The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-18
ROTARIANS WILL
LAY STONE FOR
HOSPITAL UNIT
April e Date Marking
elimination of Eight
Years Effort.

Indiana Rotary clubs will mark
the successful elimination of more
than eight years Of intensive work
in behalf of underprivileged chill
dren when they join the Riley Me
mortal Association here April %, for
the laying Of the corner stone Of the
Indiana Rotary convalescent unit
Of the James Whitcomb Riley hos
pital for children.
Date for the event was approved
at a joint conference between Rob-
ert z. Heun, former governor of the
Indiana district Of Rotary clubs and
chairman Of the Indiana Rotary
Riley advisory committee, and Riley
Memorial Association officials.
Heun and other members Of the
advisory committee joined in ex-
tending an invitation to every
member Of Rotary International in
Indiana to attend the stone laying
ceremonies. Other members of the
committee are G. o. Grafton,
Muncie, and Ben Sherwood, Bed
ford, former district governors;
William F. Hodges Of Gary, govern
or of the Twentieth Rotary district,
and Obie J. Smith, indianapolis,
president of the Indianapolis Rotary
Club.
Work to Be Reviewed
Smith extended an invitation to
outstate Rotarians to attend the
weekly meeting of the Indianapolis
Club at the Claypool hotel at noon
of the day of the stone laying, when
Rotary's work in behalf of the I'M
derprivileged child will be the key
note.
A subscription fund of $276,000
has been raised by the Rotary clubs
in eight years, of which 100000 is
being invested immediately in the
unit. e
Designed with the purpose of add
ing sunshine in greater abundance,
fresh air in unlimited quantities,
color and laughter to the plan of The
Riley hospital, the new unit is being
built on a seven-acre plot of ground,
on the thirty-acre park planned
campus of the institution. It is de-
tached from the ward buildings of
the hospital, but near enough for
convenience. 1t faces the Ball
nurses home across a ten-acre
meadow, which soon will be planted
and Handicapped.
Three stories high, the unit will
conform in architecture to the de-
sign of the other buildings, except
that it will have square wings at
either end which will contain sun
rooms. Across the front of the
building, designed by Robert Frost
Daggett, will extend a one-story
patio with columns and arches. The
columns will support balcony, an
other area of sunshine and fresh
air, opening on the second floor.
Nurses quarters and storerooms
will occupy the third floor space be-
meath the English gabled roof.
Play Room Provided
On the main floor will be an audi
torium for motion picture exhibit
lions, plays and other entertain
ments which the children them
selves may arrange or societies look
ing after the cheer of the patients
may present. The auditorium like
wise will be gymnasium for cor
receive treatments, or may be used
as playroom. Other rooms in the
building will be for physical therapy
occupational therapy, administra-
ton and service.
Almost as essential as the plan
OF the building itself is that
for outside Fairgrounds on the
seven-acre tract. The ground will
be equipped with play apparatus
that will contribute to the physical
and mental health of the little
patients.
The unit will add sixty beds to the
capacity Of the hospital, which al
ready has accommodations for 200.
but constantly has a waiting list of
almost the same number. Last year
the hospital cared for approximate
~ 1000 patients from every county
In the state. 1t is estimated that
the Rotary unit will so increase the
facilities for handling patients that
4'UOO more a year can be cared for.