Just before Christmas during 2 or 3 years in the 1950s, a few of us teenagers from our church used to go down to the Mission to unwrap and sort the "White Gifts" that were collected by many churches for those in need that the mission catered for. Sorting of White Gifts was necessary. You didn't want to give a child a can of peaches when he or she could have had a toy.
We did our work on the fifth floor which was one great big central room with a few closed-off alcoves. There was very little heating. Decorating had not taken place for many a year. One year we were offered a lift down to the main floor in the Mission's only elevator. It was operated by a heavy rope, uncomfortably in need of replacement.
The outside might have been of architectural interest, but money was not spent on upkeep of the structure. The Mission had other priorities. I don't know when the building was finally replaced, but I hope it is still being used to carry out the same much-needed activities that were happening there in the 50s.
