USA > California > Santa Clara County > War history of Santa Clara County > Part 10
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On the night of May 10, 1919, the Victory Loan passed into history-with the usual record of over- subscription. Much had been asked-and more given-given with the spirit of generous patriotisim that marked every Santa Clara County, every San Jose wartime endeavor. The men and women at home backed up the fighting lads in the reeking trenches with every atom of energy, with the full strength of honest effort; to "the last man and the last dollar"-not alone for the glory and the honor and the permanence of these United States, but that Liberty might not perish from the earth.
NATIONAL DEFENDERS CLUB, SAN JOSE
With the establishment of Camp Fremont, only 20 miles away, and soldiers coming to San Jose hy hundreds, a place had to be provided where they might rest, read and write-and eat. The Chamber of Commerce lost no time. Its president, Dr. W. C. Bailey, immediately appointed Charles R. Parkin- son chairman of a committee to provide a soldiers' Recreation Fund. A discussion of ways and means caused someone to remember an old fund left over from the time when San Jose had a Rose Carnival. This fund, amounting to several hundred dollars, with acerned interest, was in the hands of the Rose Carnival treasurer, Alexander Hart. Turned over to the recreation committee, this fund made possible the opening of the rest rooms for soldiers and sail- ors in the Chamber of Commerce building.
The boys kept coming and the needs increased. If this place was to approximate home to the boys
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WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
in uniform the Chamber of Commerce must have help. Accordingly a committee of eight was ap- pointed by the Women's National Council of De- fense to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce. Members of this important committee were Mrs Nicholas Bowden, Mrs. D. A. Beattie, Mrs. Lester Morse, Mrs. J. W. Davey, Mrs. W. L. Woodrow, Mrs. J. E. Haneoek, Mrs. Louis Sonniksen, Mrs. R. R. Johnston and Mrs. Charles R. Parkinson, chairman.
Women's hands touched with magie the big con- vention hall at the Chamber of Commerce, trans- forming it into a club room bright with ehintz, at- tractive with flowers, inviting to rest with great eushion-heaped couches and easy chairs. Piano, Vietrola, pool and billiard tables and games were there to help lift the shadow from lonely hours. An adjoining room offered books, magazines and newspapers. Here an abundance of writing mate- rials made possible the letters to mother and father -and the sweetheart-baek home. Remembering that while the soldier might "live without books" no civilized doughboy could "live without cooks," another room turned into a very modern kitchen- and the canteen opened for service in November, 1917,-a service of a whatsoever kind. The open- ing reception was attended by 200 boys from Camp Fremont.
Forty women made themselves responsible for the elub. Each of these women, provided with six help- ers, served one day a month. Women enrolled for this practical service numbered 200. Mrs. W. L. Woodrow was appointed chairman of the eantecn; Mrs. Frank Lieb, secretary; Mrs. S. A. Appleton, treasurer; Mrs. Charles R. Parkinson, director of serviee.
The War Camp Community Service created by the War Department to direet community activities near all army eamps had given over the establishing of these needed soldier-elubs to the National League for Women's Service. These activities became standardized under the name of "National Defend- ers' Club". Under this name hundreds of soldiers daily learned to know and love them. With the name came the dignified and becoming uniform, giving the plainest of evidence that the women 'were there for service and not to patronize the men of the army. Certain high standards were adopted for the women serving as well as for the men using the elub.
Every visitor commented on the atmosphere of the room. There was an intangible something that made the men feel that this was their elub, where they might follow their own inelination. Each one of them proved himself to be both soldier and gen- tleman. The club grew from 216 men to over 2200. The whole community became interested. Long lists of women workers were added to help on the busy Wednesday and Saturday camp half-boliday 3 and on Sunday when the elubroom overflowed.
And the food! Just like mother used to make! No matter how many hungry boys came there was no limit to the supply of real home-made cakes and pies, salads, and strawberry shortcake-with whipped cream! Whole chests of berries, great
heaping boxes of peaches, pears and apricots eame from the busy ranchers who were not too busy to remember the boys.
The soldiers didn't write all the letters that bore the stamp of their elub. Many letters were written that they never knew about-written by the motli- erly women here to cheer the hearts of the waiting mothers in far-away homes.
With its unique organization, the Defenders' Club gave many patriotie services. There were special suppers served to members of band, members who came to attend special patriotie demonstrations. Groups of loyal women served luncheons to the War Work Council, a committee serving in conjuction with the Red Cross chairman. Another group can- ned and preserved fruits for use at the canteen and the base hospital. When the dread influenza epi- demie elosed the canteen to the soldiers, the Ir. Cross and charitable organizations appealed for help. The canteen became the cooking and dis- tributing eenter for the relief of influenza sufferers among the poor. For seven weeks this work was carried on, giving assistance to over 200 families. representing about 600 influenza sufferers. At one time seven "soup routes " were maintained that the siek migiht regularly be supplied with nourishing food. Medical supplies were donated and automo- biles supplied to assist the nurses in going quickly from case to ease.
Upon the abandoning of Camp Fremont the Na- tional Defenders' Club was closed-dishes and fur- nishings were given to worthy charities and to the eenter for women in industry, established by the Y. W. C. A .. Only the 300 or more women who never stopped working for a day or a night can tell what patriotism and love burned with a constant flame to keep the home fires bright for the lonely homesiek boys-and only the 20,000 or more men who visited the canteen ean tell what it meant to them.
NATIONAL DEFENDERS' CLUB, PALO ALTO
Perhaps the one department of war work under tho direction of the . Women's Committee that may have reached a little farther than some of the ot'. fwas the canteen. With the establishment of Camp Fremont, at Palo Alto, not only the community but the entire county awakened to the immediate need of a place approximating home to the soldier. The canteen answered that need. The Palo Alto De- fenders' Club, of which Mrs. J. G. Sharp was presi- dent, quickly transformed the big hall over the postoffice (100x95 feet) into an ideal soldiers' club. Opened April 2, 1918, it became the fourth largest elnb, serving more than 102,000 men during its year of activity.
Patriotie women active in the canteen's founding and snecess were Mrs. Parker S. Maddux, county chairman of the National League for Women's Service, aided by Mrs. Howard Waterman and an advisory board consisting of Mrs. David Starr Jor- dan, Mrs. R. L. Wilbur, Mrs. John M. Mitehell, Mrs. H. Clay Miller, Mrs. H. J. Moule, Mrs. David Marx and Mrs. Horatio Stebbins.
The club chairman to whose efforts the canteen
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WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
owes much of its suecess, was Mrs. James G. Sharp, who found an able lieutenant in the secretary, Mrs. R. Gallegos. The canteen was run by Mrs. Payson Treat and Miss Effie MeGilvray, aided by the fol- lowing captains: Mrs. Frederick Wheeler, Mrs. Flett, Mrs. H. J. Moule, Mrs. W. B. Allen, Mrs. Otis Briggs, Mrs. E. J. Hughes, Mrs. Theopilus Allen, Mrs. J. P. Tatlock and Mrs. J. Conover. A special group from Los Gatos was headed by Mrs. Edith Cameron and Mrs. Dolores Wilkins Kent.
The War Camp Community Service Commission had expended $2000 on improvements to the loft used; but the furniture was all donated by inter- ested citizens. This furniture was all painted and upholstered by a committee under the leadership of Mrs. H. Stark. The club had many activities. There was a well equipped auto corps; a canning corps; an entertainment corps, and a fruit conservation corps under Mrs. Parker S. Maddux and Mrs. E. J. Thomas. This fruit conservation committee, with centers in San Jose, Mountain View, Los Altos, Campbell, Los Gatos and Palo Alto, collected and saved over a ton of fruit. The Palo Alto Canteen, like the one in San Jose, became the center for re- lief during the influenza epidemie.
