50th Anniversary
Marking 50 Years in the Community!
2019 marks a milestone for Pine Street: we are 50! Although we are not really “celebrating” – you don’t celebrate homelessness – we are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and the impact it has allowed us to have on solving homelessness. Over the course of the year, we will reflect on where we started and where we are going, as well as share memories from the past five decades.
Tune into our social media channels to hear more about moments that have been key for the organization and individuals we have worked with over the years.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
From The President
In light of this incredible milestone, I am reflecting on the 35 years that I have been here - in roles as an administrative assistant, in development, in the program area, and now, as President. I am both humbled by and proud of the progress that we have made as an organization.
A Voice From the Early Days: Warren Strom
As part of our 50th anniversary, we will be sharing stories from those who were here at the beginning. The following excerpt was pulled from an interview with Warren Strom, who is now 89 years old.
A Voice from the Early Days: Monsignor Frank Kelley
Frank Kelley (left) pictured with then-Executive Director Rich Ring and early supporter Bob Walsh. Both Kelley and Walsh went on to be lifelong supports and Trustees, serving to this day!
Paul Sullivan
This is Paul Sullivan, our founder and first executive director, who set the tone of treating all with dignity and respect, which remains one of our core values.
The Tower
The tower, modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, and the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, was completed on December 18, 1893. The firehouse was part of a larger building complex that officially became Fire Department Headquarters in 1895. In 1980, the building became home to Pine Street Inn. In recent years, Pine Street has taken on large maintenance and renovation work at the tower, and the newly rehabilitated structure is a welcome sight along Boston’s skyline.
Staff
Key Moments: This photo, taken in the 1980's, includes past (and present!) staff and leaders. Ralph and Lyndia are still here at Pine Street, and neither has changed a bit! Back row (L to R): Ralph Hughes, Roy Morrison, Randy Bailey, Rich Ring. Seated (L to R): Lyndia Downie, Mary Kowalski. #TT #50years #teampinestreet
Dr. Jim O’Connell
Dr. Jim O’Connell, founding physician of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, and Pine Street's Leo Adorno, now our Place Me Home Program Director, speak with a man who was living on the streets in 2005 as part of street Outreach efforts.
Legacy of Kindness
Paul Sullivan left a legacy of kindness, compassion and service that informs the way we deliver programs for homeless men and women each and every day. After he passed, the City of Boston renamed one of the streets around our main campus after him. For over 30 years, Paul Sullivan Way has provided a reminder to us all of his impact on Boston!
