The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-17
Communal
Group Must
Leave Home
End of Brotherhood House
Disturbs Calm of Zone
BIG Family"
BY HELEN WORDEN
Tines Special Writer

Inc news Has rel AAAr ~ 49,
pants into q other. They've got
10 move by July I and they've no
place % 60
Mrs. Theodore Steinway and
ran across the old residence on our
walk around New YOrks waterfront
a couple Of years ago The house
attracted US It's gangly French
windOWed wings, ginger bread
trimmed roof and general air Of
uart marnifcenCe suggested a story.
our do0rben ringing reused a
flock Of persons who came running
from an directions 70 answer our
questions.
This is the Brotherhood House, "
one man explained. We share
everything. Ours is the true So
Ciahsm"
Ruth Steinway and we're shown
through the high ceilinged rooms,
which had been divided of into
living quarters for the brotherhood.
A kitchen. general mess hall. car
pentcrs workshop and odd sitting
rooms were scattered about.
Gerald Gersldson is our direc-
tor. our guide said. And John
Howard Lawson gives us the house
rent free. Il used 70 be a fine home.
But none Of us know the story"
Later I had a letter from Helen
Brown. a member Of Brotherhood
House. iuclosing a letter from Au-
gust Smalfini who lives at 800. next
door 10 32f Pleasant-av.
Earlier Days Recalled
Stories handed down 70 me say
that the old mansion had rolling
lawns which extended down 70 the
rivers edge W-o.c ar. Smaltini.
He refers TO the Harlem River. I
myself remember the beautiful
hedges that surrounded the house, ="
he continued 7 also remember
making the acquaintance Of wom-
an who said that as a child she
would skip down 20 the beach at
tho edge OF the lawn to go in bath
inc.
There were two stately oak trees
which grew at the side Of the big
house. on the site Of the present
gym. I felt very sorry when they
were cut down TO make way for the
gym. I admired them. one Of the
trees had branches that reached
above the roof Of the neighbOring
house"
Yes. we've got 10 move" Mr..
Geralds0n said when I looked him
up. ours has been an interest
ing and thrilling adventure. I don't
want 10 lose the ground we've
gained
The director Of Brotherhood
House. a man in his early COS. is
master carpenter at r. H. Mays.
He was born at New Castle, Cal.
Il first began to work out my theO-
ries there ne said. I've still got
a farm on the Pacific Coast. That's
what we need here-land. Then the
problem Of where TO so would be
settled"
Five Of the IS residents Of Broth
erhoOd House are employed. They
pool their earnings with the others.
Five are on relief. and five are IN
charge of departments az Brother
hood House.
Those at home work around the
place" explained Mr.. GeraldsOn,
keeping things in order. But we'll
all have 10 put our shoulders to the
wheel in this moving business. Its
a matter of cooperation
Everybody Works
Don't you run into dificulties2"
Plenty Of them Human nature
IS a tough thing 10 handle Blu;
each of us works according to his
ability and light
What do YOU de-
PAY the gas BILL
HIS followers say. Mr.. GeraldSOn
is too modest. Its all his plan He
has shown us that the solution Of
our problems lies neither in politics
nor warfare but the gradual reor-
gauization Of all mankind into one
universal brotherhood Of people who
Go not own"
We're III sort OF panic" SAYS Miss
Brown. Though some Of the group
work and Mr.. G.. has his place at
MaCy's. We can not cover rent and
overhead. too. when We move-un-
less We find a house rent free. We
live very frUgally. and we've been
so happy here-one big family
community style. John Howard
Lawson gave Us the house for
nothing.
The worst Of it is. Mr.. G. has No
time to look around. He's very per-
picked over the situation. Also he
wants 20 save his dream-he's been
building II for twenty years. I feel
distressed for him. too. II YOU know
OF any one who has a large. old
empty building on his hands which
isn't bringing IN any income-and
perhaps VIII not unless modernized
perhaps he would let us occupy Il
rent free II We make our own re-
pairs.