While no photos of the founding women of Green Hill exist, above is a photo of early board members reenacting the founding at the annual fundraising gala.
WEST ORANGE, NJ — In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8 and National Women’s History Month this March, Green Hill recently saluted its founding women.
Green Hill was founded in 1866 by 13 women and called the Society for Relief of the Respectable Aged Women in Newark, New Jersey. The nonprofit enterprise began as a home for these unmarried and widowed women who wanted to spend their elder years together, providing each other with friendship and support. The example that these founding women set for senior housing launched a demand for similar housing for other elder women in the community.
The Society grew to fill two buildings in Newark. Services expanded again as they merged in 1958 with the home to form the Memorial Center for Women. In 1965 the organization moved to West Orange into the Green’s Hotel building and became Green Hill. In 1998 Green Hill welcomed men to the facility.
About the Author
