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100 Years of Serving Children with Special Needs
1909: Dr. Charles Hansel founds a free dispensary and hospital to benefit sick babies in congested areas of South Bend.
1910: Prenatal care is offered through Children’s Dispensary.
1912: The work of Children’s Dispensary becomes a year-round project.
1919: A wood frame building at 1040 Division St. (now Western Avenue) is erected and clinics held twice weekly, with local physicians donating time and services.
1920: An orthopedic department is established and our work with people with handicaps begins.
1922-24: An eye, ear, nose, and throat clinic is included in dispensary services.
1925: Public appeal is initiated for funds to complete a new building on Washington St., now Hansel Center.
The Children’s Dispensary & Hospital Association is incorporated. The new building contains a gymnasium, operating rooms, sun deck, and service areas.
Welfare office or services are established. St. Joseph County contracts with Children’s Dispensary to care for “crippled” children.
1930-34: Children’s Dispensary is contracted by the South Bend School System to conduct a “crippled children’s school” referred to as The Sunshine Room.
1935-38: Children’s Dispensary and the Progress Club send 12 crippled children to a four- week camp on West Chain of Lakes Road.
1939: A severe Polio epidemic brings 34 children into treatment at Children’s Dispensary.
1940: Eleven acres of land are given for a Crippled Children’s Camp by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Millhouse.
1947: State Northern Indiana Children’s Hospital is built and assumes the work of Children’s Dispensary orthopedic and physical therapy clinics.
1948: The Sunshine Room is moved to Morris School for Crippled Children.
1949: The camp program becomes incorporated as Camp Millhouse, Inc., and a new board of directors is formed.
1950: Five more acres are acquired at the camp site, and the Kiwanis Club of South Bend builds a swimming pool at camp.
1951-66: Children’s Dispensary continues to perform all pediatric work until 1966 when its medical and dental operations move to St Joseph and Memorial Hospitals.
1966: Children’s Dispensary & Hospital on W. Washington is converted to a neighborhood center, then known as Hansel Center.
1968-74: An Olympic sized swimming pool is built at camp. More acreage is acquired: buildings and cabins are erected.
1975: The expanded and fully accredited camp is attended by 298 children.
1976: Fun & Learn becomes a second major program. During fall-winter, then spring semesters, the program serves children with learning problems on campus at Saint Mary's College.
1982: Children's Dispensary adds adaptive arts/education to its services; VERY SPECIAL ARTS INDIANA makes in-service training available for school teachers, and sponsors annual Very Special Arts festivals.
1989: Our camp program becomes Camp Millhouse, Inc., a separate entity and a nonprofit organization.
1990: Fun & Learn adds a 12-day program in July for learning disabled children.
1992: The Pilot's Club of South Bend becomes a major support of Fun & Learn.
1993: SNAP, or Special Needs Assist Program, offers an informational and referral service for families with a special needs member.
CHILDREN & MUSIC is designed as a pilot program to encourage all children to be better audience and involved in musical opportunities.
1994: COMMUNITY ADIVSORY COUNCIL of Children's Dispensary is formed.
1995: The Parent Advocacy Group forms for parents of children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.
1996: With Potawatomi Zoo, the Dispensary begins Summer Safari Circle a four-day zoo camp in June designed to meet the needs of neurologically and perceptually challenged children aged 6-12.
1998: NEW DIRECTIONS is added to Fun & Learn at Saint Mary's during fall and spring semesters. For youth 11 and older, the workshop concentrates on social and life skills.
1999: TEEN ZONE is added to Fun & Learn at Holy Cross College as a group support/ arts based program for teens with learning disabilities.
2000: Very Special Arts Indiana ends relationship with Children's Dispensary in efforts to become aligned with arts affiliated organizations such as museums and art institutes.
2001: Summer camps open with Teen Scene (revamped from Teen Zone), Fun & Learn, and A.I.M. (Artists in Motion).
2002: April 19, 2002 Irrevocable Trust Agreement (Original on file at Wells Fargo).
C.H.A.M.P. (Children Have AMazing Potential) becomes the "umbrella name for all programming.
Spirit Art Scholarships are given to students for piano lessons.
2004: TEEN CLUB takes place of previous teen programs and is housed at the Jamison Inn
2006: "A PLACE TO BE ME" is adopted as the tagline for the organization.
The first DVD was launched at our Spring Celebration Fundraiser May 16, 2006 with keynote speakers Charlie & Maura Weis from Hannah & Friends.
2007: Spring Celebration Fashion Show in collaboration with MACY'S highlighted participants in our programs as well as local celebrities.
2008 2008 Moving Forward – Strategic plan put into motion visualizing the plan by year
of 2009
2009 Children’s Dispensary celebrates its 100th anniversary of charitable service
to children and families in the South Bend area!
