Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-14

Centers which grew out of a meet
was on hand to point out the sue
the need now is for similar centers
The Walsh Club for War Worker
has come long way since Christ
mas eve when Mrs. Mclean and thu
women OF Mrs. Lands committee
with the aid of workmen who prob.
ably would have enjoyed being homt
with their families, labored into the
wee hours of the morning to gel
hhtngs ready for the formal opening
Comfort and Glamour.
The atmosphere OF comfort anc
glamour for which Friendship /.
famous is reflected in the large rec
feational room furnished with Mrs
McLean'S own things-inviting sofas
and historic chairs, huge mirrors
giant murals originally painted for
q one-night ball at Friendship, and
heavy carved table in the center
to name few.
Mrs. Mclean had the quarters
renovated at her own expense. In
addition to the necessary painting
and wiring, the floor was covered
with linoleum block thing and a
kitchen and bathroom facilities
made available.
Against this background the en-
thusiasrn of the war worker men,
bers is contagious. With the radio
playing, groups sat about reading or
chatting, while a few of the mem
bers had formed a conga line which
was fast gathering recruits.
A sort of organization meeting
had just been held. with Miss Edith
Leppanen, an OCD employee, ap-
pointed temporary chairman until
May |.
Typical Of the group for whom the
club is designed. Miss Leppanen.
who is from Michigan, explained
that she lived nearby in a one-room
apartment with two other girls.
What would she do in the evenings
II she didn't have use of the club?
Goodness only knows" Miss Lep-
panen exclaimed Just sit about
the apartment talking l guess"
On Temporary Basis.
Operating until May on tenn
porary basis in order to give men,
bers a chance to become better &C
quainted, the club currently has a
membership fee of so cents for three
months. After May l the fee will be
25 cents a month.
More than 900 have signed up as
being interested in the club and
approximately $50 already have paid
their membership dues.
Chairmen present the other eve
ming included G. L. Parks of the
War Production oBard, who is in
charge of entertainment, and Miss
Dorothea Erenreich of the Office of
Price Administration, who handles
publicity, with her assistant, Miss
Henrietta Miller, War Department
employe.
They explained that the club
hopes soon to start a special pro-
gram for night workers. It's open
now from 4 to II pm. daily with the
exception Of Friday and Saturday,
when the hours are from S pm. to
midnight.
The publicity chairman was anx-
ious to make it clear that the club
Is primarily informal. Anybody
eligible for membership, she said,
can drop in during club hours, just
to rest or to play as the spirit moves.
There will be few parties from
time to time. A Valentine party
was held last night and movies
will be shown this afternoon.
The two staff workers who are
always on hand are provided by the
District Board Of Recreation. This
board and the War Hospitality
Committee work with Mrs. Lands
committee and approved the orig
inal plans before they were carried
out
Mrs. Lands pointed out that an
application also has been submit
ted through the Recreation Board
for funds provided through the
Lanham Act for similar centers.
Club Site Selected.
Location for club for colored
workers on Logan Circle also has
been selected and will be started
when the funds become available.
Finding quarters for such centers
Is, Of course, one OF the ma jor prob
lens. If people would give the
houses, the committee feels conf
dent that the necessary funds for
operating them will be obtained.
Mrs. Lands and Mrs. Mclean were
assisted the other evening in show
ing the club by Mrs. Byron Price
who handles publicity for the COM
nlittee, and Mrs N. r Howard.
Others on the War Workers Club
Centers Committee include Mrs
Leon Henderson, Mrs. Robert Pat
terson. Mrs. William Davis, Mrs
John Ihlder, Mrs. j. M Wolverton
Mrs. John Blanford, Mrs. Beatrice
Sherman, Mrs. Howard Smith anc
Mrs. Prentiss Brown.
Mrs. Henry A. Wallace and q
number Of other prominent womer
are cooperating
nrINc Yute An