Montreal's first home for recovering prostitutes

We gave Maimie Pinzer a little undue credit. We reported that she launched the first home for Montreal women seeking to leave the skin trade in 1915. The one eyed Philadelphia former prostitute and drug addict of Jewish extraction lived here from about 1913 to 1918. Here's an excellent book of her letters. She was a truly great Montreal character and impressive innovator.
   But in fact the first refuge for prostitutes was called the Protestant Home for Friendless Women. It was located on Upper St. Urbain (east side just south of Bagg) & was incorporated in 1876 and had widespread support. In 1887 they moved to St. Antoine West, corner of what's now called Vinet, then called Dominion (from what I can tell). There were similarly-named homes at various times in cities ranging from Brooklyn, Ottawa and Auckland.
   This article from the Montreal Herald in 1888 praises the Montreal organization as the most worthy of all charities. It explains how 24 women live in the place and take in laundry and knit socks, although it is largely supported by donation. It only makes discreet mention of the fact that the women were former prostitutes in about the 14 th paragraph.
  The last listing for the Home for Friendless Women is found in the 1897-98 Lovells. Presumably it closed down around then.
  When Pinzer set up her home in 1915 she scoffed at suggestions that she use the word 'friendless' in the title. She believed that as a former prostitute should could speak to the women in a better way than those with less experience in the field.