.]
So from the discovery of the bacillus in 1882 to the discovery of streptomycin in 1946, the main mode of treatment was the sanitarium approach: a combination of “taking the air” and labor. But unlike the typical adult sanitarium, the youth sanitarium on the Delaware was designed to be carefree and fun. A carousel designed by Frederick Heinz was installed in 1901 and six years later a slide was added. Today, two pools and a wading pool help kids from Philly and Camden cool off during the summer. Soup seems to have always been a constant, and during the Depression it seems that strictness slackened and consumption was not a precondition for getting a cup of soup. Ferries would leave daily from Penn Treaty Park for the six mile trip down the Delaware.
[MAIN GATE, SOUPY ISLAND]
In 2004, Soupy Island went through 70 cases of soup a season and survives on an endowment. Though it is unclear whether nearby Campbell’s Soup has had any affiliation with the facility, a team from the Camden company came out last May to fix up a couple ballfields. The caretaker of the facility lives in a 12-room dormitory that once housed the doctors and the nurses who for years treated Philadelphia’s consumptive children.
[PLOW TRUCK, SOUPY ISLAND]
Soup is good food.
Can you write about the demographics of the children who now use Soupy Island’s facilities?
location, please- i’d like to check it out sometime…
oops, missed the jump, sorry.
great site!
Elementary schools took annual field trips there in the spring in the 60’s - invariably someone would go down the world’s best sliding board on a piece of wax paper and the next few kids would FLY. It was the highlight of our April and usually the first time it was warm enough to wear shorts. Had no idea it was still open! The carousel must be worth a small fortune - cannot believe it is still running!
soupy island is still open. my sis in law and her grands along w/ me and my kids went this past summer and it was great. i have lived in glouc. county my whole life and never knew about it. we’ll go every year now.
In 1953-54 my 2nd and 3rd grade classes from what was then Thorofare #3 school had year end picnics at Soupy Island. I remember the soup house where you could peer through windows and see the large boiling pots where soup was made. There were two hand built “slides” that were very unique in construction. Sadly, only one survives (last visit 1988). The carousel was a masterpiece and should I re-visit south Jersey again, (now living in California) an afternoon at Soupy Island would be mandetory. It has served so many people so well, I hope it is on an historicl places list and continues to be preserved.
During the 1950’s and early 1960’s Oakview Elementary School also took it’s year end school picnic at Soupy Island. I remember waiting in line to go up the stairs of the covered “slides” and to get on the Carousel. We would have orangeaide from Heritages Dairy to drink and we all brought our own sack lunch. After lunch there would be relay races and then back to the slides. It was the highlight of every school year. I also hope Soupy Island can be preserved. It’s one of those memories of growing up in the South Jersey area that I’ll never forget; along with Riverview Beach Park and Clementon Amusement Park.
Does anyone know current information about this 2008 season? Times or a phone number?
Thanks
Regina
I would like to know information on the 2008 season as Regina posted. I can remember as a child the Carousel and having picnics at Soupy Island. I would love to see those memories again as an adult.
Hi, use to live in Paulsboro. I remember going as a child. My question now is. Do adult come. I have a ministry in Camden City at
Fellowship House and I have a women’s group I would love to bring the ladies to soupy island. I cannot find a contact number for you.
I also used to go as a child. My family is from Paulsboro. I would also like to find a contact number and I am curious if anyone knows if it is available for rent?? Maybe like family reunions or parties?? Does anyone have any information?I have wonderful memories of Soupy Island and would love to take my children there. Is it open to the public?
Well I went today to see where it was and there is a number
856-845-2430. When I called it, states that this is the correct number for soupy and that I could leave a message. The sign says the hours are Tues and Wednesday 9-3 Thursday 9-4 but I went around 5PM on Saturday and there was not a soul to be found, maybe due to pooor weather earlier in the day? I heard they were open 2 weekends ago but, noo weekend hours posted.
I was just there this past weekend with a local church from West Deptford and we had a blast..yes it is open and you have to call and ask for specific times…i am from West Deptfordand I grew up going there and now my childrens’ day care attends every summer…great place to go even to have your own picnic
WHY IS IT SOOO HARD TO GET IN CONTACT WITH A REP FROM SOUPY ISLAND. I CALLED THE # LISTED ABOVE 856-845-2430. I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES,NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY PHONE CALL..I WENT THERE ON A SAT, NOBODY WAS THERE, WHAT KIND OF DO THEY HAVE?? MY SON KEEP ASKING ME TO GO THERE. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP.AlSO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF YOU COULD RENT THE PLACE OUT, FOR BARBQ’S OR BIRTHDAY PARTIES..
My father, Bernard Hill, was the caretaker at Soupy Island in the 1970’s, and we lived in the house right there in the park. It’s great that the park is still operational - from the slides to the merry-go-round! I remember playing all day in the park while the kids came over on “The Good Ship Lollipop” from North Philly, and hanging out on the weekends when the park was rented out to different employers and organizations for their picnics.
Soupy Island is awsome I’ve been going here since I was 2 and I’m now 13. Everybody should check out this place it is awsome and the milk,gramh crackers and the soup is awsome!
Soupy Island is only open on Tuesday,Wendesday,and Thursday. And you can have private party’s on Saturdays. It is about $4.00 a person for the private party.
I’ve been going to Soupy Island has long has I can remember. When I got older I would take my son,nieces,and nephews,and whoever I was watching at the time. They looked forward to it. Where can you go 3 days a week for 6 to 7 weeks, free soup, snacks,swim, and play all day. Don,t forget the giant slide and carousel! I even worked there 1 summer in the kiddie pool, my mom and sister work there. We been having our family picnics there for about 18 years. So if you would like a fun day with the kids just come to SOUPY ISLAND!!
I was just at soupy island for a family reunion on Saturday, July 19th. I have no idea how my mom’s cousin organized the whole thing, but she asked that we all give her $3.00 per person except for my 2 year old and my 9 month old which were free. We were given our own pavilion to use. Does anyone know if and how much they charge per person on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays? My kids want to go back really bad and we don’t want to wait for next year’s family reunion. We love the 2 pools!