Red Wing City (part 6 of 6)

Red Wing Memorial Day Association was organized June 3, 1908, and is composed of three members from each of the following bodies: Grand Army of the Republic, Spanish-American War Veterans. Sons of Veterans. City Council and Commercial Club. The first officers were: President, \V. F. Kunze : vice president, P. A. Carlson; secretary, S. T. Irvine; treasurer, S. S. Lundquist. The first members were : Grand Army of the Republic, W. II. Blaker, K. A. Carlson. A. H. Hardy; Spanish- American War Veterans, S. S. Lundquist, W. F. Reichert, R. L. ('. Ceih; Sons of Veterans, J. H. Boustead. George E. Smith. S. T. Irvine; City Council. Oscar Seebach, N. K. Simmons. J. O. Johnson; Commercial Club. Oscar Seebach, W. W. Foot, W. F. Kunze. The present officers are: President. D. M. Neill; vice president, F. A. Carlson ; secretary, S. T. Irvine ; treasurer, Henri Dewitt. The present members are; Grand Army of the Republic, J. E. Smith, F. A. Carlson. J. C. Johnson ; Spanish- American War Veterans, L. Penfold, C. J. Bracher, George E. Tebbe; Sons of Veterans, J. H. Boustead. George E. Smith, S. T. Irvine; City Council. Oscar Seebach, W. K. Back, G. F. Eichinger; Commercial Club, J. L. Silvernale. R. L. C. Geib, F. H. Erickson. The meetings are held the first Tuesday in March in each year.

Red Wing Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, was organized February 21. 1871. with the following charter members: Dwight M. Baldwin. John M. Richter, William E. Hawkins, William B. Williams, William Eisenbrand. Andrew Allen, Eobert Kruger, Charles R. Brink. A. II. Allen, L. C. Smith, John Friedrich, Lyman Kells. Abraham Howe, S. J. AYillard, A. E. Young, M. Hersehler, E. K. Sparrell, S. B. Foot, E. L. Baker, E. B. Kellogg, F. Joss, Charles Griswold, AYilliam H. Brink, 0. AAThitman and D. B. Clark. Its first officers were as follows : D. AI. Baldwin, E. C. ; J. AI. Richter, < i. ; AYilliam E. Hawkins, C. G. ; Charles Griswold. P. ; AYilliam B. AYilliams, S. AY. ; 0. AYhitman, J. AY. ; L. C. Smith, treasurer: Andrew Allen, R. ; L. M. Kells, Ltd. B.; John Friedrieh, Swd. B. : Eobert Krieger, AY.; A. H. Allen, F. G. ; William Eisenbrand, S. J.; S. J. AYillard, T. G. The meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month in Alasonic Temple. The present officers are: E. < '.. < '. L. Kellogg; G., Jesse Alclntire; second C. G., II. J. Herder; treasurer, H. P. Alclntire; secretary, G. H. Diepenbrock.

Red Wing Lodge, No. 88, Order of the Eastern Star, was instituted May 9, 1895. with the following charter members: Airs. Clara Baldwin, Earl J. North. Airs. Charlotte J. Swanson, Flora AVilson, H. B. Wilson, Pauline North, Catherine Diepenbrock, H. Dora Buell, Izah T. Whitman, Mathilda Graves, Theresa Chapman, Andrew J. Johnson, H. A. Buell, Sarah E. Hasler, Dwight AI. Baldwin, J. F. Porter, Airs. J. F. Porter, E. Arntson and Charles Beckman. The meetings are held the second and fourth AYednesdays at Alasonic Hall. The present officers are: W. AI., Airs. Jennie Lovgren; A. AI.. Airs. B. Arntson; W. P., John Hempftling: secretary, Airs. S. Hasler; treasurer. Airs. Alelphia Jones.

The Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association was incorporated in 1879 and in its thirty years of existence has been successful in accomplishing the noble aims for which it was organized, having paid in death claims to date nearly $2,000,000. The present membership is about 5,600 and is constantly increasing. At the organization of the society, February 14. 1879, the officers were as follows: President, S. J. Willard; vice president, Ole 0. Hegna; treasurer, II. L. Olson; secretary, N. 0. Werner; medical director, Dr. \V. \V. Sweney. The presenl officers are: President, Hon. Peter Nelson; vice president, C. Lillethun ; treasurer, C. F. Hjermstad; secretary, Andrew Lindgren; medical director, Dr. J. V. Anderson. The annual meeting of the association is held on the fourth Tuesday in January and the board of directors meets bi-monthly on the fourth Tuesdays of March, May, July, September and November. The directors also meet on the Monday next preceding the annual meeting of the association, and hold their annual meeting immediately after the adjournment of the annual meeting of the association. In addition to the officers mentioned above. Emil Olund is the superintendent of agencies, and the board of managers consists of Hon. Peter Nelson, Hon. O. M. Hall, C. F. Hjermstad, C. 11. Boxrud and Andrew Lindgren.

Red Wing Tribe, No. 31, I. 0. R. M., was organized November 23, 1899. The first officers were: Sachem, J. H. Webster; senior sagamore, J. W. Eisenbrand; junior sagamore, W. A. Jellineck; prophet, William Hendel; chief of records. Carl A. Peterson; keeper of wampum. Joseph Jellineck. The present officers are: Sachem, Harry Xordholm; senior sagamore, Knute Almquist; junior sagamore, Alfred Peterson; prophet, J. W. Eisenbrand; chief of records, AYilliam M. Erickson ; keeper of wampum, Alfred Chellson. The meetings are held the second and fourth "Wednesdays of each month in I. 0. 0. F. Hall.

Red Wing Court, No. 980, Independent Order of Foresters, was organized January 18, 1892, with a charter membership of twenty-two. The first officers were: C. D., William L. Beeman; C. R., U. Curtis ; V. C. R., C. E. Harrison ; S. W., Henry C. Aiders ; S. B., David AY. Watson ; P. C. R., C. E. Harrison; treasurer, Hiram Howe ; financial secretary, Finley Goodrich ; Jr. W., J. B. Melander; recording secretary, C. W. Ives; Ct. Phys., Otis J. Brown, M. D. The present officers are: P. C. R., C. H. Meyer; C. D., C. K. Reckner; C. R., B. Wilkinson; C. C. R., Roy Desso ; financial secretary, F. A. Bartron; recording secretary, John G. Kappel ; treasurer, W. S. Scott ; orator, G. E. Gates ; S. W., C. A. Vanberg; Jr. W., Carl Sutherland; S. B., Carl Soderholm; J. B., Edward Tebbe ; trustees, W. A. Giffin and Hiram Howe ; fin. com., Dr. AY. M. Smith and Hiram Howe. The meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays in each month at I. 0. 0. F. Hall. The present membership is 215.

Companion Court Mississippi, No. 300, Independent Order of Foresters, was organized March 26, 1900. The first officers were : C. R,, Nellie B. Erb ; V. C. Lottie Sponable; R. S., Rose Harrison; F. S., Grace Gardner Smith; treasurer, Margaret Gross; orator, Amelia Hendel; organist, Melphia Jones; Sr. AY., Grace

Dotterwick; Jr. W.. Mary Bammerl ; Sr. B., Louise Fisher; Jr. B., Anna Lindberg; P. C. R., Lelia Harrison. The present officers are: C. R., Lelia Harrison; Y. C. R., Bertha Lidberg; R. S., Melphia Jones; F. S.. Bertha Arntson ; treasurer, Lavinia Jenson; Sr. W., Carrie Glardon; Jr. AY., Dora MerhkinS; orator, Matilda Zetterburg; Sr. B.. Rose Harrison; Jr. B., Frank Desso; C. D., Hattie Gates; P. C. R., Caroline Schuetz; physicians. Dr. Grace Gardner Smith and Dr. F. \Y Dimmitt. The meetings are held the first .Monday of each month at Fraternal Hall.

