The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-09
~ RUTH JAMES

Ss'uEtSSy VI hs S"AtoAs
~ RUTH JAMES
The history of the Wayne County
chapter of the American Red Cross
dates from Feb. 1. 1917 to May l. 1919.
and includes various forms OF activi-
ty charactistic of the thousands OF
Red Cross organizations which work
ed faithfully to alleviate the hard
ships and sufferings incident to the
greatest war in the worlds history.
The organization Of the Wayne
county chapter took place in the high
school auditorium at Richmond on the
first day of February, 1917, the charter
containing 81 members, the jurisdic-
ton of the chapter being confined to
Wayne county. The membership OF
the organization grew rapidly and by
April 6. 1917. 800 memberships had
been obtained, a number of classes
in first aid had been organized. work
shop had begun operations and work
ers were busfly engaged in assisting
the Greatest Mother in the World"
/ in making surgical dressings. hospital
garments and knitted articles for ser
vice men of this country and those OF
our allies across the seas.
Branches Established y
Shortly after Red Cross work was
inaugurated in Richmond there came
demands from the women OF the town
ships in the county, for branch work
shops. Consequently work rooms were
opened in the township centers. there
by enabling hundreds of patriotic
Wayne county women to devote hours
of their time each day in advancing
the work Of the chapter.
0f Mt q
were established in the Masonic tenn
pie. North Ninth and 4 street. the
large north room on the first floor OF
the building being an ideal location
for a work shop. The chapter. eSpend-
ed the small sum of $40 a mSHth as
rental for the room, the amount being
paid to the Masonic order. The shop
was open from s a. m. to p. m, from
Monday to Saturday, inclusive. At
times when the demand for articles
was greatest the women worked from
early morning till late night. thus
making it possible for the chapter 10
fill all it's orders promptly.
First Chairman
Major Paul Comstock was the first
chairman Of the chapter, his term of
office being from Feb. 1, 1917 to July
10, 1917. The unexpired term Of Major
Comstock was filled by DR.. Louis f.
Ross, who served as acting chairman
from July 10, 1917 to October %, 1917,
when he was elected chairman of the
chapter, which office he held till May
l, 1919. A large amount of the credit
for the success achieved by the Red
Cross in Wayne county, was attributed
20 d: Tess, who devoted much time
toward building I'D the chapter.
The personnel Of the chapter admin
istrators was as follows:
CHAIRMAN
Major Paul Comstock-February
1917 to July 10, 1917.
DR.. Louis F. Ross. Acting Chairman
July 10, 1917 to Oct. %, 1917. Oct
%, 1917 to May 1. 1919.
VICE CHAIRMAN
DR.. Louis F. Ross-Feb. 1, 1917 tt
Oct %. 1917.
Mr.. Fred S. Bates-oct. %. 1917 t.
Nov "a, 1918.
DR.. Joseph J. Rae-Nov. "a, 1917
to May l, 1919
SECRETARY
Mrs. Burton J. Carr-Feb. l, 191'
to March 1918.
Mrs Wilbur Hibberd-March 1911
to May /, 1919.
HEASonCn
Mr.. Will Duning. Jr.-Feb. 1. 191
to Oct. IS. 1917.
Mr.. Edwin G. Crawford-Oct. Is
1917 to July 2, 1918.
Mr.. Albert G. Matthews-July
1918 to Nov. "a, 1918.
The Dickinson Trust Co.-Nov. q
1918 to May 1. 1919.
CIVILIAN RELIEF COMMITTEE
Mrs Ebert w. Shirk. Chairman
Sept. 20. 1917 to June 1918.
Mrs. John H. Johnson, Chairman
July 2. 1913 to May l. 1919.
Miss Flora Mae Green. Secretary
Jan. 7. 1918 to April 1, 1919.
Miss S. Ethel Clark Secretary
April l, 1918 to May /, 1919.
JUNIOR RED CROSS
Mr.. Joseph T. Giles, Director-Sep
1917 to Nov. 1918.
Mr.. Jerome H. Bentley. Director
Nov IS. 1918 to May 1. 1919.
DEPT. OF WOMAN'S WORK
Mrs. Paul Comstock, Director-Fel
l, 1917 to Nov 8, 1917.
Miss Margaret Starr. Director
Nov. 3, 1917 to May I 1919.
CHAIRMAN FOR SURGICAL
DRESSINGS
Mrs. Oliv> Alllson-Feb. 1, 1917
Ma Edwsrd II. Scks:k-April
'31S to Nov. ii. 1918
CHAIRMAN FOR HOSPITAL
GARMENTS
Miss Mary Peltz - June 1917
Sept. 20, 1917.
Miss Anna Lough-Sept. 20, 191
to May l. 1919.
CHAIRMAN FOR KNITTED
GARMENTS
Mrs. John w. Clements-Sept. 2
1917 to Jan. 1918.
Miss Ann Nicholson-Jan. 1918
Sept. 1918.
Mrs. Edgar F. Hiatt-Sept. 1918 |
May /. 1919.
CHAIRMAN FOR COMFORT KIT
Mrs Frank Critchet.
CHAIRMAN FOR CANTEENS
Mrs. Wilbur Hibberd-Sept. 1917
March 1918.