Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-22
ANY sum ACCEPTABLE
! FOR. SUMMER CAMPS
Associated Charities Urges Contribu-
: lions for Poor Children's
Benefit.

Contributions for carrying on the sum-
mer camps for poor children Of Wash
fngton. under the auspices of the Asso-
.cfated Charities are being solicited by
that organization. No matter how small
the amount, the charities body urges
every one to assist in the work of pro-
viding health as we'll as pleasure Civ
ing outing for the youngsters of this
city.
One little girl of FIVE years just sent
her spending money for a week. cents
saying she. wanted TO help some poor
baby The camps are to be opened July
I. Donations should be sent to either
John Joy Edison, chairman of the COM
mttee in charge, or Capt Andrew Par
ker, 923 Fl street northwest
The history of the founding of the
camps Is told in a report which has Just
been found in the files of the organiza-
ton. The description of the founding of
Noel House Settlement is embraced in
the same report. which is as follows
Miss Whitman's Heroic Work.
About 1901 Miss Amelia A. Ryan and
her friend, Miss Caroline Whitman, the
latter most useful and efficient worker
ested in their less fortunate neighbors,
took a house at No. 500 LIST street north
west and made it a center for the chill
dren In the neighborhood. teaching them
by classes and clubs much that was use
ful of various kinds and calling the
mouse Noel House because the idea orig
mated Christmas day. This came to
the knowledge of Mrs. Richard G. Dav-
export. who became greatly interested in
hAt
eleven years ago. called a meeting at her
then home, 1I29 G street northwest,
which was attended by eighty of her
friends. which resulted in her forming
committee to give a financial backing
sumcient TO enable Miss Whitman and
MISS Ryan to carry on and enlarge the
very good settlement work inaugurated
by them This committee organized itself
as the Noel House committee eIecting
MRS. Davenport as its president
In the summer of 1903. Miss Whitman,
after talking the subject over with the
committee: suggested to and persuaded
the Associated Charities to let her try
the experiment. under its auspices, of
establishing an outing camp for two
weeks in the country To make this
camp possible for two weeks. beside pro-
vidng food. there also had to be pro
vided camp. horses and wagons, trans
poFtation experienced men, ETC. toward
which the committee on summer outings
of the Associated Charities could only
donate s45..
Camp Davenport the Forerunner.
Therefore Miss Whitman commune
Gated indirectly with Commander G. Dav-
export, U. S. N, who enabled her to
carry out her plans for the two-week
camping. He also obtained permission
from the late Gen. Wallace Randolph to
get his help in borrowing tents from the
quartermaster general and in transporting
them to and from the camp site. This
being accomplished, he instructed petty
officer and four seamen to pitch the camp,
make the necessary sanitary arrange
ments, etc.
AT the appointed time the army wagons
with the tents Came to Noel House
picked up the seamen. boys and resi-
dents. and hauled them out to the camp
In Rock Creek Park.
The camp was named Camp Davenport
After q two-week outing the boys were
returned to the settlement house The
quotes the following sentence: The story
ef the camp is like fairy tale and no
one who participated in the brief taste
OF community life in the open air will
ever forget those days and nights in the
woods
This experiment under the combined
auspices and assistance Of the Associated
Charities, and Noel House proved so sue
cessful that the next year. 1904, an out
ing camp named Camp Good Will was
established on the outskirts of the city
- one Of the permanent summer activi-
e~s Of the Associated Charities"