Rutland Corner House (Boston, Mass.)

The House was organized in 1877 as the Home for Working Women, where "women desirous of making an honest living, but penniless and friendless, may find shelter and employment until able to secure a permanent position." After temporary addresses, it was established in 1886 on the corner of Rutland Street and Shawmut Ave in Boston. In 1925 its current name was adopted. Inmates, who had to be poor, respectable, and able to work, were usually referred to the House through social agencies, although some were accepted directly from the streets. During the 1920s the House population was increasingly made up of "undesirable" women. This change continued into the 1950s when inmates included unmarried mothers, psychiatric cases, persons discharged from hospitals, young runaways, and court cases. In 1953 the board of managers voted to turn the House into a transitional residence for women psychiatric patients.

Founded as the "Home for Working Women" in 1877, and incorporated in 1878 as the "Temporary Home for Working Women," Rutland Corner House provided a place where women could find shelter and employment until they were able to secure a permanent position. In 1886 a permanent building was purchased at 453 Shawmut Avenue, at the corner of Rutland Street. Most residents were referred through social agencies, although some were accepted directly from the streets. In the early 1920s the Home discontinued its industries in laundry and sewing due to the postwar boom. In 1925 the name was changed to Rutland Corner House. The House's new function became to serve as temporary lodging for girls and women awaiting final placement by various agencies. This changed composition of residents continued through the 1940s and early 1950s.

In 1953 the House began serving as a transitional residence for women who were recuperating psychiatric patients, becoming the first urban resource of its kind in the United States. The House formed a cooperative working arrangement with the Boston Psychopathic Hospital. This reorganization made it necessary to move the facility closer to the Hospital and a house was purchased at 103 Francis Street. In 1962 a larger house was purchased and residents moved to 1027 Beacon Street, Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1973, the Cambridge-Somerville Mental Health and Retardation Center invited the Board to open a second facility for both women and men. A house was purchased on Lee Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and opened that same year. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds and physical deterioration, that house was closed in 1980. In August of 1993, the Long-Range Planning Committee decided to discontinue the psychiatric halfway house program; the Rutland Corner House closed later that year.

Founded as the "Home for Working Women" in 1877, and incorporated in 1878 as the "Temporary Home for Working Women," Rutland Corner House provided a place where "women desirous of making an honest living, but penniless and friendless, may find shelter and employment until able to secure a permanent position." In the first year of operation, 368 women were given shelter in a house on Tremont Street, Boston. Laundry and sewing rooms were set up for the working residents, whose clients were mostly local hospitals. The Home was administered by a Board of Managers, who paid a matron and assistants to live in and oversee the residents. In 1886 a permanent building was purchased at 453 Shawmut Avenue, at the corner of Rutland Street. The three prerequisites for admission were "poverty, respectability, and ability to work." Most residents were referred through social agencies, although some were accepted directly from the streets.

In the early 1920s the Home discontinued its industries in laundry and sewing due to the postwar boom. In 1925 the name was changed to Rutland Corner House. The Board noticed an increase in "undesirable types" among the residents, and the House's new function became to serve as temporary lodging for girls and women awaiting final placement by various agencies. This changed composition of residents continued through the 1940s and early 1950s, as illustrated in an annual report from 1947: "Among those helped were unmarried mothers, psychopathic cases, those discharged from hospitals, young runaways, and court cases." With increasing specialization of social service agencies, the Board came to believe that the House served too varied a clientele to be effective, and should focus their efforts on a specific group of individuals.

A 1952 study of the House and its future direction stimulated consultation with various social agencies. In 1953 the Board voted to reorganize, and the House began to serve as a transitional residence for women who were recuperating psychiatric patients, becoming the first urban resource of its kind in the United States. The House formed a cooperative working arrangement with the Boston Psychopathic Hospital. Although not a "treatment" residence, staff were trained to work with emotionally disturbed persons. The Board continued its function; the matron was replaced by a trained social worker, an associate director, and housekeeper. Referrals were primarily from mental hospitals, and occasionally, private therapists. Admission requirements included regular involvement with a therapist, access to an inpatient facility willing to admit on an emergency basis, and participation in full/part-time employment, study, or day hospital. The reorganization made it necessary to move the facility closer to the Boston Psychopathic Hospital, which could handle emergencies that could not be resolved by House staff; a house was purchased at 103 Francis Street. The Boston Psychopathic Hospital leased the first floor for one dollar a year, using it as a club where former and current patients could meet for group activities. The club served as a social gathering place for Rutland Corner House residents as well. In 1962 a larger house was purchased and residents moved to 1027 Beacon Street, Brookline, Massachusetts.

In 1973, the Cambridge-Somerville Mental Health and Retardation Center invited the Board to open a second facility to provide assistance to both women and men. A house was purchased on Lee Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and opened that same year. However, due to lack of funds and physical deterioration, it was closed in 1980. The Cambridge-Somerville Mental Health Center bought the facility and continued to operate it as a community residence. In August of 1993, the Long-Range Planning Committee decided to discontinue the psychiatric halfway house program; the House closed later that year.

In May 1877, a group of citizens established the "Home for Working Women" at 327 Tremont Street in Boston, to provide a place where "women desirous of making an honest living, but penniless and friendless, may find shelter and employment until able to secure a permanent position." A laundry and sewing room were set up so that inmates could gain useful training while contributing to the cost of their room and board. Incorporated under the name of "Temporary Home for Working Women" in 1878, the House served not only as a temporary haven for girls newly arrived from places like Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces, but also as a friendly community to which they could turn in time of sickness, loneliness, or unemployment. The House was administered by a Board of Managers, who paid a Matron and her assistants to live in and superintend the House.

In 1881 the House changed quarters to 126 Pleasant Street, continuing to help four hundred to one thousand women annually under its motto, "Help those who want to help themselves."

In 1886 a permanent building was purchased at 453 Shawmut Avenue, at the corner of Rutland Street. The House, about one-half self-supporting, had a firm policy concerning inmates. One of the House Matron's tasks was to assist inmates in finding jobs. If a suitable place was found for an inmate, she had to take it whether she liked it or not, unless she herself had found something better. A woman could not remain in the House for longer than a month without special permission, nor could she return within a period of six months. Mothers with babies under two years old were admitted, but for a few days only. The three prerequisites for admission were "poverty, respectability, and ability to work." Most inmates were referred through social agencies, although some were accepted directly from the streets. In 1925 the name of the House was changed to Rutland Corner House.

In the early 1920's the House discontinued its industries because of the postwar boom. The capable women who had previously carried on the industries no longer had need of the House's services. The Board became disturbed because of an increase in "undesirable types" among the inmates, but eventually became used to the House's new function of serving primarily as temporary lodging for girls and women awaiting final placement by various agencies. This changed composition of inmates continued through the 1940's and early '50's, as can be seen from a typical Annual Report of this period: "Among those helped were unmarried mothers, psychopathic cases, those discharged from hospitals, young runaways, and court cases."

With the increasing specialization of social service agencies, it was felt the House served too varied a clientele to be as effective as it might be. A 1952 study stimulated consultation on future direction with many agencies who frequently referred cases to the House. In 1953 the Board voted that the House become a transitional residence for women psychiatric patients. The Board of Managers continued its function; the Matron was replaced by a trained social worker, an associate director, and housekeeper.