tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post7567340966364459230..comments2024-03-28T18:01:17.304-07:00Comments on Daytonian in Manhattan: Rainsford House -- Nos. 208-210 East 16th StreetTom Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-68350001010015087822016-12-13T11:27:49.697-08:002016-12-13T11:27:49.697-08:00My father stayed in Rainsford House in the 1950s. ...My father stayed in Rainsford House in the 1950s. I have a letter home dated 1958, but I don't know how long he was there. His name was Andy Sears. I would enjoy hearing from anyone if they knew him.Gum Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875634524498604624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-10078572126808120312015-10-24T14:20:31.105-07:002015-10-24T14:20:31.105-07:00My parents met while living at Rainsford and Pierc...My parents met while living at Rainsford and Pierce House -- Larry Ward and Grace "Skip" Viard. I don't believe their stays overlapped with yours. (I certainly met Archie Dudgeon when I was a youngster.)<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05546388296490874249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-57660519556440207962015-03-20T04:20:01.650-07:002015-03-20T04:20:01.650-07:0020th March 2015
I stayed at Henry Hill Pierce Hous...20th March 2015<br />I stayed at Henry Hill Pierce House in the 1950's for about a year. I had arrived in New York City from Bristol, England, via Montreal, Canada. The girls there came from all over the world - they were welcoming and friendly and it was a very special, safe place to be. Like the boys in Rainsford House we took part in community activities one evening a week and once a month we had an outside speaker. I still send Christmas cards to one or two, but sadly, some, like Henry Hill Pierce House are no longer with us. Brenda LalondeBrenda Lalondenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-91951999539586784002014-02-22T19:54:01.538-08:002014-02-22T19:54:01.538-08:00After graduating from Northwestern, I joined Chevr...After graduating from Northwestern, I joined Chevron Chemical and after a few months in San Francisco was transferred to NY. While staying in Summit Hotel which was exciting as Lindsay's campaign headquarters, an older colleague at Chevron asked whether I had called Rainsford House, rather than looking for an apartment. Jack Selby had lived there in 1940's after Princeton. I was invited to dinner and realized Rainsford was more like a post college fraternity than residence. I lived at Rainsford for a year until it closed in late 1966. I always marveled that I kept in closer contact with friends I met at Rainsford House than other friends before or since. Dinner conversations each evening at Rainsford converted me from fast eater to one who has ever since looked to dinner as source of stimulating conversation.<br /><br />Archie Dudgeon was still liaison with St. George's and good friend to all at Rainsford. Community service commitment endured until Rainford closed, probably more from St. George's financial needs. Don't know whether us contributing more in rent could have led to Rainsford lasting longer.<br /><br />History of building before us was fascinating. We heard more about St. George's having been given building by J.P Morgan who owned or used it after Vestry commitments during years he was Senior Warden. All Lundy did with social workers is more consistent with us volunteering some time to help in changing community, even though ours was only an evening a week.<br /><br />Two close friends from Rainsford married Pierce house girls and a third should have. I still have very fond memories of Rainsford and those I knew there. Hopefully some other innovator might revive something like it in NY, as I understand a Yale graduate from a St. George's family did decades ago, bringing along five buddies to launch Rainsford House based on his community service proposal to St. George's, at time that Dolly's 'Lights of 14th St.' were dimming as Manhattan continued it's move uptown and Stuyvesant Square neighborhood changed.<br /><br />Last thing I did with Rainsford House was update a directory from mid 1960's. But that work was done 20 some years later and by that time many couldn't be contacted and had spread, unsurprising throughout the world. Will send website link to half dozen or so I still see or know. Good to hear building is still font of good things as it has been since Lundy's.<br /><br />Rod Handeland<br /><br /><br />Rodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15037580119871924538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-25233800540921036432013-12-03T12:36:16.545-08:002013-12-03T12:36:16.545-08:00I was invited to join Rainsford House 1949-51 plus...I was invited to join Rainsford House 1949-51 plus, fresh out of law school and commencing work in nyc, eventually serving as president. Our liason with the church was one Archie Dudgeon. on the latter's board, and a wonderful conduit for communications between us. We expanded our required community service to almost any worthwhile endeavor; I taught English at the Presbyterian Labor Temple on 14th street. Additionally we had speakers in every month. We formed many friendships, and indeed there were several romances with the Pierce House women. Our "rent" which covered meals and basic cleaning was all of $90 a month. There was a maximum stay of 2 years, more or less honored. We had frequent reunions. I was sad to learn that it closed many years later for economic reasons. <br /><br />If any alumnus or alumna from my era picks this up I would love to hear from you. ag besser, Morrisville, Vt.bulldogagb@aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-807122002855364332013-03-17T08:34:23.202-07:002013-03-17T08:34:23.202-07:00Perhaps the sentence is perhaps badly worded. It ...Perhaps the sentence is perhaps badly worded. It says the Saint George's soup kitchen was in the building at the time of writing; not that the structure was solely a soup kitchen. Thank you for your interest in clarity.Tom Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-46929973998858133992013-03-17T06:38:18.239-07:002013-03-17T06:38:18.239-07:00The residence at 208 E. 16 St. is NOT a soup kitch...The residence at 208 E. 16 St. is NOT a soup kitchen. It is a residence under the auspices of AHRC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-17471586030853612972012-06-13T07:21:10.333-07:002012-06-13T07:21:10.333-07:00Wonderful building, history and purpose.Wonderful building, history and purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com