“Migrant Staff Plans Busy Program for ’59 Cherry Harvest Time in Door County” from the July 9, 1959 Door County Advocate
READY AND WILLING is the staff of the Door county Christian Society of Migrant Work as it awaits next week’s embarkation of its busy 1959 program among the migrants. In front are Miss Dortha Weaver, area director for the National Council of Churches who was here this week assisting in setting up the program, Mrs. Iris Rathore and Mrs. Frank Reyes. In the second row are Myrna Heredia, Josephine Jacobson, Olive Santon, Ruth Buche, Suzanne Hardin and Lela John. Male staff members in the background are Frank Gomez, the Rev. I. Dean Jordan, the Rev. J. Rathore, John Hovie and Ray Hernandez. The two boys are sons of Rev Jordan, Gary (center) and Larry. Two staff members, Les Strom and Sofia Loera, were not able to be present for the picture. —Advocate
Migrant Staff Plans Busy Program for ’59 Cherry Harvest Time in Door County
As the cherry industry stands poised for the harvest of another cherry crop, so the staff of the Door County Christian Society of Migrant Work stands poised for the influx of some 5,000 migrant workers who will harvest that crop.
With a staff that this year numbers 16, the migrant society has grown substantially from a simple beginning eight years ago and is now busily planning a well rounded program which will provide health, education, welfare and religious service for the migrants.
According to the Rev. I. Dean Jordan, pastor of the First Methodist Church in Sturgeon Bay and director of the migrant society, the summer program should not be considered as merely a relief or welfare program for the migrants.
“We are only trying to provide some of the things which are readily available to the rest of us, either through our governmental or social agencies,” Rev. Jordan said.
He pointed out that we, the permanent residents, have our churches, our health departments, our recreational programs for the youth. Why not try to provide some of these things for the migrant, who in his transient way of life needs them even more?
Miss Dortha Weaver, area director of the Migrant Ministry of the Division of Home Ministry of the National Council of Churches, pointed out that a migrant society does not attempt to tell employers of migrant labor how to run their migrant camps, although it does solicit the cooperation of growers in permitting staff programs to be conducted in the various camps.
Miss Weaver, who assists in the organizational work of local societies and state committees in the four-state area of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, was here this week to assist in setting up the 1959 migrant program for Door county.
Although acknowledging that the primary function of migrant work is to provide as much service in health, education, welfare and religion as the budget will permit, Miss Weaver also pointed out that it also tries to develop the necessary leadership among the migrants to shoulder some of this responsibility themselves. As one example, evening recreational activities can be conducted within a camp if leadership is present.
Recognizing that cherry growers themselves are having their own economic difficulties and that they are involved in their busiest time of the year during harvest, the migrant staff is ready to provide some of the services that the cherry grower himself might like to provide would time and pocketbook permit.
“We feel farmers have a conscience and that they’re doing everything they can to improve conditions for the migrants,” Miss Weaver said. “We only hope that by helping the migrant we are indirectly helping the grower by giving him a healthier, happier camp.”
According to Rev. Jordon, Door county growers have always shown a willingness to cooperate with the migrant staff, most of them welcoming staff members as long as they are welcomed by the migrants.
Recreation, especially for the youngsters, is high on the list of migrant services. Of this year’s staff, six members are recreation leaders, two working north of Egg Harbor and four south of Egg Harbor.
Four members are involved in educational work. Schools are being set up at the Whitford, Martin and Reynolds camps, with three staff members alternating between the camps for 2 1/2 hour sessions mornings and afternoons. Another teacher takes care of the northern area.
In addition, the staff includes a field nurse, an interpreter at Memorial hospital who also works as nurse’s aid, and a secretary. And besides Rev. Jordon as director, John Hovie, principal of Sunset school during the school term, is assistant director while Mrs. Jordan is cook for the staff.
The migrant society is sponsored by the Door County Ministerial Assn. and the United Church Women. Rev. Jordon is chairman of the board of directors.
Three years ago the migrant staff consisted of only three members operating on a budget of $900. The budget has grown to $5,000 with the money being supplied by churches and Christian organizations not only in Door county but from throughout Wisconsin and even from outside the state. Outside contributions arc handled through the State Council of Churches.
Thumbnail sketches of staff members follow:
The Rev. J. Rathore, an ordained Methodist minister from India; taught at Lucknow Christian College in Northern India and will be president on his return; has bachelor of divinity degree, master’s degree in education and will soon receive his doctor’s degree; migrant duties here to consist of recreational work and religious counseling.
Mrs. Rathore, college degree in India, master’s, degree in public art, religious education in this country, teacher on migrant staff.
The Rev. Frank Reyes, Baptist minister in third summer of migrant work in Door county, with National Council of Churches for 18 years, will direct religious work among Spanish speaking migrants.
Mrs. Reyes, will instruct in home economics and teach kindergarten.
Myrna Heredia, from Chihuahua, Mexico, college student at El Paso, Texas, one of three recreational workers and interpreter in northern Door county, first summer here.
Josephine Jacobson, Florida resident in first summer here, will handle staff’s many secretarial duties.
Olive Santon, Indiana resident in second summer here, is public school teacher and will be recreation leader among migrants.
Ruth Buche, trained practical nurse from Milwaukee in third summer here, will again do professional work among migrants in cooperation with the city and county health nurses.
Suzanne Hardin, daughter of Presbyterian minister in Elmira, N Y., who owns summer cottage at Ephraim, now attending Stanford University, although familiar with Door county this is her first summer in migrant work, will teach in north.
Lela John, Stevens Point College student from Green Bay, first summer here, migrant teacher.
Frank Gomez, college student from El Paso, Texas, in first summer here, recreational worker.
Rey Hernandez, student at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., first summer, recreational worker.
Les Strom, student at a Baptist seminary in Chicago, second year here, recreational director.
Sofia Locra, third year here, second year as interpreter and nurse’s aid at Memorial hospital.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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