Cheerful Home Child Care & Early Learning Center was founded in 1886 because Cornelia Collins and a few volunteers saw the need for day care services in our community while witnessing dozens of children being left alone to care for themselves while their mothers were working. They wanted to provide a “home setting” where these children could learn skills and have the encouragement they needed. Their very forward thinking placed emphasis on education, independence skills, and social skills. While Miss Mary McDowell assisted with this endeavor, she spoke of it as a “cheerful home”, and the name stuck.