Red Wing Council, Knights of Columbus, was organized May 5, 1907. with a charter membership of forty-four. The present membership is eighty-one. The first officers were: Grand knight. John F. Diepenbach; deputy grand knight, Frank J. O'Neill; chancellor, Fred W. Foot; financial secretary, Louis W. Back; recording secretary. Paul Janson; treasurer, John Trautner; advocate, Bernard Gerlach; lecturer, George Haustein; chaplain. Rev. J. H. Gaughan ; guards. Joseph Eichinger, \V. T. Malloy; trustees, J. J. Ferrin. .1. A. Schouweiler. S. Aug. Olson. The present officers are: Grand knight, John -I. Ferrin ; deputy grand knight, Thomas G. Kenny: chancellor, J. J. Bovey; financial secretary, Louis \Y Back; recording secretary, Henri Dewitt; treasurer, Dr. Joseph Haustein; advocate, Bernard Gerlach; lecturer, Fred YV. Foot; chaplain, Rev. J. H. Gaughan; guards. Joseph Eichinger, Con. Schmalz; trustees, -I. A. Schouweiler, S. Aug. Olson. The meetings are lii-ld i he second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month at I. 0. 0. F. Hall.

Red Wing Camp, No. 1846, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized September 19. 1890. and the first officers were: W. E. Tayler, V. ( '. ; W. J. Eisenbrand, W. A.; George W. Crisler, clerk;

C. G. Xorquist, B. ; Henry Phillips. E. ; James Webb. W. ; Gust Lebaek, S. : Dr. H. L. McKinstry, physician. The meetings are held Tuesdays in Fraternal Hall. The present officers are: C, William Schilling; A., Arthur Arntson ; clerk. James H. Doyle; banker, J. Henry Cross.

Rebekah Lodge, No. 86, I. 0. 0. F., was organized January 18, 1893. The officers were : Noble grand, Lena Christ ; vice grand, Mrs. Allyn ; secretary, Mathilda Winter ; treasurer, Margaret Sclmetz. The present officers are: Noble grand, Freda Kruger; vice grand, Caroline Olson: recording secretary, Clara Peterson; financial secretary, Fern Haner; treasurer, Sadie Olson. The meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month in I. 0. 0. F,. Hall. The present membership is seventy.

Hospitals And Charities

The Goodhue County Hospital was started May 1, 1884, in a building on the levee, about where the Red Wing Malting Company plant is now located. The necessity for such an institution was at that time immediate, the county having no adequate provision for its indigent ill, or for those strangers who met with sudden disaster, such as wrecks along the river - events which in those days were all too frequent. The opening of the hospital met with greal favor, and several public-spirited physicians gave their services free for the first few months. Eowever, after a time interest seemed to wane, and the county commissioners found the institution an expensive one, particularly as the almshouse in Bumside was being completed. Accordingly, when the hospital had dwindled to two or three patients, the hospital was turned over to the city; the transfer consisting largely of furniture and minor appliances, as the building was not owned by the county, but simply rented from the Luce family.

The Red Wing City Hospital had its real beginning in 1890 when the county commissioners turned over to the city authorities the equipment and furniture of the county hospital mentioned above. The late Mrs. S. B. Foot, a large hearted and charitable woman, originated the idea of forming an association of women to assume the business and management of a city hospital, and in this she was ably assisted by Mrs. W. C. AVilliston. The sympathy and co-operation of the women were enlisted and at a popular meeting an organization was formed. Mrs. Foot was elected president and Mrs. AVilliston. chairman of the executive board. The city voted $1,000 and the women made a house to house canvas to secure funds for its maintenance and support. This organization was legally incorporated in 1891. and continued until 1896, when it assumed a larger form and a new constitution and by-laws were prepared. The board of officers was composed of eighteen trustees, nine men and nine women : President, E. H. Blodgett ; vice president, Mrs. S. B. Foot ; treasurer, Charles A. Betcher; secretary, H. L. Hjermstad. The executive board was elected by the association. This board, composed of women, was authorized to take the management of the hospital, finances, the nurses, etc.

