The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-10-06
BOARD CONDEMNS HOME
American Rescue Workers, Orange
burg, Lose License.


home, located at Orangeburg, has
been investigated by G. Croft Will
liams, secretary, and Leroy NJ. Salvo,
fiscal agent for the state board of
public welfare, and condemned. Mr..
Williams says in his report that he
does not believe that this institution
is serving any worthy purpose and
that it should not have the support OF
either the citizens of Orangeburg or
those of the other parts of the state.
from the results of this investiga-
ton, this board has withdrawn the
license of the Rescue Workers of
Orangeburg.
Sanitary Conditions Bad.
Mr.. Williams says in his report that
sanitary conditions Of the home are
so bad as to be a menace to health
in the city of Orangeburg. He also
says that some of the former in
mates were diseased and did not re-
ceive medical attention, especially was
this the case among women inmates.
"The plant Of the Rescue home is a
TWO and a half story frame dwelling
house, which is old and. unpainted,
according to Mr.. Williams's report. It
has a drab and forbidding appear
ance. There is no running water. Oil
lamps are used. Heating is done by
stoves.
'sThe first floor contains a dining
room, kitchen, bedroom for children,
and an Office. The walls are soiled
and smoke stained. The second floor
contains four bedrooms. The walls
of these rooms were lately calci-
mined. They are furnished with dou-
BILE beds, several dressers and other
odd pieces of furniture. The third
. floor contains two bedrooms. The fur
niture of the house consists of 16 dou-
BILE beds, few chairs, two dining
tables and other pieces of various
types and patterns. Cleanliness,
cheerfulness and comfort, conditions
that should contain in all rescue
homes, are lacking.
''rhe front and back yards and gar
den were clean, but there was a lack
of flowers. Indeed, the whole lacked
color. A spigot in the side yard fur
nishes water for the institution. =
'The Rescue Workers home is not
for the permanent care of inmates, 1t
only takes emergency cases. Its oc-
cupants therefore are transient. This
must be borne in mind in judging OF
the plant and it's facilities. We were
informed that the inmates came not
only from the city of Orangeburg but
also from different parts of South
Carolina and from adjoining states.
Staff Workers.
"The staff workers consist of Major
Griggs, Mrs. Griggs, Captain Griggs,
the majors 16 year old boy, and Cap
tain Holland. The inmates consist
of a feebleminded woman and her
four months old child. We were in
formed that religious exercises con-
sisted of a blessing before and after
meals and prayer meetings when
emergencies arise. Major Griggs re-
ported that he had placed out IL chill
dren in the last year. We found
no records of these children's foster
homes, nor how they were progress
ing in them. AS far as we could
ascertain there is practically no su-
pervision given to them, nor is there
any one on the staff competent to do
this work.
"Only one record book is kept.
This is an account in a weekly report
book. It is impossible to audit the
accounts of the American Rescue
Workers of Orangeburg from the
meager facts now in their possession.
The report sworn to by Major Griggs
is evidently only a general approx
nation when it comes to the spiritual
treatment and the reports Of the re-
lief department and rescue depart
ment. The major was evidently enam-
ored of the decimal system of nota-
tion when he made out this report,
as most of the items are in tens or
multiples thereof. Recently the may
or of Orangeburg forbade the Ameri-
can Rescue Workers of America to
solicit funds on the streets of that
city. This action was taken because
the mayor believed that the Rescue
Workers home was not properly con-
Quoted. We commend the mayor for
this action, as it was done in the best
interests of the citizens Of Orange
burg and of the SOCIAL agencies there
that are endeavoring to help those
who are dependent or delinquent.