Mother Layne's Hospitality Home

San Diego, California, 1941-1975

Updated 2-Jun-10

Photo by Ollen Hardin

The original California bungalow consisted of the two sections on the left. The section on the right was added in 1952. It contained a "Rumpus Room" over the garage, with a prayer room completing the new basement area. The ground sloped to the rear, with a set of stairs leading down to a large patio. Many a cake and dish of Jell-o were enjoyed by military men and women through the years at their "Home Away from Home."

Mother Layne

Mrs. M. E. Layne, the widow of Mahlon E. Layne, founded the Hospitality Home, so it was originally known as "Mother Layne's Hospitality Home." It was a Christian home for servicemen and women. It opened Sunday, December 7, 1941 -- just in time to be a "home away from home" for the soldiers, sailors and marines who were suddenly required to be ready for war. Through the years, funding for the Home came from the Layne Foundation, a philanthropic organization.

Mahlon E. Layne's company is now known as the Layne Christensen Company; headquarters here in the Kansas City area.

Irvin L. and Bertha Rattan
Mother Layne chose as her assistants Irvin L. and Bertha Rattan. After Mother Layne's death in 1944, the Rattans became the Directors of the Home. They had no children of their own, but over the years they became "Dad" and "Mom" Rattan to hundreds of men and women.

Location of the former Hospitality Home (now an assisted living facility)

The Second World War, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War

World War II, the Korean police action, and the Vietnam War found men and women serving their country in the Armed Forces. They needed a relationship with God, the personal touch of family, and the fellowship of other Christians. This they found at the Home. In many instances, they also found their life-mates at the Home. Sometimes it was with someone else in the service. Other times it was someone from one of the churches around San Diego. And often it was someone from "back home."

That's what happened to us: Howard was in the Navy and when he came home on leave, I discovered that my brother's friend was an impressive guy. We were married in June of 1952 and we took the Santa Fe train to San Diego and just about the first people he introduced me to were Mom and Dad Rattan.

O, I Care Not What Church You Belong To....

At the vesper services (after the excellent home-cooked meals) Dad Rattan would conduct a simple Bible study. But before that, we'd sing a few choruses. A favorite was "O, I care not what church you belong to, just as long as for Calvary you stand. So tonight if your heart is as my heart, you're my brother, so give me your hand." It was sung to the tune of Red River Valley. Everyone would shake hands. Then we'd introduce ourselves. I remember meeting a man from Brooklyn; I said, "You really have an accent!" He laughed at me because he said I was the one with the accent. (Me - a Kansan? - naaah!)

The Home News

We started The Home News in 1996 when we learned that there was no memorial marker on Mom Rattan's grave. When Dad died in 1968, Mom chose a nice one for him. But when she died in 1989, there were no family members to choose one for her. The Home Gang came through, and her marker was in place for Memorial Day 1997. It is a companion to Dad Rattan's. They are buried in El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, California.

Enough funds came in that we are continuing The Home News as a meeting place for old friends. We have about 180 names on our address list so far, and we would be delighted to add yours. Let us know your address and we'll do just that!

Two Scriptures

The two scriptures I associate with Layne's Hospitality Home and Dad Rattan's teachings are Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"; and Jude 3, "...ye should earnestly contend for the faith...." KJV

More information is available.

To see more old pictures, go to The Home News On-line at
www.spaciousskies.me/HospHome

Please send us a note -- it will be great to hear from you!
Marge & Howard Marshall at mmarshall@spaciousskies.me.

We're in the process of gathering addresses of former service personnel who visited Mother Layne's Hospitality Home.
Add yours or a friend's by clicking here.

See the 1939 Chrysler Imperial 9-passenger limousine parked in front of the Home, as well as the 1932 Packard used as the background picture on this page,
by clicking here.

The Layne Foundation still exists - they make loans to churches now.

Return to M3's Home on the Web

Credits: Photos property of Howard & Marge Marshall; rainbow line, red splat, and red dot, Bells & Whistles; source of blueberry not known.

Please save this location: www.spaciousskies.me/HospHome/hosphome.html