Ferrer Colony and Modern School
Encyclopedia
The Ferrer Colony and the associated Ferrer Modern School was an anarchist
intentional community
founded in 1911 in New York City
and moved to Piscataway Township, New Jersey
in 1915. The Ferrer Modern School opened later. It lasted for more than 40 years before finally closing in 1953. The project was named after Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
, an educator, activist and anarchist who founded the Modern School
movement in Spain.
Although the Colony was very close-knit, it didn't interfere with people's family relationships. This gave Ferrer Colony and Modern School the reputation of being a center for free love
, and like most intentional communities of the time, this brought new inhabitants. Although there were many lecture groups and social parties dedicated to women's rights within the colony, there is evidence to suggest that women were not always given equal treatment to men, particularly with regards to divorce proceedings.
and the National Register of Historic Places
in 2010.
, vandalism
. Parents then stopped sending their children to the school. Between 1955 and 1958, the assets of the school were sold off.
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
founded in 1911 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and moved to Piscataway Township, New Jersey
Piscataway Township, New Jersey
The township consists of the following historic villages and areas: New Market, known as Quibbletown in the 18th Century, Randolphville, Fieldville and North Stelton...
in 1915. The Ferrer Modern School opened later. It lasted for more than 40 years before finally closing in 1953. The project was named after Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia was a Spanish Catalan free-thinker and anarchist....
, an educator, activist and anarchist who founded the Modern School
Escuela Moderna
La Escuela Moderna was a progressive school that existed briefly at the start of the 20th century in Catalonia ....
movement in Spain.
Political and social structure
The colony was run by consensus decision-making, and continued only so long as the residents supported it. Anyone was free to leave or join, with no questions asked. The colony's most respected traditions were lecture groups and social gatherings. No rule was introduced or changed without lengthy discussions leading to consensus.Although the Colony was very close-knit, it didn't interfere with people's family relationships. This gave Ferrer Colony and Modern School the reputation of being a center for free love
Free love
The term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
, and like most intentional communities of the time, this brought new inhabitants. Although there were many lecture groups and social parties dedicated to women's rights within the colony, there is evidence to suggest that women were not always given equal treatment to men, particularly with regards to divorce proceedings.
Property and goods
Every yard owned by the intentional community was bought for $100, and then resold to its inhabitants for $150. Many original inhabitants were poor, and had trouble making a life for themselves in their new home. By 1922, 90 homes, the peak number ever set up by the colony, were established. A sense of camaraderie grew with the temporarily poor community. Some of the homes were only lived in at the weekend; in the early 1920s, many people lived at the Ferrer Colony, but commuted to work in New York City.Goldman House
Samuel Goldman (1882-1969) began building the Russian House in the Modern School colony in 1915. The building was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic PlacesNew Jersey Register of Historic Places
The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Office of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.The register was...
and the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2010.
Decline
The Ferrer Colony and Modern School disbanded in 1953. During the Second World War the US Government bought the surrounding land, and the colony was subject to theftTheft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. Parents then stopped sending their children to the school. Between 1955 and 1958, the assets of the school were sold off.
See also
- Fellowship Farm Cooperative AssociationFellowship Farm Cooperative AssociationThe Fellowship Farm Cooperative Association was a Utopian anarchist community in the Stelton section of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that was started in 1912.-History:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey