It organized on December 9, 1896, incorporated May 15, 1897, and opened May 20, 1897 at Bond St. (E. 6th) and St. Clair Ave.[1] It was established by Flora Stone Mather as an outgrowth of a boys' club and women's guild conducted by the First Presbyterian Church.

[3] The possession of such a building presented difficulties and imposed responsibilities which were appreciated, at least in part, by those who planned for such a thing and made it possible.

The articles of incorporation stated that, "The purpose for which this corporation is formed is to provide a center for such activities as are commonly associated with Christian social settlement work."

The incorporation was made to facilitate the work to be carried on in and through Goodrich House, a building erected at a cost of more than US$80,000 by Flora S.

[4] The idea which gradually grew into Goodrich House came to Flora S. Mather about the year 1894, when she thought of establishing an appropriate building for the social work of the Old Stone Church.

As time went on, each year showed more convincingly that the field was too large for any one church to care for, and that opportunity was offered for many workers of varied gifts.

Dr. Goodrich combined broad culture with deep sympathy for humanity, and took the greatest interest in the welfare of this locality.

The neighborhood, while narrow (only a few blocks wide), was very long (about 2 miles (3.2 km)) and the movement of population tended to put the house at one end of its quarter.

Work was also carried on in two cottages at 1416 East Thirty-first Street and the neighboring public school, which was in the geographical center of the Goodrich House constituency.

At that time a few people interested in settlement ideas were asked to come together to consider plans for carrying on the work to be undertaken at Goodrich House, then nearing completion.

An informal organization was made by the twelve persons present, officers elected and a committee appointed to draw up a constitution.

[6] At incorporation, these were the trustees: Flora S. Mather, Samuel Mather, Lucy B. Buell, William E. Cushing, M. R. Swift, Elizabeth H. Haines, Edward W. Haines, Hiram C. Haydn, Charles D. Williams, Sereno P. Fenn, Henry E. Bourne, Samuel E. Williamson, and Glen K.

“I desire the house to be used (as named in your articles of incorporation) for a Christian Social settlement so long as, in the judgment of the trustees, that is a useful and needful work in that neighborhood;but if ever in their judgment there comes a time when, through the changed character of the neighborhood, to continue such a work there would be a waster of energy, the trustees may dispose of the property.

My object in erecting the building in the locality was to provide for the social, spiritual and material betterment of the neighborhood, and I want such a work to continue there as long as it is needed.

"If it shall be deemed wibe by the trustees to discontinue the work there, I wish them to use the funds, including the proceeds of any sale of the house, to carry on a similar work in some other downtown locality; but if the coming years bring something better which I have not named, then I wish the trustees to devote the funds to such charitable use as may be best fitted to that end, and as near as may be to that to which the property is now applied.Goodrich House was located on the corner of St. Clair and Bond streets, in the downtown district.

The tiles about the fireplace depicted rural scenes in which domestic animals and children occupied a prominent place.

Women of the neighborhood were enabled to remove the unsanitary processes of washing and drying from already over-crowded home space and sleeping rooms.

[4] Work had been going on for two years, which demonstrated the fact that something might be accomplished in the downtown district of Cleveland along such lines as are followed by settlements in other cities.

The name "Saturday Club" was given to this gathering, and its program was extended to include recreation in addition to the instruction in sewing.

These activities were carried on under the auspices of the First Presbyterian Church until Goodrich House was constructed, when they were transferred there to be conducted under its management.

Residents supplied material for the Committee of Fifty on the Social Substitutes for the saloon, and for a local housing investigation.

Residents were of service in the departments of health; education; public charities; in the movement for a "safe and sane Fourth"; for regulating moving pictures; investigating amusement halls; and formulating newsboy legislation.

The summer months of 1897 supported a vacation club, for girls from 11 to 14 years of age, offered both recreation and instruction to its 44 members on two forenoons of each week during July and August.

The settlement maintained a kindergarten; clinic, nursing service, and milk dispensary; public baths; laundry; employment agency; industrial work for the blind; and playground.

There were classes in nursing, cooking, domestic science, sewing, drawing, dancing, modeling, woodwork, pottery, printing, and gymnastics.

The house was a meeting place for many independent clubs and societies, and there were frequent neighborhood parties, socials, and lectures.