Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-21
CIVIC CLUB IN
ANNUAL SESSION
Organization Closes One of
the Busiest Years in Its
History


The annual meeting of the Civic
Club is being held at the Clubhouse
this afternoon. officers for the en-
and DIR. j. George Becht
is scheduled to speak on "Americani-
zation.' An interesting program has
been prepared.
The colorful story of how the
Civic Club of Harrisburg threw open
its doors to soldiers, sailors and
marines during the past year, turn
ing the classic structure into a
Hostess House; how the members
were instrumental in cheering their
soldier guests, and how the club has
aided materially in civic and welfare
work in Harrisburg during the past
Mrs. William Henderson, president,
which has just been made public.
The report is a seVen-page type
written digest of the activities dur
ing the past year. In opening, Mrs.
Henderson says:
THE report of 191S-1919 means
the work of two distinct activities
the usual work of the Civic Club
and the special work of the Civic
Clubs Hostess House.
Certain days stand out promi
one in particular, never ito be for
gotten, was Tuesday, May IA, 1918,
when our clubhouse had the honor
of entertaining for a day one hun
dred of the celebrated blue Devils
of France" An heroic band of
French soldiers, Scared with many
wounds and covered with medals,
but gay, cheerful and wholesome,
marched into the Civic Clubs yard
early in the morning and we're
made to feel it was their house for
the day. They used every part of
it. The porches and lawn were filled
with them and cots were placed un-
der the trees for the sick and tired.
Two meals We're served in the as
sembly room and postal cards with
photographs of the Civil Clubhouse
were given to each soldier.
Another interesting afternoon
was June % when the Comtesse
Madeleine de Bryas, a brilliant
speaker, sent by the federal gov
ernment, delivered an address. Tea
was served and an opportunity to
meet the speaker given.
THE completion of the work of the
tablet committee and the placing of
the beautiful memorial tablets on
the house are most important events
in the annals of the Civic Club. The
tablet committee appointed by the
president, June 12, 1916, consisted
of: Miss Eleanor Skunk, chairman;
Miss Weirman, Mrs. John w. Reilly,
Miss Pearson, Mrs. Harvey Smith,
Mrs. William Henderson"
The report of Mss Skunk, the
chairman of this committee, is
quoted and she, with the members
of her committee, is praised for
splendid work.
"Our interest has continued in the
outdoor schools and in the schools
for deficient children. We feel that
the milk and crackers given each
day in the ungraded schools does
untold good. The future citizenship
f our race depends upon the health
of the children of to-day. Every
child should have quart of milk
a day. | wish we could increase the
number of schools in which we give
milk. 1t is neither sensible, eco
nomical or profitable to have under
nourished children in a community.
1--WE are interested in the mem
tai hygiene clinics, which are doing
much for the deficient people of our
city. and in all anti-tuberulosis work
in the city and county. We have sent
five barrels of warm clothing to
Mont Alto Sanatorium for the use
of Harrisburg patients.
I'VE have co-operated with the
Red Cross in every way possible.
Our clubhouse has been at their
service at all times. We have been
especially interested in the public
health undertaken by the National
Red Cross: in the rehabilitation of
wounded soldiers and in the Junior
Red Cross in the schools and in
their Tag Day, May a, when more
than $4,000 was raised for the Red
Cross. We financed the prizes for
that day.
"The fly swatting contests were
q great success, Mrs. Solomon Hiney
chairman. Thirteen bushels of dead
flies were measured and paid for
and prizes given"
The total membership of the club
is now 593. During the past year
six members passed on. These were:
Mrs. j. Frank Ritter. Mrs. William
w. Jennings, Mrs. j. E. b. Cunning
ham, Miss Anna Margaret Miller
Mrs. John r. Garner, Charles A.
Kunkel.
Reports of the various departments
include:
The Municipal Department
Miss Rachel Pollock, chairman, re-
ports Every effort that was possi-
BILE has been made to bring about
an appointment of a police matron
this year. but it has not been sue
cessful The need of a matron IS
apparent and the Civic Club feels it
should have a voice in the selecting