Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-20
"HOTEL De GINK"
FRIENDLY SHELTER
FOR JOBLESS MEN
Modelled on Similar Refuge
in New York - More
Than 300 Entertained
There Last Night.

Hotel de Gink" Is the name by which
Il big free hotel for down and -outers in
New York is known. 1t is the product of
humor and benevolence combined. A few
days ago JEFF Davis. king OF the Ho-
boes," wanderer with an Imagination
and no end OF nerve, walked into the Of
flee OF the Custodian of Public Buildings
in New York and asked for the keys OF
vacant six-story loft building at Worth
and Center streets, which Is to be torn
down by the city to make way for new
courthouse. Davis said he wanted to
open 1t for a shelter for homeless men.
The Commissioner saw the point and
handed Davis the keys. He then referred
his action to the Corporation Counsel for
an opinion and the lawyer put the de-
cision off until spring.
Davis named the place the "Hotel de
Glnk," and gave hard bed 10 2350 men
tho first night. The homeless keep the
place clean, and a philanthroplst whose
Identity Is not revealed furnishes the coal
for the heating plant. The news of the
enterprise was spread abroad and 375 men
from the hotel have got jobs. The au-
thorities at the New York City Free EN-
ployment office say that bringing the un-
employed together in a great centre has
been great boon to the men and has
enabled the city to do a greater good
than It could otherwise.
SIMILAR REFUGE HERE.
This city has Hotel de Glnl," with
all the trimmings. only 1t is officially
known by another name. 1t is n four
story factory building at the northwest
corner of 18th and Hamilton streets, and
last night more than 300 men slept there
on paper spread upon the pine floors
There was not man among them with
the odor of booze" upon him.
The house has been open nine days,
and there has not been n sign of trouble
among the patrons. Among them is a
/ former clergyman, a former well-known
carpet merchant, students who have been
working their way through various
schools and have had to wait until times
improve.
The founders OF the home insist upon
the preservation of their anonymity, and
will only say that the idea originated
in the Sunday Breakfast Association.
Representatives OF the society went to
the city government and asked for the
use of large factory building in one
OF the poor neighborhoods of the city,
but were too late, for the heating appa-
ratus had already been removed prepara-
tory to razing the building. Then private
contributions hired the four-story loft
building now the Hotel de Gink.
JOBS FOR THE JoBLEss.
The first morning that the place was
open one of tine railroads had sudden
need for workmen. Word was sent to
this shelter and the watchman wakened
10 men and sent them out. All but one
of them was placed that day in a good
job. and the new shelter became a pop
ular place. 1t Is in contemplation to open
tho top story of the building, as the man
ayers now have to turn men away.
Director Cooke said today that many re-
quests had come to him for buildings for
use as shelters, but that there were
none available except two large ones at
remote points the old pest houses at
Essington and the casino building at Oak
Lane.
City officials suggest the State Fem
clbles, who have been declared by the
court to be In unlawful possession of
their armory on Broad below Race. can
be ousted by Councils and this building
turned into shelter. Councils also has
the power to extend the lease on the
arinory building.