This Palo Alto Canteen, to which more than 102,000 soldiers came for a glimpse of home, made it a home in which there was no lack of entertainment. In addition to the books, the music, the billiard tables, magazines, writing facilities and every ap- pointment of a perfect club, there were splendid eoneerts onee or twice a week and many interesting receptions to noted Belgian, French and Russian deputations.
Departmental heads whose faithful service eon- tributed to the success of this soldiers' elub were: Clerking, Mrs. Howard Morrow; information, Mrs. William Houston; cigars and tobacco, Mrs. G. G. Williamson; treasurer, Mrs. Sam Vandervoort; service lists, Miss Margaret Evans; entertainment, Mrs. John Dunker; library, Miss Patterson.
Other activities ineluded in the Santa Clara County record of service to the soldier are the Hostess House of the Y. W. C. A., which was main- tained at Camp Fremont, and the Hospitality Center in Palo Alto, under the direction of the same organ- ization. The Hostess House, the place where wife, mother, sister, sweetheart or friend met the soldier, seene of meetings and partings, of marriages and renunciations, carried on its wonderful work under the direction of the following committee: Mrs. Parker S. Maddux, chairman; Mrs. H. L. Terwilliger, Mrs. Frederic Fowler, Mrs. Ray Lyman Wibur and Mrs. Joseph Sloss. Mrs. Selah Chamberlain of San Mateo county served as a member of this com- mittee.
Following the evacuation of Camp Fremont, the Hostess House was moved to Palo Alto, becoming the city's community center.
The Hospitality Center of the Y. W. C. A. War Couneil, at 166 University avenue (in the same building with the War Camp Community Service), did some notably fine work with its employment bureau, its temporary and permanent housing lists,
especially for soldiers' families. The hospitality of the center extended to the giving of teas and' sewing bees as friendly greetings to lonely women. Serving on this committee were Mrs. Jerome Thomas, Mrs. Jaek Prior, Mrs. Joseph Taff, Mrs. Gertrude Jones, Mrs. H. M. Simpkins, Miss Harriet Bradford and Mrs. Kate Parrott Gorringe.
No list of names, no bare recital of faets can tell the story of the immeasurable service given by the canteen to the soldier and sailor. Into this service poured the patriotism of loyal hearts. Into its silent building of character and the strengthening of morale went the unstinted labor of women's hands.
This Palo Alto canteen, with its wonderful record of service, was but the outward expression of the patriotism that thrilled the hearts of America's women and prompted them to bring to camp anů cantonment the protection and inspiration of home.
RED CROSS
Like a dominantly sympathetic melody running through the intricasies of wonderful musie the warm heartbeat of the Red Cross, palpitant with love; throbbed through all war activities, it was first, last and tenderest; best. In this service was more of sacrifice, more of tears, of prayers of pain that met in other fields of endeavor. It was an every day service, too. It met every need-"to the most common needs of sun and candlelight." There was nothing so small that it was overlooked; noth- ing too great to attempt-for "our boys" and the cause of humanity everywhere.
Great emblazoned Red Cross merey emblems against the murk of battle smoke! It was a great light shining against the darkness of death and de- vastation and horror! And it shone from the rooms where the surgical dressings and garments were made here to the battlefields of France.
The chapter of war work that is written in heart's blood and glorified by sacrifice is that of local Red Cross accomplishment.
From May 27, 1917, when Dr. M. E. Dailey re- ceived a telegram from John J. Clymer, director of the Pacific Division of the Red Cross, appointing a meeting in San Francisco to arrange the war pro- gram, until months after the guns were sileneed every "quota" requested of the local chapter was met-met with a measure "full and running over."
