Windham County Observer

RED CROSS RECORD OF WORK IN 1929
ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD MONDAY EVENING
Old Officers Re-Elected - Interesting Report of Miss Welles, District Red Cross Nurse

The annual meeting of the Putnam Chapter American Red Cross was held Monday evening, January 13th, in the Red Cross rooms. The reports of the Secretary, Treasurer and Chairmen of committees showed progress made by the Chapter during the past year with hearty response to appeals for aid made by the community.

George W. Baker was re-elected chairman; Charles A. Richard, vice-chairman; Miss Edith C. Bowen, secretary and Miss Emma M. Roberts, treasurer.

The following figures show 10 memberships obtained during the recent Roll Call: Putnam, 593; Thompson, 200; Pomfret, 353; North Grosvenordale, 62; Woodstock, 111.

The report of Miss Esther Welles, Red Cross district nurse was as follows:

In reviewing the year's work other than by figures, I should like to tell a little of the social and other work connected with the service. You will note that there were 80 more Social Service visits this year than last. Three children were placed in temporary boarding houses while the mothers worked and in one case the mother was in the hospital. Work has been secured in a few cases for the wage earner in the family, and in a few instances, situations were filled. Clothing has been given away to needy families and the nurse is especially grateful for children's clothes. Six children were sent to Undercliff Sanatorium in Meriden and all but one clothed by the Red Cross. Several cases were investigated at the request of the Humane Society Officer and Probation Officer. The School Nurse was aided in tonsillectomy work in June and, after her departure, considerable work was done in this line. Through the co-operation of the Cosmos Club, milk was secured for many children.

A case of post diphtheritic paralysis was supplied with a special nurse through the co-operation of the selectmen and the Catholic Council; liver supplied by the Red Cross for a man for six months, and cases investigated at the request of the Welfare Society of Providence, Charity Organization Society of Hartford, Children's Village of Hartford and Social Service Dept of Massachusetts General Hospital of Boston.

There have been many visitors to the office during the year: Miss Sarah R. Addison, Red Cross Nursing Field Director for Connecticut; Mrs. Deborah Moffette, Bureau of Mental Hygiene State Dept. of Health; Miss Lambert, Social Worker Children's Village Hartford; Miss Clock, Red Cross Field Director for Connecticut; Mr. Hitchcock, Conn. Humane Society; Miss Esther Hill, Conn. Bureau Child Welfare; Dr. A. Elizabeth Ingraham, Director Bureau Child Welfare, State Dept. Health; Miss Pecham, Asst. Director Junior Red Cross, Washington; Mr. James T. Nicholson, Asst. Manager Eastern Area Amer. National Red Cross, Washington; Mrs. Minnie B. Canningham, Territorial Supervisor Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Boston; Mrs. Nancy Kiromer, Dist. Supervisor Foster Homes Bureau Child Welfare.

May Day-Child Health Day-was celebrated in Putnam in the following way. May Pole Dance at High School, Pageant of Israel Putnam and Smith St. lower grade children in Byrne Co. window, representing "Play". Window Demonstration all day at Byrne Co., Boy Scouts gave first aid demonstration in Byrne Co. window, special May Day program at Bradley theatre afternoon and evening, President's Proclamation read in the churches.

There was a Mental Hygiene Conference held by the State Department of Health in the Red Cross Office November 7th, the first of its kind in this part of the state.

I desire at this time to express appreciation to all the doctors and social agencies, without whose co-operation this nursing service to the community would not be possible.

Esther Ellsworth Welles,
Red Cross Nurse