It was now apparent that a commodious hospital and a suitable location must be secured at once, and in 1898 the property known as the General Jennison place was purchased by popular subscription and transformed into a modern and w-ell equipped hospital. The selection and securing of this magnificent location on a bluff overlooking the city and river is largely due to John H. Rich, who took an active interest in the matter, and labored earnestly for its success. Rooms were furnished in this original building by the Junior Aid Society of Christ church; the St. Joseph Society of St. Joseph's church; Trinity Society of Trinity church ; the W. R. C. ; the Rebekah Lodge, and the W. C. T. XL, the latter room being known as the Hobart memorial. Other rooms furnished by the association, for city and county patients, made a capacity of fifteen beds. The hospital is nonsectarian and undenominational, open to all physicians, and to every one in need of help along its lines. It -does a large charity work, is free from debt and virtually self supporting. The object is to provide a home, proper medical aid and nursing for the sick and suffering of all classes.

In 1906 J. C. Pierce made a bequest of $10,000 to the hospital, and it was used to erect the memorial wing which bears his name. Its perfectly appointed and equipped surgical operating room makes the Red Wing City Hospital a model of beauty and utility, occupying the finest location in this city. Several rooms in this large and fire-proof building were furnished by friends, mostly as memorials, and are known as the Lorana Park Foot, the Agnes Pratt, the A. AY. Putnam, the Pauline Hall, the Harriet Sheldon, the A. AY. Swanson and the Langton rooms. Other rooms furnished by the hospital make a capacity of thirty-five beds. In 1905 the hospital was deeded in the city and thus beeame municipal, the controlling management remaining the same as before, in charge of the trustees of the association.

By the will of the kite E. H. Blodgett, the hospital received a bequesl valued at $12,000. Mr. Blodgett was the first president of tlh' association, and held thai office at the time of his death in 1909. He was deeply interested in the hospital and always solicitous i<> increase its success and helpfulness. A part of this legacy will be ^\srA for this purpose, and the future of this institution should be an object of gratification and pride to the citizens of Red Wing.

Charities. Many instances have occurred in the history of this town, when the abundant hospitality and kindness of its citizens towards the unfortunate strangers who have been from time to time thrown upon them, has been remarkably shown. A large number of persons were landed from a steamer in the summer of 1854, at the levee, who were afflicted with the cholera, and they were as tenderly cared for by the citizens as if they had been near relatives. Dr. AY. AY. Sweney, always ready to lend his skill and time to relieve the afflicted, rendered good service on that occasion to the sick ones and told the healthful how to avoid the. epidemic. Out of seventeen cases, ten recovered and went to their destination in the country.

The last occasion when the cholera patients "were left at this port was in 1868. Dr. C. N. Hewitt, at that time secretary of the State Board of Health, had become a resident of Red AVing. lie immediately visited them at the levee and rendered them the proper medical aid. At the expense of the city and under the direction of the city marshal, a house was provided on the island opposite, furnished with cots, when' all were taken and tenderly cared for by those who loved to dp unto others as they would be done by. The dead were properly interred and the epidemic spread no further.

When the call came for aid to the sufferers by the great fire in Chicago, this city and immediate vicinity responded by sending one carload of flour, two carloads of potatoes and a cash collection of over $1,000.

A few years later when a call came for aid from the citizens of our own state who had lost all their crops by the ravages of the grasshoppers, a similar response was cheerfully given by the peopel of this city. In this case the gifts were made at different times and through different channels, and the aggregate cannot now be known.

During the Civil War the charity of the people of Red Wing and Goodhue county became proverbial. In more modern times, collections have been taken for all the popular causes, and the Goodhue county response to all worthy calls has been most liberal. Flood, fire and cyclone unfortunates in various parts of this country, famine sufferers in India and Russia, earthquake victims in San Francisco, and various missionary efforts and church charities all have reason to thank the generosity of Goodhue county people, while the large-heartedness of many private citizens has relieved much individual distress not known to the community at large.