At the beginning of the war the San Jose Red Cross Chapter's officers were Dr. M. E. Dailey, chairman; Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, vice chairman; V. J. LaMotte, treasurer, and W. T. Rambo, seere- tary. Dr. Dailey and W. T. Rambo shared the hon- ors of continuity in Red Cross service from the time
of the first local organization until press of many duties forced Dr. Dailey to resign the chairmanship in July 1918. E. N. Richmond accepted the chair -. manship and Dr. James B. Bullitt general manager at that time and the tremendous success of every Red Cross undertaking is largely due to the untir- ing zeal in the great work of merciful relief.
Among the financial achievements of the local chapter are the two big drives for funds, the first in June, 1917, under the direction of Samuel G. Tompkins. The second in May, 1918, immediately
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WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
followed the Third Liberty Loan campaign and was conducted by tho.combined machinery of the Wo- man's Army and the War Work Council. For this second drive with W. C. Bailey chairman, the or- ganization was perfected within two days and with the co-operation of the entire county the fund of $410,000 with an oversubscription of $22,667 rolled into the Red Cross coffers between May 20 and 27. More than $300,000 was raised in these two canı- paigns. Nor was it all in large amounts.
At a certain institution a dear old gentleman in- quired timidly if one could give "less than $100?" Upon being assured that any gift was a welcome one he took 40 eents and an almost empty tobacco pouch from his pocket. After a smilingly whim- sieal look at the depleted pouch he returned it to his pocket and gave all that he had-40 cents-to the Red Cross. He gave up the solace of his pipe- and it was a very real sacrifice.
A whitehaired, sweet-faced old lady held a whis- pered consultation with the campaigner. "I've just received a cheek for $100," she whispered. "I don't need it-they give me plenty to cat and 1 haven't any wants-I'll just endorse it and turn it right over to the Red Cross!" No wants! She just forget them-to help some one else. That $100 must have saved a boy's life-over there. In this certain institution there were just 33 old people. The youngest was 68, the oldest 97. Their hearts beat young with the love for humanity and throb- bed in time to martial music-for each gave some- thing. In the window of the Pratt Home hung the proudest honor flag in town.
With its members numbering 100, the first Red Cross membership drive in April, 1917, was con- ducted by Mrs. A. A. Fowler. The Red Cross Christ- mas Roll Call that commenced December 11, 1917, under the direction of the Woman's Army added more than 17,300 'names. By this time tho little Red Cross button was more honored than all the royal insigna in the world.
The first year of Red Cross work-sewing and knitting-was not an easy one. The work was new. Patterns were hard to obtain-but rules were many -and couldn't be broken. It was difficult for women to understand that this work had to be "just so." We coudn't understand why we were not allowed "to take it home and do it our way." The Red Cross became quite insistent upon its way -and that way proved best. Women learned their lessons in soldierly discipline and at every "for- ward" order took trench after trench with knitting needles and whirring machines.
Early in April came the plea for funds with which to purchase material for the making of hos- pital garments. These appeals alternated with the onės for old inen, old muslin, bedspreads, and turk- ish towels. Three rooms in the New Century build- ing at the corner of Second and Santa Clara streets, were donated by the De Saisset estate for the surg- ical dressing department of the Red Cross. In these rooms the first little coterie of loyal women gatlı- ered to do "whatsoever their hands found to do"' for those who suffered across the sea.
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On June 12 the garment rooms opened at 41 South Second street, their use being kindly donated by the Phelan estate through Mr. A. C. Darby.
On June 19 came the first call for comfort bags for the boys of Companies B and M, then stationcu in Nevada. The W. C. T. U. assisted in preparing 125 comfort bags. Though shipped immediately through some inadventence they failed to reach the boys until almost a year later when a letter of thanks arrived. It came from Captain L. La Hue, and was written before sailing for France.
The first work under the direction of Mrs. IIob- son was prepared by Mrs. David Burnett, Mrs. S. Van Dalsem, Mrs. W. R. Wilson, Mrs. Fillipello, Mrs. R. Syer, Mrs. A. D. DuBrutz, the Misses Do- rothy White, Ida Wehner, Sybil Hayes, Miriam Hayes, Ceeille Brooke and Miss Chapman.
