Bridgeway’s origins dates back as far back as 1890 with the formation of the "Galesburg Free Kindergarten," which was founded by a local teacher who educated impoverished children in her own home. The efforts to care for disadvantaged children and families rapidly evolved and for many decades the group that grew from her generosity served hundreds of orphaned children in what was widely known as the Harrington Home. The legacy of the Harrington Home and Harrington Family Services still survives today in the Bridgeway family of companies and is known today as Harrington Family Services Foundation. Resources from the Harrington Family Services Foundation continue to support services and activities for youth and families.
Bridgeway Inc. was formed on October 1, 1993, by the merger of McDonough County Rehabilitation Center (founded in 1972), Spoon River Incorporated (founded in 1971), and its affiliate corporations, Harrington Family Services and Spoon River Center. These founding organizations, having served west-central Illinois for decades, joined together to continue to meet the ever-growing needs and challenges of providing community-based health and human services. Our services are designed to assist and empower people in maximizing their potential for personal development and growth.