Friendship Manor Mission, History, and Purpose

Friendship Manor had its origin in the mind of Dr. Robert Conrod, former professor at Westminster College and member of our Board throughout the past years of development.

After much exploration of possibilities, conversations, and correspondence, Dr. Conrod on November 30, 1961, broached the subject with Hugh W. Gillilan, minister of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with a proposal for a modest-sized retirement project. They stood and talked informally in a parking lot at Westminster College. It was agreed at that time that the leadership and congregation of the First Unitarian Church should be involved in the proposal.

After several exploratory meetings were held, a Committee on Housing for the Aged was formed early in 1962 at the Unitarian Church. As ideas expanded it became obvious that a broader base of sponsorship would be needed. The Reverend Frank Blish was consulted and he with William Hook of the First Congregational Church spearheaded the efforts of persons in that church to join with the delegation from the Unitarian Church. Mr. Hook subsequently became the President of Friendship Manor Corporation and Mr. Blish most effectively assumed the managership of this project.

Members of the original Board of Trustees worked diligently to interest other churches of the area in our proposed building, and were most gratified when Congregation B’Nai Israel (now Congregation Kol Ami) and the Utah Association of the United Church of Christ joined in the sponsorship of Friendship Manor.

In the early Board meetings, it was necessary to pool the substance of our pockets to pay for our secretarial assistance. Many of the Board members met in approximately 100 formal sessions and the officers of the Corporation probably met in as many more extra meetings during the six years of planning.

The name of Friendship Manor was originally suggested by Charles A. Hauptman at the time a pioneering American spaceship was carrying the word “Friendship” rapidly around the globe. All agreed that friendship should be at the heart of our concerns.

Monumental steps in development were taken in the selection of the firm of Ashton, Brazier, Montmorency & Associates for architectural services and the Robert Chuckrow Company of New York City as our general contractor. We are much indebted to these two firms for the comfort, beauty, and utility of this building.

The ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on December 31, 1965, and the excavation for the basement began shortly thereafter.

From this auspicious beginning may the contribution of Friendship Manor to the larger community continue to grow through the years giving solace and substance to the reality of human friendship.

The mission continues to be to not only provide affordable housing but to create a community within the building. Management and the active Residents association provide many social activities, cultural programming, and other interactive activities which aim to increase the connections between residents and to decrease any feelings of social isolation or loneliness.