The first cutting of garments was done by Mes- dames W. Gross W. Van Dalsem, P. F. Goshey, S. W. Gilchrist, Arthur Langford, Charles Wayland, Walter Murray, W. G. Alexander, George. Muirson, Ernest Conant, L. Blackford and other willing vol- unteers whose names failed to be recorded.
The first society to volunteer as a society was the P. E. O .. organization. These. ladies offered their services through Mrs. W. C. Bailey and worked through the entire war period later taking charge of the knitting rooms at the Theatre building.
Work increased, more and more women knitted and sewed; auxiliaries formed throughout the eounty and late in the fall of 1917 the production and garment rooms were moved from South Sec- ond street to a suite of fiye rooms in the Theatre building.
San Jose had many busy Red Cross circles, each doing its valiant best under a capable chairman to keep us up with the quotas alloted-quotas of hospital garments, knitted garments and surgical dressings. Among those circles were St. Vincent's circle, Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, chairman, Eastern Star circle, Mrs. A. B. Langford chairman; College Park eircle, Mrs. M. Candee, chairman; Moreland circle, Mrs. LeRoy Anderson chairman; Hester eir- cle, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, chairman; Y. W. C. A. eircle, Mrs. Mary Bolan chairman; Normal Training school, Miss Margaret Gleason, chairman; School Women's club, Miss Edith O'Brien, chairman; La- dies of Macabees, Mrs. Nellie Thompson, chairman; Rachael Fox Union eircle at Burbank, Mrs. Maude P. Boynton, chairman; Glen Eyrie W. C. T. U. cir- cle, Mrs. A. C. Saunders, chairman.
Of these circles St. Vincent's, organized by a score of Catholic societies, with Mrs. W. P. Dough- erty president, and Mrs. C. F. Brattan first vice president, had the distinction of being the largest auxiliary. With more than 3000 Sisters of Charity, beside the hundreds of Fathers of the church admin- istering in every war-torne country, St. Vincent's circle had a deep incentive for its never flagging . zeal of patriotic endeavor under the banner of the Red Cross.
This "pioneer" year in war work was filled with difficulties, but it perfected an organization, and when the report came in for the first year's work,
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WAR HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
accomplished under the guidance of Mrs. W. B. Hobson, it was a document of which to be proud. The 1917 total receipts were $20,401.61. Disburse- ments only $926.30. Twenty-six boxes of finished boxes had been shipped. Total number of articles completed by the San Jose chapter, 22,287. Every garment with buttonholes that started on its jour- ney to "somewhere" was a silent tribute to the thoughtfulness of the Ormsby Shirt company-for they made every buttonholc.
In July, 1917, a group of San Jose women eager for practical service remembered that 2700 men of the marine corps would soon be going to the trenches and that all sailormen needed warm knitted gar- ments. These women formed a branch of the Navy League, opened headquarters at 14 East San An- tonio street. Here they turned gray yarn into socks and sweaters, wristlets, helmets and scarfs, keeping steadily at their self-imposed task until midsummer of 1918, when their organization merged into the Red Cross. During this period more than 1800 knitted garments were finished through the efforts of the following small coterie of loyal women: Mrs. Wilmer J. Gross, Mrs. Thomas Blanchard, Mrs. Dave Burnett, Miss Frances Schal- lenberger, Mrs. W. D. Carter, Mrs. Floyd Stull, Miss Carrie Fosgate, Miss Mary Bean, Marge Gil- christ, Florence Clayton, Mrs. Chas. R. Parkinson, Mrs. Thomas H. Reed, Mrs. William McCormick, Mrs. Douglas Sim, Miriam Hayes and Miss Eugenia Burns, who acted as chairman.
