Huntington Township (part 3 of 3)

The Charity Guild very kindly offered us their room on the third floor of the Court House and SO we opened our room July 23fd, givine us only abo ut one month and sht days to complete our work. Hach afternoon of the week there was - committee from the Tri Kappas there to look after giving out the yarn and selling the needles. Mis Caswell and Mrs. Erehart spat most of their time organizing the County. At this time the Red Cross had not yet taken up the knitting and they had no part of the County organized for sewing or survical | dressing so the Socks for Soldiers really lsid the foundation for all | the later wrk. | Below is a list of the places and dates they were organized, - | the name of the lady in charge and the number of socks knitted: i } July 27 Warren under Mrs. Ed. Mossbureg 25 Pair || sees Jerkle ee A. R. Thoms 42 of }, ° " Roanoke % " Elle York 26 ° | Auz. 3 Lancaster " I. Schultz 15 " os oe " " Jd. Howe 1p 8 Andrews " ve Ray Bixby 3 * " 160 =Rock Creek Cent er " Rrank Hoss Eis: i " 15 #$£=Majenica Richard Fudrall 4 bf " 16 Group of women near White Church on Werren road under Irs. | Rose Wiley knit 10 Pair. i ;

The Huntington Comty Wer Moth ere was appointed by the Chairman of the Womans Section of the County Council of D she then appointed-a township War Mother in each of townships of the, couniy, ellof whom. 1 at county made up the steht ine Fh The .tow the twelve townships were:

Rhe first work attempted was the tabulatine of a complete list to date of all boys fron the county in the service, their home eddress, also es far as possible their branch of the service ané address together with the mother's nam and address. Every

The war mothers organization wen mde. the Conservation Committee With all chairmen-as given &bove. Two war mothers, Mrs. Claries Patterson and lirs, Fred Bowers, w ere amone the counties Fourteen Minute Women and made fifty conservation talks at different War Meetings over the county. A survey of the counties conservations of food was. made and five townships reported as follows

Jackson Frait canned 11372 ats. Vegetables canned 6 868 Polk Fruit canned 4319 " Vegetables 0404 " Dried 376 pounds Dal las Fruits Canned 12579 Qts. Fruits dz "fed. 1375 Vegetables canned 15075 "* W dried ore: Union Fruits canned fA60Q0 " " dried 4050 pounds Vegetables canned 50900 qts. " dried 2160 pounds Salamonie Eggs packed 200 Dozen Fruit cenned 12440 qts. = dried 400 ibs. Vegetables cared 67% qts. > dried 500 Ibs.

Not only was the necessity of canninz, preserving and drying fruits and vegetables urged, but meetings were helé in all the townships to promote conservation of all food substances.

Very soon after the organization was completed, one nicht per week was designated as War Mothers nicht at the Red Cross Sweical hh ag eee srtment, but could it be hoped that one nicht would be enough the mothers of the boys to do all iin their parer to keep th e suvely of dressings to the desired point. They soon came every time the room was opened and were among the most faithful workers and instructors in the work,

In the Red Cross membership drive of 1917, three of the four district chairmen were War Mothers. In that of 1918 four of the five were War Mothers. Theh were Mrs, Lawver, Mre. Bash, Mrs. Fred Bowers and Mrs. Dyer. Mrs. %.S. Smith was Che irman of the Committee end tovmship conferences of Wer Mothers and was priveleged to attend the dedication of six service flacs. The de@ication of the service flag in Jefferson township took place on the first sasolineless Sunday end the trip was made from Euntington to Jefferson Center by Mr. and Mrs. Felter and Mr. and Mrs. Bowers in irs. Felter's Electric car, She also represented the Organization at the me eting in honor of Miss Helen Purviare, The Salvation Army sirl to ceive the first

AS an orgenization, the war mothers collected %1750.00 with Which they purchased liberty Bonds and are continuing to purchase W.S.5. with the interest. It is planned to apply this money to some Suitable memorial for the men who were in the Service. They also adopted ten fatherless children of France. Three townships, Lancaster, Union and Wayne, each took an orphan. Mrs. Jacob Dick adopted on Orphan through the War Mothers organization, They also took part in five parades, all glad to rejoice over the glorious way the Huns were being beaten. The Selective Service Boara requested the War Mothers to be at the trains when each group of men left for camp to sew on the chevrons and help in every way possible.

Meetines were held every two weeks at the home of Mrs. Freda Bippus. Informal meetings always but very worth while. Some very interesting talks were made at these meetings and the women sained

A report of the wark done by each War Mother would be never ending and almost impossible to aseenble for who should have the interest and the spirit for the work to be done during the war if not the mother of the boys who ficht? This is merely an outline, for Who could write of the hours of suspense anda hopeful livinc, one day st a time, the sacrifices, the sleepless hours, but they were not mentioned while being endured and cannot be written now.

d em the Hotels, Resturants, and Confectionsries, where avin nd reets were delt out to the public; delivering notices, display cards, requests and demands when sent me from State Department.

It was also my duty to see that requests, orders and demands were complied with and to report alt neglig cent or purposely violators to State Offici at Indianapolis, then proceed with such cases as directed by them,

Every one, with few exceptions, followed instruc w, by a little more severe pressure soon repented, ad fell in line. DBhen everything went well and all'we oeOee Perbans never before in the history of the City of Huntington was Independence Day so enthusiastically observed as in the memorable year of 1918. We were at war with the greatest military power of the world. Tt was not a war of our own choice, it, had been forced vpon us by Germany 1n her ruthless submarine warfare, jeopardis= ine the lives of free American citisens anc American commerce. Our people without cistins 'tion were of one heart and of one soul, "The enemy must. be defeated". In the City and County of Huntington

| took, plate at 9:20 at. the. Lutheran School on horts Lafontaine =< The route was east. on Matilda to Jefferson, sovtl © Jeffers ¥ Co , east, on Court o Warren. north on Warre oo Franklin, wes ) Franklin to Court House.

'iss Della Frazier, dressed in red and flanked on either side by Sheriff J. @. Davis,dressed in white, and Chief of Polase Guy Payne in blue, thus representing the national colors.

Third Division. Headed by Shirley Coy and Albert. Suffman, followed by the Cross; oreanization, officers, nurses, strecher bearers and first Fourth Division.

Prag raising, Miss Lilldan Powers, with a "Jackie" at. either side,knelt on the platform,pcinting to the flag being raised by Jeanette Patterson. When the flags began to unfurl a white dove with & miniature flags in its beak, fbew over the assembly "Peace",

Orcanized June 1918. Nine Vice Presidents appointed over a nine School Districts. Meetines held in conjunction with Red Cross Circle. Program sent out by the County Presi dent followed in part. York in Decenber very much handicappec by week was carried out by the endless tele phone story. Perhaps more people were reached in this wey than could heve been concregated eny public place.

L. During the in school, wheat, meat and sugar substitutes were used. Vegetable canning was studied in detail and practical application wes made.

3. In the fall of 1918, vegetable canning and the use of wheat, Sugar and meat substitutes was arain rwraatheed in the Home Economics Classes.

In the winter end spring of 1918 the grade rooms and the sewing classes of the hizh school donated and bah many articles of clothing. Among them were the followin

Booties, Hoods, Baby Shirts and Pajama Coats. For 1919 we have sixty-two members of the Junion Red Cres in the Fich School. Two classes have reported 100% memberships, the