Woman's enterprise., 1921-08-19
CHARITY WARD ASSOCIATION.

! CHAklIY WAkD ASSUClAllUN.
The Charity Ward Association was
organized in the year 1908 by mum.
Der of ladies and through the kindness
of the late DR.. T. P. Singletary two
empty wards were offered in the Sin
gletary Sanitarium on Florida street
and at that time three beds were given
to the association as follows: One
from the late Mrs. Lee Howell, one
from the B. P. O. Elks and one from
the Daughters of Isabella. Four beds
purchased by the association made
seven beds in all.
From this small beginning these
kind-hearted women took up the
work of caring for the poor, sick and
| needy. They listed many of our citi-
zens as subscribers at 25 cents per
month which was used to pay DR.. Sin
gletary for every patient the Charity
Ward Association took in the wards
and often these monthly subscriptions
could scarcely meet the payments for
the charity patients. Nothing daunt-
ed. these enegetic women worked in
defatigably to raise funds otherwise.
In 1910 the following ladies decided
to have the organization Incorporated:
President, Mrs. ]. A. aCarruthsrs;
first vice president. Mrs. L. U. Babin:
treasurer. Mrs. D. r. Capdeville, (now
Mrs. McHugh); executive committee.
Mrs. A. Bauer. Miss Irene Pujol and
Mrs. o. F. Rabenhorst.
DR.. Singletary's health having been
failing in 1910 and 1911, he decided to
close the Baton Rouge Sanitarium and
he asked the ladies of this association
to continue this sanitarium and offer
ed to rent them the building furnish
ed at 500 per month, at which place
they carried on the work until about
1911-1912. In February Of that year
the association decided to get place
further out Of town and Mrs. Car
ruthers got in touch with Mr.. R. Nc
Leod and arranged for its rental, pro-
vided the owner made improvements
on the property. On March IS, 1917,
the place became known as the Sani-
tarium end on December 10th, 1919
this property was purchased by the
association for S27.500.
It was an up hill work for these
ladies to meet the payments but many
kind friends came to their assistance.
The late Mr.. VIM. j. Know was be-
fore his death one Of the largest con-
tributors and was always ready to
give advice to the promoters of this
wonderful work. Mrs. Ella Knox
Keener also gave the Sanitarium a
gife Of $1,000.
Too much praise cannot be given
Mrs. Caruthers and her noble assist
ants for their indefatigable efforts to
maintain this much needed institution.
The present building is inadequate
for the work of the association. The
wards are over-crowded and on many
occasions patients are obliged to oc-
cupy cots in the halls. There is an
efficient corps Of nurses at the Sani-
tarium and Mrs. Stafford, secretary, |
is untiring in her efforts to conduct
things properly.
The city Of Baton Rouge owes the
association a debt of gratitude espe-
cially Mrs. Caruthers, the capable
president, who has given her time to
keep up this worthy cause, overcom-
ing all obstacles under the most try
ing circumstances for it is really
through her efforts that the Baton
Rouge Sanitarium has reached its
state of usefulness.
This is one Of the greatest works
ever perfected by the women Of Baton
Rouge and the members of this as
sociation should be proud of their ef-
forts.