Following the resignation of Mrs. W. B. Hobson the Red Cross burden of responsibility for 1918 came into the bravely firm hands of Mrs. Arthur Langford. The new leader "took the helm" Janu- ary 30, 1918, and very soon afterward the rooms in the New Century building were closed and all de- partments centered at the Theater building. Miss . Ida Wehner took charge of the knitting rooms. Miss Branham filled the post of instructor in the surg- ical supply rooms with Miss Florence Carter sub- chairman. Miss Dora Burns supervised the sewing department and the packing for shipment came un- der the direction of Miss Emma M. Buck and Mrs. Mary L. Standon. Mrs. J. B. Roberts took charge of the information bureau.
Miss Emma M. Buck and Mrs. Mary L. Stanton deserve a decoration-the highest and best it would be possible to give. These two splendidly patriotic and capable San Jose women volunteered their serv- ices with the first call for workers and "stayed with the job" until the Red Cross rooms finally closed. Through heat and cold, whether they were well or ill, at whatever sacrifice of time and com- fort, they were always at their posts of duty, a1. ways to be depended upon, and many are the sin- cere tributes paid to their loyalty by those who had the work in charge.
The Junior Red Cross, under the leadership at first of Miss G. A. Rogers and later of Frances Schallenberger, was organized in December, 1917, and entered actively into the work of mercy with the opening of 1918. No enumeration of garments knitted, of garments made, can estimate the work
of the Junior Red Cross. Its members made no "junior" sacrifice. They equalled in service every- thing accomplished by the chapters of older folk. Their work was beautifully done and not for a day did their efforts lessen. Even with the closing of the war, with the nailing up and shipping of the last box of "war relief" their work did not cease. The Junior Red Cross remembered that people over- seas still suffered for lack of what willing hands could supply and the making of garments, the sac- rificing to secure funds weut right on.
During 1917 the Red Cross work rooms were only open upon certain days. After the beginning of 1918 they were open all day, every day -- with ever the call for more women to help.
There was no more evading the gravity of the world's need. Armagedon was on-and our boys were there. From the man-made inferno of reck- ing horror and bloody wounds and death those boys looked to us for help-for life itself. Tirelessly, day after day, inspired by Mrs. Langford's splendid spirit of self-sacrifice the Red Cross met every de- mand. During 1918 the department of Red Cross military relief was administered by Colonel Phil Hersey. That of civilian relief came .under the di- rection of Prof. C. M .. Osenbaugh, and later Henry G. Hill, with Miss Margaret Gilchrist, secretary supported by the following named committee-Miiss Nellie Evans, Mrs. Frank Reidy, Miss Dorothy Donovan, Mrs. A. D. Grant, Miss Anita Colombet and Miss Bernice Tompkins.
The disbursement of funds for civilian relief fre- quently amounted to more than $500 per month, and as the assistance extended to the families of men in service. There was everything to do from supplying food to arranging funerals. There were wives and mothers and children in dire need be- cause of delayed allotmentns and for every need the civilian and military relief departments of the Red Cross had generous help to give.
During this year the Christian Science comforts forward station opened headquarters on North First street, and from this quiet center great quan- tities of clothing, knitted garments and warm bed- ding found their way overseas. The idea of salvage spread rapidly after the starting of the first salv- age and shop in Los Angeles. San Jose's salvage and shop opened June 15, 1918, with H. M. War- ren, manager. With the slogan "trash makes cash " the venture was a success from the beginning. Mrs. Louis Sonniksen and Mrs. W. B. Hobson served as "pricing committee." Florence Clayton acted as city organizer and Mrs. James C. Higbee took charge of the county branch of collectors. Mrs. E. A. Francis volunteered for office manager and Mrs. E. O. Pieper constituted the "motor corps" and served faithfully as "truck driver" in the cause of humanity until the shop closed. Things that seemed of no value turned into Trash veritably became "cash." Everything from boots to books wasn't enough. A fruit canning department turned out delicious sweet pickles and jelly and jam and can- ned fruit. It sold, too .. The supply failed to meet the demand.
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