The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1940-09-27
Refuge IN Iowa

4dA 11AA1lS continuity VI dUOUI OOO
persons IL miles from the old cap
ital of Iowa and the present site
of the University, Iowa City, was
settled in 1853 by Quaker emf
grants from Ohio. Among the pio-
neer residents was the family of
former President Hoover. Another
native of West Branch is Grant
Wood, who has immortalized Iowa
farm life by his paintings.
Always noted as advocates of
popular education, the Quakers of
West Branch in 1890 opened a
boarding school for the children of
farmers in The outlying districts.
A large portion of the funds for
the building was given by Thomas
Scattergood, prominent Philadel-
phia Friend, and it was for him
that the school was named. Need
for the school has passed in recent
years = changing circumstances,
the financial depression-and in
1881 the place was closed, to be
used only for the yearly meetings.
A considerable amount of work
had already be- n done by the
American Friends on behalf of the
German refugees, but this work
had been confined to the t.
When attention was called to the
old school, the Philadelphia group,
having long realized the difficult
situation being created by the con-
centration of refugees in the larg-
er cities, suggested that the build
ing be converted into Hostel for
men and women who had fled to
lhis country from the Nazi terror.
Here in the very heart of the
agricultural west, refugees would
come for a period of adjustment.
In an environment entirely differ
ent from the one they had left,
they would learn English and be-
come accustomed to American
ways.
The Hostel occupies a 13-acre
tract in what is the richest part
of the Farmbelt. The main build
ing is a large three-story struc-
ture, part stone and part wood.
Adjoining is the Hickory Grove
Meeting House which was built
during the Civil War when the
community of West Branch was
considerably enlarged by the arri-
val of new groups of Quakers. One
of the first matters of business
taken up by the Hickory Grove
meeting concerned itself with aid
for the recently-freed Negro. A
committee of West Branch Friends
was appointed at that time to
raise funds to aid the unemployed
colored people during the Recon
struction period.
Work on the Hostel started APP
ril Is, 1889, but it was not until
June 1 that the place was ready
to receive it's first residents. A
staff of young American Friends
and the first refugees cooperated
in converting the old school build
ing into a warm-hearted home.
Unnecessary classrooms were
changed into living rooms, work
rooms, library, and living quar-
tiers.
One group of Iowa Quakers pro-
vided the building, another the
furniture. Administration of the
project is carried on by the Amer
lean Friends Service Committee
which supplied staff members.
Support of the individuals finding
haven at Scattergood is contrib
uted by Catholic, Protestant or
Jewish refugee committees, de-
pending upon the religious belief
of the person.
The days program at Scatter
good begins at $50 in the morn
ing. A few minutes, in Quaker
custom, are devoted to silent con-
temptation.
Some work in the garden, others
help around the house with the
cleaning, the cooking, the laundry
and the other details that are
common to an Iowa farm. Once
the work is finished the classes
begin. Sessions are devoted to
English, History, and American