| HISTORY The rich history of Holiday House began in 1867 as the Baltimore House. Years later, the property became a retreat house for the Sisters of St. Margaret, an Episcopal order from the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. On October 27, 1930, The Girls' Friendly Society of Pennsylvania (GFS/PA) bought the building. The values found at Holiday House mirror the deep rooted values in the Girls’ Friendly Society. Mary Elizabeth Townsend founded Girls’ Friendly Society in England on January 1, 1875 at a time when women had no recognized power in society and very little influence in the Anglican Church. Routinely, Girls’ between the ages of 11 and 14 who lived in poor families were sent to work in industry or as servants at wealthy houses. The Girls’ Friendly Society offered Christian fellowship to young female mill workers who were separated from their family. The motto of the society is “Bear ye one another’s’ burdens” (Galatians 6:2). In the United States, Elizabeth Mason Edson, a rector’s daughter from St Anne’s Church in Lowell, Massachusetts was the key to the origin of the American side of Girls’ Friendly Society. The need to provide comfort and support to Girls’ who were forced to leave home to find jobs spurred. Elizabeth organized the first American branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society in 1877. The organization grew, and by the late 1800’s, GFS members’ assisted young women entering this country by providing housing and helping them find jobs. In 1881, the first GFS diocese of PA was established at the Calvary Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. At an annual council meeting in 1893, it was decided that Pennsylvania and New Jersey Societies should unite and purchase a boarding house in Atlantic City. In 1894, Holiday House was opened in Atlantic City. Shortly thereafter, it was decided that Atlantic City was not a good location so the Dioceses separated. In 1896, Pennsylvania bought its first summer vacation house at 615 Hughes Street, Cape May, NJ which it occupied until 1911, when the larger house was purchased at 644 Hughes Street. In the early 1900’s the Girls’ Friendly Society had 21 Holiday Houses and 14 lodges in multiple States. Today, the only remaining house is our beloved Holiday House in Cape May, New Jersey. |
| Getting Involved in the Future The Girls' Friendly Society (GFS) is an international non-profit organization affiliated with the Episcopal Church and is open to girls ages from 5 to 21 of any race, religion or nationality. GFS is dedicated to supporting and nurturing young women and girls with positive guidance from adult leaders through worship, service, recreation and study. If you are interested in becoming a GFS Leader and would like more information about starting a GFS branch in your area contact the GFS Diocesan President at GFS/PAPres@verizon.net. If you have or believe you can offer support to the organization as a volunteer or in making a financial contribution contact GFS/PA Sponsor Chair at GFS/PASponsors@comcast.net. |
Holiday House and GFS
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| Letters to Holiday House Management. |
Junior Week 2009 This year at Holiday House was totally different. I had tons of fun! We had over 30 girls and every room was full! So we had less time to shower but we did manage. We didn't so usual activities that we do every year. We spiced it up a little so everyone could enjoy it. We split up into teams with different names because there were so many people. I was in the "Healing Light" with four other girls. They new activities that were so much fun, was making sand sculptures, having our environment lesson down at the beach, played miniature golf, and played a game outside involving trusting one another. We learned about different virtues and doing a skit on it to represent it we made up cheers. We had this new group with older girls from 12 and older and they sang "On Top of Spaghetti, singing songs at dinner, singing body songs (which was funny), and having a singing camp fire with everyone at the end of the day. Everyone enjoyed it and got a tan. We made all new friends or make other friendships stronger, and soon hopefully we can all reunite and share those moments again. I can't wait until next year! Signed: Miah Shahene St. Luke's Bustleton |
