The first industrial school established in this country was commenced some time in the year 1853. Its chief founder was Mrs. Wilson, wife of Rev. James P. Wilson, of the Presbyterian church, who became its first directress, and served the society with great efficiency until her removal from the city, in consequence of her husband's accepting a call to serve a church in an adjoining State. The school began in a hired room in an upper story on Avenue D, between Eighth and Ninth streets. On May 13th, 1854, the Legislature passed the act incorporating the society as " Wilson's Industrial School for Girls," in honor of her who had been chiefly instrumental in its establishment.

In May, 1855, the society entered the previously purchased building, No. 137 Avenue A, Mrs. Wilson generously contributing $1,000 in securing the property.

It has never been the purpose of the society to rival or supplant our excellent Public School system, but to go into the lanes and streets, to gather in and benefit a class too poor and filthy to enter the Ward schools. The children gathered here were for the most part barefooted, ragged street children, obliged to beg their daily bread, and so degraded in appearance and morals that if many of them were admitted into a Public School another class would be soon withdrawn to avoid the unpleasant contact Here they were allowed to enter at all hours, in consequence of their vagrant habits, though punctuality was much encouraged—a rule that could not be tolerated in the Public Schools without destroying all classification and order. None have, been admitted unless too poor to attend anywhere else and as soon as their circumstances have sufficiently improved, have been promptly transferred to the Public Schools.

The efforts of these Christian ladies, in going to the very lowest sinks of society, seeking with all the sanctified arts of kindness and culture to collect and polish these discolored fragments of our degraded humanity, are worthy of more than human commendation. The children are sought out by a visitor, and induced to attend the school. The exercises are opened in the morning with brief religious exercises; after this they go to their books for two hours, after which general exercises and singing are continued until dinner. All are furnished with a simple but good dinner consisting of beef, vegetable soup, boiled hominy and molasses, codfish, bean soup, an ample supply of good bread, which the economical matron manages to supply at the rate of three cents per child. A half-hour is given for play, after which they return to their rooms and are instructed for two hours in sewing and other handicraft. Attendance and good behavior are rewarded with tickets, which a prompt girl is able to accumulate to an amount representing ten cents per week. These are redeemed with new clothes, which she is allowed to make and carry home. All industrious girls earn some wages, and some who have become experts receive large pay. Custom work is taken in and prepared with great skill. A dress-making class was early formed, with a capable woman instructor. In 1855 a department was organized to instruct them in general housework, and in 1866 a class for fine sewing, embroidery, etc. In 1854 they organized a Sabbath school, which has at present an average attendance of three hundred and twenty-five scholars. Like most mission schools, the managers have found it difficult to secure plenty of good teachers. If some of the many Christian people in our large churches, corroding for want of something to do, would go to their relief, it would be a blessing to all concerned.

A Bible-reader began her work in April, 1863, and out of this has grown a weekly "mothers' meeting." A weekly temperance meeting, and a prayer meeting, are regularly held. The labors of a missionary were secured in 1866, and the services immediately crowned with the conversion of sinners. These converts were advised to attach themselves to the neighboring churches, but as they had never been anywhere else to service, they felt a reluctance, and refused to go. This made necessary the forming of an organization of their own, which was effected in June, 1869, with a membership of thirty-three, since increased to sixty-one. The organization is evangelical, but not denominational; clergymen of several denominations have been invited to administer the sacraments. During the first eleven years no legacy was received, and but two donations from the city authorities. The late Chauncey Rose, at a later period, remembered the Institution with $20,000, and others have since turned a portion of their benefactions in this direction. In the spring of 1869, the society purchased a fine four-story brick building, fifty by ninety feet, on the corner of Avenue A and St. Mark's place, at a cost of $84,000. A debt of $14,000 still remains on the property, which the generous public have been invited to assist in removing. A vacant lot adjoining the building was included in the purchase for the erection of a chapel. Two floors of the building did not come into the possession of the society until May, 1871, since which the building has afforded the very best accommodations for a large school, and brought a small income.

The present matron has presided over the Institution with great acceptability fifteen years.