[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THOMPSON-MARKWARD HALL

  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
125th anniversary of Thompson-Markward Hall, formerly known as the 
Young Women's Christian Home. Thompson-Markward Hall is located on 
Capitol Hill, directly across from the Senate Hart Building, and has 
long served as a temporary home for young women studying or working in 
our Nation's Capital, including many who have interned or worked in 
congressional offices.
  Thompson-Markward Hall was founded in 1833 by Mary G. Wilkinson. 
Wilkinson, who was grieving the death of her daughter, recognized the 
need to create a safe housing option for young women moving to 
Washington seeking employment, and she began housing two young women in 
her Capitol Hill home. The need for additional space soon led to the 
securing of a new location at Fifth Street, NW, where the early years 
of the home were funded through the generosity and hard work of 
Wilkinson, her friends, benevolent merchants, and other community 
members.
  In 1887, the Young Woman's Christian Home was chartered by Congress 
and incorporated to provide temporary housing for young women coming to 
the District of Columbia. The assistance Congress provided to this home 
during its early years stands today as a strong example of ways 
Congress can show support and lend short-term assistance to help an 
organization get its legs. By 1906, the trustees believed the home 
could manage without Federal assistance, and the congressional 
appropriation was discontinued Today the home remains a self-sustaining 
organization funded through endowments and residents.
  Today, Thompson-Markward Hall also remains, true to its founding 
principles, a safe, comfortable, moderately-priced place for young 
women to live when studying or establishing careers in Washington. 
Retaining the spirit of Mary G. Wilkinson's founding intentions, 
Thompson-Markward Hall has earned a reputation as a special place for 
its residents, helping equip them with a strong foundation for 
developing lifelong friendships and fostering a deep regard for 
Washington, DC, and the opportunities the city offers.
  As Thompson-Markward Hall celebrates another important milestone in 
its history, it is important that we recognize and congratulate this 
organization and especially the many talented individuals who have 
worked hard and given of their time and talents to help found this 
residence and now work to maintain and further its rich legacy. It is 
the efforts of all of these individuals, and especially Mar G. 
Wilkinson, Bessie J. Kibbey, Flora Markward Thompson, and past and 
present Board of Trustee members and staff, who have helped make 
Thompson-Markward Hall a wonderful housing option for thousands of 
young women.

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