The Smithsonian published this excellent article about the history of the soup kitchen (public mess hall).

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2010/12/count-rumford-and-the-history-of-the-soup-kitchen/

And then there are those who believed that Al Capone set the first Soup Kitchen in motion:

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1660.html

YOU decide. I like both ideas.