From the files of Winifred Stuart Mankowski who founded Mankowski Homes:

   For many years I have quietly studied the situation which seems to confront Christian Science practitioners and Christian Science nurses who reach the age of sixty-five years without sufficient income to pay rental on a furnished bungalow residence in an environment of comfort and quiet dignity. ... Indeed, most sincere and successful practitioners and nurses have contributed incomparably more to the welfare of their fellows than ever could be returned to them in any form of human assistance.
   The demonstration of Christian Science in anyone’s experience makes for independence and a very right desire to retain throughout the humanhood experience individual dignity and freedom.
   It is my purpose to have the guests in such bungalow cottage homes carefully selected and deserving and be those who have completely or partially retired from public practice of Christian Science or general Christian Science nursing. They should be selected as individuals who have demonstrated a peacefully harmonious temperament and ability to live in harmony with others.
   There is to be no central dining room for the general use of guests occupying such bungalow cottages because I expect each guest to live individually and independently....
   Generally speaking, it would be my expectation that of the guests residing on the Foundation premises, there will be mutual helpfulness avoiding any substantial service requirements from the superintendent or nurse.”

Words of the Trustees who carried out Mrs. Mankowski’s vision:

Clear preference must be given by the Trustees to those ... who:

1. While “full of years” desire not to be “full of age;”
2. Desire not to accept a material sense of “advanced years,” but the challenge of continuously progressing in what our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, twice called her “advancing years;” and so
   
3. Eagerly desire to continue some practice by contact with the field from which they come, and a happy vital interest in the current scene in what Mrs. Eddy describes as our journey from “sense to soul,” with that great sense of adventure which may be ours in graciously youthful maturity.”
   

   In accordance with the Will, the tenant-guest must live and keep house independently, and, except for mutual and voluntary helpfulness, as good neighbors should always render to one another, they are and must be able to sustain themselves and keep house independently. [Mrs. Mankowski] left for others the establishment of a Home in the sense of care, nursing, meals, and so forth. Many people succeed in demonstrating advancing years to the time of their passing without becoming infirm and in need of services and care. It is the provision of an atmosphere for making this demonstration which Mrs. Mankowski desired.
   There will be no housekeeping service, central dining room or cafeteria. There may be periodical cleaning as is done in many furnished apartment projects. There will be no institutional personal service. Such as there will be must be mutual self-help on a proper neighborly basis among those who live in the Homes.
   There will be two rooms in the central building available to the tenants as the lobby and sometimes amusement rooms of a large apartment is available, but the tenant-guests will organize and develop their own activities in these rooms.
   It is important to understand the purpose of Mrs. Mankowski in supplying lovely residential quarters to realize that her purpose was solely to provide a place in which people can demonstrate the highest result in gerontology — continuance in “advancing years.” It was not to build or operate a Home or nursing or other care institution. That must be a wholly separate undertaking and will not be a part of the operation of Mankowski Homes.”