The Press., 1922-10-12
STAFFORD SPRINGS
Red Cross


 The following report of the develop ment of the American Red Cross at Stafford Springs was given by Mrs. G. P. Bard, vice chairman at the an nual meeting held October 29th.
 In the spring of 1917 Mrs. Isabel W. Baker began receiving parcels of sew ing from Hartford Chapter This con- tinued until our organization as branch of the Rockville chapter, In June 1917 the Red Cross drive for funds and members was carried through by Mrs. Baker and a commit. tee composed of women. The sub scriptions went to Rockville where chapter had been organized. On Au gust 3rdW. H. St. John of Hartford chapter addressed a representative gathering here outlining Red Cross work and details of organization. At that meeting it was voted to ask Rockville chapter to accept us as branch. On August 24th, another public meeting was held at which or ganiZation was effected with EnOs B.. Penny as chairman of Stafford Branch. Mrs. E. K. Taft, chairman of Knitting, brought yarn to that meeting and dis tributed it for knitting. At the sug- gestion of Charles F. Beckwith the Business Mems club gave the use of 2 rooms and lavatOry for Red Cross and on September 4th, work on surgi-4 cal dressing, Mrs. B. c. DeBorde chairman, directed by Mrs. Frank Champlin, was begun, one meeting for work being held in the Library build Syn Yo in1 opfn til June 1919. During this time being under no expense for rent, light, heat or phone. Work was crOWding in the early fall of 1918 and Col. Charles Warren gave the use of two rooms in a block opposite our headquarters which were occupied by the knitting department and the sewing depart ment under the chairmanship of Mrs. R. E. Quinley The chairman of sur gical dressings, through illness, was unable to continue the work after the first month and from then to the close of that work it was directed by Mrs. G. P. Bard, who qualified by be- coming a certified teacher through Hartford chapter. A course in surgi- cal dressings was given here by Mrs. Robert Lansing, but examinations were not taken for immediately the manual was changed. Our workers had taken two lessons day for four days. The first draft quota of IT men from Stafford left September 18th, 1917, and we equipped them with the usual knitted garments and comfort kits. These last were always made by the Women's Relief Corps under the direction of Mrs. W. B. Whitaker, and from the beginning to the end we ovi&f &n a yarn knitted by Stafford Red Cross was made in our town and Walter Scott, manager of that mill supplied us with all the twine and paper we had occasion to use. We shipped all our production to Rockville by auto mobile, Charles H. Moore having this responsibility All of the expensive equipment was loaned without time limit: an electric cutter, now doing service in our local hospital; two electric sewing machines; two sewing machine moters; four sewing ma chimes. Two groups of evening work CTS, the Pocahontas and the l.. A. A. o. H., should be mentioned; girls who labored all day in the factories spent three hours a week over Red Cross work tables. Splendid work. The Christmas of 1917 the school children and townspeople contributed funds and a small box of goodies with hand inscribed card was sent to every lad from our town who had answered the Nations call. The details were car ried through by Mrs. c. B. Pinney. As a self-supporting branch funds were never lacking for our activities. A special drive was made in the fall of 1917 for funds to carry the local work The result of this plus subsequent l drives and gifts, kept the treasurer H. R. Wightman, free from worry Executives and chairman have con tinued in office without change from the time of organization, with one ex- i ception, Lillian M. Welsh, secretary :, removed to Boston in 1920 and her DO sition is now filled by Mathilda B. Nc. Culloch. When the production Ot clothing due February 1919 was finish ed, we retained our quarters; HartfOrC E! Chapter loaned us her teaching nurse Charlotte N. Page, and three classes averaging over 20, were organized il Home Care of the Sick. Co-inciden
 with these courses 20 layettes,l IA l women's night gowns and 230 petit coats were produced. The rooms wer,
 returned to the club, June 18th 1913
 In January 1921 we were graciOusl,
 permitted to become Stafford ReG Cross chapter, an honor appreciates
 in our little town. We had in ou
 treasury about $3,0O0 in the fall 0
 1919 and were eager to make publi
 health nursing demonstration. It tool
 a year and half to secure the nurse
 Fortunate waiting, for on March 1st
 1921, Miss Anna Miller, R. N. of Soul
 NorWalk, came as public health nurse
 committee fully organized with it
 own officers is directed by Dr. c. F Bard, chairman. A Public Health Cen
 ter has been equipped and opened
 Much of the equipment was given b,
 the Junior Chautanqua of 1921. Durinl
 the war, Margaret Ballantine wa
 chairman of the Junior Red Cross
 This group was ready for any serVic
 possible to them, and at one time mad
 and equipped large number of hos
 pital bags. If we have in any measur
 succeeded in Red Cross endeavors, it
 because being little town we've beel
 able to keep each other fully inform
 ed as to motives and methods, and be
 cause, knowing we are small, we'v
 tried to do few things only and d them well.