Plymouth Magazine-Fall26-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 15
The Sunbeam Rescue Mission
By Lorna Truck (she/her)
The Sunbeam Rescue Mission, located
at 213 Walnut St. in Des Moines, was an
outreach mission of Plymouth Church
for 13 years from 1893-1906.
Sunbeam was the first multi-purpose social
agency in Des Moines providing housing,
food and work experience for homeless
and unemployed as well as a refuge for
unwed mothers and their babies, a medical
clinic and an employment agency. One
of their missions was the “reclamation of
prostitutes.” Activities included Weekly
Gospel Services at the Des Moines jail,
hospital visits, “wagon services in the
slums,” and children’s meetings.
Their business and job training included
a sewing school, a restaurant, laundry
and kindling factory. Frank Cramer was
a founder and General Superintendent of
the mission while his wife Grace served as
house mother and assistant. Frank Cramer
also served as assistant secretary of the
YMCA and came in contact with news
boys who needed care and attention.
work. Grace Cramer moved to California
in hopes of improving her health and
while there she lived with Mrs. A.Y.
Rawson, one of the founders of the
mission. According to Grace’s obituary,
“[she]for years was active in charity work
before the later societies were formed
here. They say she was a special friend of
unfortunate girls, aiding many, sacrificing
her heath in this sort of mission work.”
The mission was supported financially by
Plymouth members Byron and Ellen Ward.
Byron Ward was a civil war veteran and
active in the Grand Army of the Republic
and active in the founding of the Des
Moines YMCA. Byron Ward served as
president of the Mission Advisory Board.
Frank Cramer (first row, far right) dressed for
a Sunday school class theatrical production,
was the rescue mission founder
The idea for the mission began when
Cramer was in the basement of the old
Plymouth Church in Mrs. A.Y. Rawson’s
Sunday School Class. Here the class
is pictured in costume for a theatrical
performance. Cramer is in the first row
far right. The Cramers married in 1895
and had one daughter.
The couple presided over and served the
mission 24/7 until 1906 when Grace’s
health failed and was forced to end her
Frank and Grace Cramer in their sitting room/office at Sunbeam.
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