Norwood Hospital Women’s Aid Celebrates Twenty-Fifth Anniversary With Meeting at Day House-This Day in Norwood History-June 10, 1944

Reception and Tea for Past And Present Members

The Norwood Hospital Women’s Aid, in celebration of the twenty-fifth year of its organization, will conduct a meeting at the Day House next Monday afternoon followed by a reception and tea from three-thirty to five o’clock. All women who at any time have been members of the associations as well as non-members who have served with the cutting and sewing groups are cordially invited to attend.

History in Brief

The trustees of the Norwood Hospital, at a meeting held in April 1919 voted that an organization of women from Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood be formed as an auxiliary or aid to the hospital. In June of that year, the Norwood Hospital Womens Aid was started and Alice Maude Shattuck was elected the first president. Others who have served since in this capacity are Mrs. George Gay, Mrs. George Wolfe, Mrs. Chester Foster, Mrs. W. Clifford Brown (Mrs. Florence Reardon), Mrs. Vern Richards, Mrs. Louis Orent, Mrs. Edmund Murphy, and Mrs. J Robie Klliott.

Mrs. Kenneth McKenzie, the first membership chairman, conducted an “Under the Umbrella Campaign” which with succeeding drives resulted in a steady increase in membership.

The organization raised funds during the following years by means of bazaars, a garden party, and a series of charity balls. During this self-supporting period, the Women’s Aid gave several substantial gifts to the hospital. In 1928 it was voted to set aside eight hundred dollars for equipment to furnish a sewing room in the new administration buildings and in 1929 the sum of two thousand dollars was put toward the purchase of a new X-Ray machine.

In 1937 the Women’s Aid became a part of the hospital budget and each year is allotted an amount that supplements that derived from membership dues and which helps to cover the expense of purchasing supplies.

Purpose and Activities

Great into rest was shown, from the beginning in the activities of the sewing groups, and women from churches and clubs of Norwood and Walpole participated in the work under the direction of Mrs Harriet Lane who was in charge of sewing during the first ten years. Others who have been leaders in this work are Mrs. Chester Foster, Mrs. Charles Britton, Mrs. John MaCarthy, Mrs William Rathbun, Mrs, Harold Alden, Mrs Robert Steele, Mrs, Howard Readel, Mrs Leon Johnson, and Mrs Herbert Works.

In November 1920 a regular day for sewing was established and meetings are still held on the second Thursday of each month. A cutting committee was also started to meet the Monday before each sewing session for the purpose of preparing the work for the stitchers,

Managing Supplies

ln 1933, it was deemed advisable to appoint a supply chairman to take over the task of planning and purchasing supplies The supply chairman keeps a running inventory of raw supplies and factory goods, plans the amount of cutting to be done by the cutting committee for the sewers and sees that the supply closet is stocked at all times with linens in the ratio of two articles to every six in circulation.

Before the war the supply chairman purchased goods wholesale by placing orders after considering competitive prices In these days of shortages and priorities orders must be placed many months in advance and the task of obtaining the required goods is often difficult.

Although the main purpose of the Women’s Aid is to keep the linen closet stocked by purchasing ready-made articles and material for sewing into garments, there are two additional services rendered by the group.

Extra Services

Beginning in 1910 an annual Jam and Jelly Drive was held until 1937 when the name was changed to Donation Day Drive. During the pan few years it has developed into a Potato Drive and provides the hospital with many pounds of this important and much-needed vegetable.

The second extra service is that which is performed by the entertainment committee. One day every month tray favors are provided for the patients, decorations for Christmas are purchased and arranged and Christmas parties are held for the nurses and hospital employees. Since WW2 most of this work has been under the direction of Mrs. Alfred Mann, entertainment chairman for seven years, and Mrs. Charles McDavitt, present chairman.

The Norwood Hospital Women’s Aid numbers among the out-of-town members of the hoard representatives from Walpole, East Walpole, Canion, Sharon, Islington, Westwood, Foxboro, and Medfield. Groups from some of these towns have solved the problem arising from gasoline rationing by holding sewing meetings in their respective loca]ities. In some cases individuals who find it difficult to attend work at home on articles furnished by the Aid.

The trustees of the Norwood Hospital have often expressed their appreciation of the work earned by the Women’s Aid, and as the institution expands and creator accomplishments are required of this group there is need for an increase in the number of women interested in the worth-while purpose of the organization.

Volunteers are urged to attend the work meetings on the second Thursday of the month The hospital serves coffee at noon to those who bring box lunches for an all-day sewing session. Women who cannot spend an enure day may attend at their convenience. All assistance is greatly appreciated.

The annual drive for members is now in progress. Any woman who wishes to assist in this worthy enterprise may join the organization on payment of one dollar to the membership chairman. Mrs. Howard Mattson, 132 Prospect Street, telephone Nor. 0574-M

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)