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The Water Street Mission

(Jerry McAuley Launched New York‟s First Mission For Alcoholics)

Jerry McAuley

The McAuley Mis-
sion has moved sev-
eral times. It is now
called the NEW
This is a later reconstruction of the Water Street YORK CITY RES-
Mission, still at 316 Water Street, under the CUE MISSION. It‟s
This is the original mission at Brooklyn Bridge. Pictured is a breadline for the present location is 90
316 Water Street. Started by immigrant poor. Lafayette Square.
Jerry McAuley, his wife and
friends during October, 1872

"Samuel Hopkins Hadley took over as Superintendent of the McAuley Rescue Mission
at 316 Water Street in 1886. From that time until his death in 1906 he helped convert
hundreds, if not thousands, of hopeless drunks. Sam's son, Henry Harrison Hadley II,

named after Sam's brother Coronal Henry Harrison Hadley, would also sober up and be
converted after his father's death. Harry Hadley would later collaborate with Sam Shoe-
maker in opening the Calvary Mission on 23rd Street in Manhattan and become its first
superintendent. At The Calvary Mission both Ebby Thacher and Bill Wilson would
separately answer calls to come to the rail, kneel at the mercy seat, and experience the

Power of conversion." - Excerpt from The Golden Road of Devotion

This 57-bed mission provided two
meals a day and aided more than
200,000 homeless in its ten years.