The Geneva Women’s Free Rest Room Association
By John Marks, Curator
At some point in my time here I came across a mention of the Geneva Women’s Free Rest Room. There was no explanation with it but the name stuck with me. It came back to me recently when a couple stopped me downtown and asked for the nearest public restrooms. The Welcome Center on the lakefront was the first place of which I thought. I mentioned the question to a merchant friend who said, “where is a public restroom?” is asked every day.
The Geneva Women’s Free Rest Room Association was formed in 1917, according to one reference. The first Geneva Daily Times article I found was a June 1919 report of the annual meeting. “The total attendance of those making use of the room was 17,938. Last year the total attendance was 18,329, a difference of 391 which falling off occurred during the months of October and November and was undoubtedly the result of conditions caused by the influenza epidemic.”
The need for a public restroom illustrated the importance of Geneva’s downtown to the area as well as city residents. For folks living in Seneca Castle, Hall, Stanley, Bellona, and points in between, Geneva was “the big city.” Families came downtown for banking, appointments, and shopping. The same was true for city people who might spend several hours running errands and need a break.
Ironically, a bathroom isn’t mentioned in any descriptions of the Free Rest Room. Our language – bathroom, washroom, restroom – does its best to avoid saying what we actually need.
Exchange Street at Night
The first city directory entry for the Rest Room was in 1925 at 44 Linden Street. It remained there for about 20 years. The Rest Room was one of six Community Chest agencies for 25 years. The others were the Salvation Army, Geneva General Hospital, the Boy and Girl Scouts, and the Social Service League.
The annual Community Chest fund campaign was a big deal. The newspaper ran articles, advertisements, and testimonials to the work done by agencies. There were school essay contests for students to write arguments supporting each of the organizations. The Rest Room was always listed last, but the essays provided information about why it was important.
In 1931 Betty Hannacker, a sophomore at DeSales High School, wrote:
“The Woman’s Rest Room is maintained as a convenient place where both local and visiting women may rest and refresh themselves during their shopping tours. It also provides care for small children who are left there while their mothers attend to their business or shopping affairs.”
Ben Whiteman, Geneva High School senior:
“During the past year some eighteen thousand people, women and children, stopped there during the shopping hours to rest. The Rest Room also gives information to those seeking lodging and for a small fee, it helps the poor and the disabled by selling their handwork.”
Anna May Brennan, DeSales senior:
“The busy shopper may leave her packages or her children to be watched at this convenient, cheerful rest room. Is this not a great relief? Furthermore, the rest room affords many conveniences such as: telephone, couch for adults, bed for babies, restful chairs, reading matter, a well-equipped kitchen with gas-plate where food may be prepared for lunch by businesswomen and schoolgirls.”
Other articles said the Rest Room was a de facto first aid station. Women who became ill while at work could lie down and recuperate. Shoppers who had a fall or other accident were taken to the Rest Room and a doctor was called.
In 1938 the name was changed to Geneva Community Rest Room, but still run by a board of women managers. Faced with raising money for the war effort and the local USO, in 1942 the Community Chest decided to fund the Rest Room one final year. They hoped the city would add it to the municipal budget in 1943. By 1948 the Rest Room had been moved to much smaller quarters at 52 Linden Street. Its last appearance in the city directory was 1958.
We don’t have any photos of the exterior or interior of the Geneva Free Women’s Rest Room. If you have any, please call us at the museum.
Other blog articles about downtown
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Lift Up Thine Eyes: The Upper Floors of Downtown Geneva
I especially enjoyed this blog because it took me back to my days traveling for HWS when I had preferred bathrooms scattered around NYC. I also identified places where parcels could be dropped. The need in downtown Geneva is probably not as great now as it was back in the day when most of the shopping was done there. Without a department store at the plaza, I guess McDonalds must have to fill that need.
What an amazing piece of history!
With the increasing number of visitors coming to Geneva it would be nice to have something resembling this convenience again!!
Thanks John.
I never knew that such an association existed.
Was that unique for Geneva or did such elaborate Rest Rooms to be found in other cities.
Amazing Geneva form the past.