A look at the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission through the years:
| |||||||||
1915: The mission buys and moves into a building at 343 E. Columbia St. The building will be the ministry's home for nearly 50 years.
1958: The Fort Wayne Fire Department closes the three upper floors of the mission's four-story building at 343 E. Columbia St., because of safety hazards. The mission continues serving food from the first floor of the building and temporarily houses homeless men in hotels and motels. The mission later suspends operations for six months while deciding whether to buy an existing building or build a new one.
1964: The mission breaks ground on construction of its current building at 301 W. Superior St.
1982: The mission starts a 16-bed Women's and Children's Division in a house at 710 W. Superior St.
1990: The mission adds a new wing to its main building at 301 W. Superior St. The addition includes offices and a multipurpose room for classes and worship.
1995: The mission begins offering its six-month restoration program for men and women. The program teaches men and women how to confront and overcome problems that led to their homelessness. For many people, their problems result from addiction and difficulty forming healthy relationships.
1996: The Women's and Children's Division expands to 42 beds at a historic home on West Washington Boulevard. The house is called Charis House, meaning "grace house."
2003: The mission celebrates its 100th anniversary.
-- Sources: Fort Wayne Rescue Mission and The News-Sentinel archives
