“History of Door County Chapter of the Red Cross” from the November 6, 1931 Door County Advocate
By Mrs. J. A. Spalsbury
By Mrs. J. A. Spalsbury, Roll Call Chairman
The Red Cross is a voluntary organization founded primarily for the care of the sick, wounded and prisoners in time of war. The war work of the National Red Cross societies is coordinated by the international committee of the Red Cross which was founded Feb. 9, 1863, in Geneva and has its permanent headquarters in that city. In August, 1864, twelve nations signed the Geneva treaty.
Activities of the Red Cross today extend far beyond operations in time of war, embracing the relief of human suffering in all its various forms and wherever it may be encountered.
The first society using the Red Cross as its symbol was organized in July 1866. May 21, 1881, a Red Cross organization was formed in the District of Columbia with Miss Clara Burton as president. This organization was known as the American Association of the Red Cross and was incorporated by congress in June, 1900. To correct imperfections of the charter of 1900 a new corporation was created by congress and approved Jan. 5, 1905, by President Roosevelt. The Red Cross is now operating under that charter.
The first chapter was organized in Door county in August, 1917, with Atty. W. E. Wagener of Sturgeon Bay as chairman. Mr. Wagener continued in the capacity of chairman throughout the period of the war and during the strenuous days succeeding its close and was succeeded by Mrs. Clara Egan, the present county chairman, four years ago.
One of the outstanding performances of service accomplished by the Door county chapter took place during the period of the war when the terrible fatal influenza epidemic in the fall of 1918 struck this section. Every known means was exerted to relieve suffering and to care for the sick, and the work of the organization stands out as a bright spot in connection with the sorrow and grief of that period.
The activities of the chapter were curtailed, but not abandoned, with the close of the war. The home service section continued its assistance to the families of men in the service, and funds were raised for various disasters and epidemics in all parts of the United States. The chapter also provided a Red Cross nurse for work in the schools of the city and county, the work being carried on for about nine months, but through lack of cooperation this work was dropped.
During the past three seasons, under the direction of Frank Martin, and with the cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce, Sawyer Commercial club and the American Legion, the chapter has conducted a splendid work in creating interest in the prevention of loss of life through drowning and a large number of senior and junior life saving members have enrolled in the work in the county,
During the drive conducted in 1930, 417 memberships were taken out in Door county and an effort will be made when the new drive for membership opens next week to double that number.
The present board of directors of the chapter includes: Mrs. Clara Egan, chainman; Henry Goettelman, vice chairman; Mrs. Earl M. LaPlant, secretary; Mrs. Edmond Bebeau, treasurer; G. M Stapleton, home service; and Supt. W. J. Gilson, junior Red Cross.
The following report of receipts and expenditures for the past year will be of interest:
Receipts
Nov. 1, 1930 Cash on hand…….$ 2.63
Memberships …….………….…….… $ 417.60
Drought relief …….………….…….… 327.56
Interest …….………….………………..… 28.00
Certificate of Deposit ……………. 100.00
Total…….………….…….… …….…………$875.79
Expenditures
Family case relief ……………………… $103.25
General Chapter, one-half
of memberships …….………….…….… 208.50
Office expense …….…….…….………. 7.00
Rental, Mrs. J. Long for
storage of equipment
used by R. C. and Veter-
ns Bureau …….………….…………………… 50.00
Draying same …….………….…………..… 2.00
Life saving activity …….………….….… 150.00
Drought relief …….………….…………..… 327.56
*Cash on hand to balance…………….. 27.48
Total…………………………………………………..$875.79
(*) The chapter also has an emergency fund of $600 in certificates of deposit.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive