The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-10

every way possible 70 laclatat1 tne
work and 10 provide ION the comfort 81
the workers
Chapter affairs were a first cons
Quoted II the enormous nom which
was nfikinaily planned for police
court This room extends the entire
width Of the building with large wins
doWs opening 70 the sunlight ana All
on both ends and at one side, When
1T became necessary to make extra
spaee for the surgical dressings de-
partment tie city generously vacated
two offices opening from the quarters
already occupied by the chapter. These
two rooms we're also finely lighted
and ventilated and extremely adapt
able for the purpose required by the
chapter. Two other rooms opening out
of the general headquarters were used
for the office and for a storage room
respectively. AS the knitting and hos
pital garment work grew so tremend-
ously, it became necessary to provide
additional storage space for materials
and wool.
Permission was given by the city,
and a storage room was made in the
corner Of the large general room. II
was not found possible, however, to
house the Home Service Department
with the rest OF the chapter ,activi-
ties. This department was an except
ionally busy one, and sought at all
hours by numbers of people. Most
Of the affairs laid before the depart
ment were matters requiring privacy
for discussion, and it was imperative
that this be secured, and that the de-
partment be made as accessible as
possible, to strangers seeking advice
and assistance.
Taking this into consideration, an
office was opened on the first nooT OF
the Professional Building, afterwards
second room was taken directly
across the hail. These offices were ex-
ceptionally we'll fitted with everything
needful to carry on the work, and the
first paid worker employed for regu-
lar Red Cross work was employed by
this department in the securing of
Miss Verna Kergan in September,
1873. In April, 1918, both offices were
removed to the second floor Of the
same building.
We doubt II any chapter in West
Virginia of equal size, could show as
little overhead expense as Fairmont
Chapter. Housing, light and heat
were furnished free by the city. The
chapter headquarters did not hold one
single surplus article Of furniture.
Practically every piece Of that In
stalled was donated. When the need
for another desk arose, the chairman
or supervisor Of some department told
the press chairman and she notified
the public. Shortly thereafter tele-
phone would bring the information
that a second hand desk was at our
service. 1t was thus with most of our
furnishings, except that in many In
stances the articles donated we're new,
having been bought by some one es-
pecially for the use Of the Red Cross.
One Of the greatest difficulties the
chapter encountered was in the re-
ceiving and shipping Of supplies. The
headquarters was on the third floor
OF the building with no elevator SER
vice, and the enormous boxes incor1-
ing and outgoing made heavy work for
the expressmen and those who looked
after the shipping and packing. The
city firemen and the janitor gave
great assistance at times In handling
the boxes, and during the last few
months Of the chapters greatest acNi
tiyity, a room on the first floor Of 9
nearby building was donated, which,
greatly lightened the burden.
Mrs. Rogers Kingsland was the first
chairman Of the Extension Commit
tee and her organization work was
fine; her first report, as shown on the
secretary's minutes, gave the chapter
twelve auxiliaries.. On the resigna-
ton Of Mrs. Kingsland, Mrs. j. A.
Meredith was appointed, which posi-
ton she held until her election as
chapter chairman, when Mrs. A. L.
Lehman was appointed, her term of
office not yet having expired. The
total number OF auxiliaries to the
chapter was thirty-five. They we're as
follows: Barackville, Fairview, Hut
Crimson, Monongah, Worthington,
Watson, Grant Town, Hickman's Run,
Basnettsville, Boothsville, Hoult, Mid
dleton, Everson, Kingmont, Hammond,
Colfax, Norway, catawba, Bethlehem,
Walnut Grove, Baxter Pine Grove,
Benton's Ferry, Hoodsville Carolina,
Millersyille, Murray, Pennington,
Annabelle. Rivesville, Ida May, St. i
Anne, East Side Central Trinity M.
e. church, Mt. Zion Baptist church,
the last two being colored workers.
The women Of the auxiliaries were
the nucleus about which conferred most
OF the county war work, as conducted
BY the women. They were splendid
set Of aggressive, thorough, earnest
people. They worked harmoniously
together, and in the various cam
psisns, as well as the enormous
amount Of Red Cross work accom-
plished, their achievements were re-
'markable. Three Of the auxiliaries
sent members in to headquarters for
Miss Lovejey's course in surgical
dressing. They then fitted up their
own surgical dressing rooms and pro-
duced many hundreds of dressings
under the supervision Of the gradu-
ates Of Miss Loyejoy's course.
The Educational Committee had for
Its chairman, Mrs. Anna vockrodt,
who was active IN working up the
classes for Miss Lovejoy, and others
in First Aid, and in arousing interest
In the two Home Service Institutes
conducted in the city. These Institutes