Franklin-Wright history

The number of families served increased each year, and in 1889 a second nursery was established at 400 Franklin Street.

In 1893, both the Church Street and Franklin Street locations had to shut their doors.

By 1895, focus shifted to the Detroit Day Nursery’s 443 Franklin Street location, and the name of the organization was formally changed to Franklin Street Day Nursery and Kindergarten (The Franklin Scene, pg.

In 1896, Margaret Stansbury joined as the residential manager and began to incorporate social settlement work into the Franklin Street Day Nursery’s regular services.

In 1901, Franklin Settlement became one of the first settlements established in the State of Michigan.

It also provided vital services to the surrounding community, such as the bath house which was built in 1903, along with a new gymnasium, on the lot south of the original building.

In 1921, Sarah Selminski was appointed head resident of Franklin Settlement.

The funds were matched, and in August of 1937 the Franklin Settlement celebrated the ground breaking.

By 1942, 150 of the boys who made up the youth leadership at Franklin Settlement were enlisted in military service.

In 1946, after most of the soldiers had returned home, a homecoming was held at Franklin Settlement, and the veterans were surprised to learn how much Franklin Settlement had changed during their absence.

The trial merger was such a success, the two agencies combined services in the fall of 1967 (“Franklin-Wright Settlements,” no.

The target school for the High School Drop-Out Project was Northeastern High School, and during the 1968-69 program year the program assisted 128 high school drop-outs.