In 1958, the Old Mill Inn reopened as Mary's, a "gay-for-pay" bar financed by Harry Kaminsky, managed by Mary Wathen, and protected by the police. The block, condemned in 1948 for I-794, was in deep decline. Mary agreed to be licenseholder for one year, in exchange for her son's tuition at St. John's Academy. When Mary's year was over, she reportedly "danced in the street," claiming homosexuals had harassed her and scared away "normal" customers. Kaminsky's response was "if you can't beat them, join them." He hired Wally Whetam and opened the Black Nite to capitalize on the gay community.