Description |
The Weber County Chapter of the Red Cross began in December 1915 when a small group of individuals gathered to begin organizing a chapter of the Red Cross. In 1962, the name was changed to the Bonneville chapter, and in 1969, the chapter merged with other chapters in Northern Utah to become the Northern Utah Chapter, with its headquarters located in Ogden, Utah. The scrapbooks range from 1940 to 2003 and highlight some of the important work of the Red Cross. The books include photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials. |
OCR Text |
Show Weber County Red Cross Was Created and Its Mettle Tested During First World War; It'll Be 39 Years Old December 14 By VERA WHITE Weber County Chapter of the American Red Cross will cele¬brate its 39th birthday this month. The national organization was founded in 1881, but the local chapter did not come into being until 1915, after World War I had broken out. With the shadow of tragedy huge upon the world, President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, set in action the steps which re-organized the Red Cross to emer-gency status, and which set its present pattern. Among regional offices set up as one in Denver, called the Mountain Region." On December 14, 1915, a rep-sentative from that office came Ogden and met with local com¬-unity leaders, and the local Chapter began its Weber County Chapter of the American Red Cross. And when the United States was eventually involved in that combat, the work of local volunteers became tre¬mendous. The word "volunteer" is well chosen, as there was a list of al¬most a thousand w kers during that period, all of whom gave their time and services, with the exception of two full-time clerical employes. An idea of the extensiveness of these activities can be obtained from the size of the quarters occupied. At that period the Red cross occupied the entire fifth floor of the First National Bank Building, consisting of 14 large rooms. These quarters also were "vol¬unteer," since they were donated to the chapter without any cost whatever. 'Pressures' Great From the beginning of hostili¬ties, Ogden experienced great pressure because of being a rail¬road center. For instance, sick soldiers taken from trains had to receive care. A Red Cross military, hospital of 12 beds was formed in conjunction with the Thomas D. Dee Hospital. When the United States was finally involved in the war, many services were organized, including canteen, motor corps and departments which made and dispatched garments overseas, and which prepared bandages for the wounded at home and abroad. Welfare aid was also given to military families in the community. The ending of the war brought a new emergency with a disastrous influenza epidemic. Rare was the household untouched by this fatal disease. The Red Cross swung into the fight against this new killer. Old records show that volunteers remained on duty as long as 12 hours at a time, visiting stricken homes, and taking food and medicine to the afflicted. Thus the people of Weber County completed an operation which is part of the proud history of the American Red Cross. Folowing the wearing war years Iand the relentless epidemic which they handled, local volunteers modestly conclude their report by saying, "Our work is not finished, nor are our workers weary." Certainly, like all pioneers, they have left a challenge and a standard for all who would follow the work they began. |