This Quincy Daycare Has Been Caring for Kids Since 1886

Cheerful Home Child Care: A Historic Daycare in Quincy, Illinois

I was lucky enough to have both of my daughters attend Cheerful Home Child Care in Quincy, Illinois, and they loved every second of it. What I didn’t realize at the time was that Cheerful Home is the oldest licensed daycare in the state of Illinois.

Even more special, I later discovered that my father-in-law also attended the same daycare when he was a child, making it a true multi-generational part of our family’s story.

A Daycare With Deep Quincy Roots

Founded in 1886, Cheerful Home Child Care & Early Learning Center has been caring for children for more than 135 years. Established by Miss Cornelia Collins, the daycare has been located at 315 South 5th Street in Quincy since 1935, making it a long-standing cornerstone of the community.

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Growing to Meet the Needs of Families

Since moving to its current location, Cheerful Home has continued to grow and evolve. The facility added a gymnasium and office space, established Outreach Family Support in 1975, and opened an infant and toddler care center in 1986. Cheerful Home is also the first nationally accredited child care center in Quincy and achieved the Illinois Quality Rating Scale Level 3 in 2010.

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It’s fair to say that Cheerful Home Child Care is a staple in Quincy history, trusted by generations of families. I feel incredibly fortunate that my girls were able to be a small part of that legacy.

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I’m still in contact with many of their teachers today, who love seeing how much the girls have grown. Those relationships, and the care they provided, are truly priceless and will stay with us forever.