Webster City Tribune, December 1917

Forty eight pounds of yarn from Red Cross headquarters in Chicago and thirty eight pounds from Cedar Falls, arrived at the Red Cross station in this city Tuesday and was all gone within a few hours, so keen is the demand for yarn and so short is the supply. More yarn is expected this week. There are possibly five knitters to each pound of yarn sent and the old rule of “first come, first served” is followed by the dispensers.

You should see the things in the Belgian Relief box. You will remember that one enormous box was shipped last week, full of all sorts of nice fuzzy things for babies, and practical things for children of all ages. Well, this week, there is a fine start upon another box of things. That neighborhood club of women- about six in number- are making the cunningest little dresses out of old dress skirts, and cast off dresses. Some are pretty enough for “best dresses.” Mrs. J. B. Crovisier, that north side champion knitter, has sent four pairs of knitted baby bootees, made from scraps of yarn. There are many quilts for babies too. One card club spent the day Tuesday making outing nighties for babies.

1000 yards of seven quarter sheeting was delivered at the Red Cross rooms this week and a good start has been made on the hospital box.

They need by all that is fair and just, a small safe and a desk over at the Red Cross rooms. The book keeping is having to be conducted in a distressing manner, with no place for books or valuable paper and no safe in which to keep the contributions of the day. There is possibly in the county somewhere a small safe or a desk not in use and it would be a fine thing to allow the Red Cross to use them.

The latest contributions to the Red Cross fund are as follows:

Mrs. Chas. T. Smith $5

Mrs. Clara Bartlett, Duncombe $5

Mrs. Josie Page- 10 quart jar of mincemeat which sold for $5

Mrs. George Gardner- fine dressed turkey which sold for $5 to Peter Schomer who donated the turkey to Mercy Hospital.

Sheldon Tatham $5

Harvey Pettibone $50

Mrs. W. W. Boak $1

Mrs. F. E. Willson $5

Canteen Service For Selectmen

Red Cross in Webster City Establishes a Canteen Service to Take Care of Selectmen and Soldiers Passing Through
Serve Selectmen June 28
Will Serve Last Meal Here to All Selectmen Called From Hamilton County.

The Red Cross personnel in Webster City has been increased by a canteen service committee, composed of five gentlemen and twenty young women, with Julius Bermann as chairman. A dinner for the thirty two selective servicemen, leaving for camp Friday, June 28, served in the Elk’s banquet hall at 1 o’clock, will be the first of the services to be given by this committee.

Simple uniforms, together with the insignia of the service, will be worn by the canteen workers, who have been chosen a follows:

The Committees.

Men’s committee: Chairman, Julius Bermann; E.E. Mason, Dr. N.C.A. Berg and two others yet to be named.

Girl’s committee: Helen Berg, Ruth Tatham, Bertha Teal, Jessie McMurray, Helen Beck, Annetta McFarland, Clara Gabrielson, Anna Shryock, Ruth Maag, Gertrude Merrill, Elizabeth Chamberlin, Elsie Golden, Florence Tucker, Bertha Stark, Lois Carson, Ella Stickney, Eunice Lee, Rosalind Cook, Fairie Smock. Substitute members: Mrs. Effie Kantor, Genie Smith, Esther Greenwood, Margaret Chamberlin, Benona Jones, Cora McCollough.

Duty of Committees.

The duty of the canteen service workers will be to provide and serve the last meal of all Hamilton county soldiers leaving for camp and, when notified by the government to do so, to serve troops enroute through this city and furnish a medium for providing refreshments for men in the service on any occasion upon which they are called.

After once reporting for service, the American soldier or sailor is not permitted to accept eatables or drinkables while enroute from any but an accredited canteen worker. Owing to the responsibility of maintaining the well being of troops thus placed on the canteen service, the national headquarters has definitely stated that no person under twenty three years of age and no officer under twenty five years of age shall receive permission to wear a canteen service uniform.

Must Take Oath.

Each worker here must take the following oath, the text of which follows: Oath; I _______, of Webster City in the county of Hamilton and state of Iowa do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

Have Uniforms.

The necessity for some identification mark by which troop train commanders may readily recognize an officially authorized American Red Cross canteen worker is obviously necessary for the protection of their men and the workers themselves. The official identification shield adopted is a woven white shield, a red cross with small blue letters “A.R.C. Canteen Workers.” The service uniform for girls is on apron of horizon blue, and is worn with white collar and cuffs and a horizon blue veil. Identification shields must always be worn in conspicuous places on hat, cuffs, or collar. At least one must be plainly in evidence when engaged in canteen service.

The optional outdoor uniform is a coat of gray whipcord, or any suitable coat provided the canteen shield is worn. The hat is close fitting, on the general order of the Royal Flying Corps model, of khaki cloth. In summer a perfectly plain, dark blue or black sailor hat is worn with or without veil. Mr. Bermann has arranged for the men engaged on the committee to wear white linen coats with the necessary insignia in evidence.

[Also Daily Freeman Journal, Wednesday, June 19, 1918, Webster City , Iowa]

$150 Given to the Red Cross

Two Checks, One for Hundred Dollars And One for Fifty Are Received By the Red Cross Headquarters.

$100 From the Library Fund

$50 Given by Mrs. W.W. Pearce. (Webster City)- Money Was Badly Needed By Workers.

Two checks of substantial worth were received yesterday by Red Cross headquarters as contributions to the working fund of the local chapter. The checks were for one hundred dollars and fifty dollars. The first was a gift from the Kendall Young estate and the second from Mrs. W. W. Pearce.

The Red Cross workers of the city are particularly happy over these gifts as they are the largest yet received for the working fund. A number of others, however, have come in from time to time and just lately there have been many of small denominations. Both big and the little ones are fully appreciated for each, whether for one hundred dollars or for one dollar, is made to cover the greatest possible need of the Red Cross.

The demands made upon the Red Cross are urgent and must be supplied at all costs. The force of workers is increasing daily in this city and over the county, where interest is growing. But workers and interest are unavailing unless funds and materials are at hand to be worked up.