Yeoirs off
Anniversary of
Girls Club Here
Observed Monday
A story of 25 years of com
munity service, particularly
to young women, was re-told
Monday evening at a dinner
of Medford civic leaders.
The event celebrated the
25th anniversary of founding
of the Girls Community club,
and the dinner was held in
the . new clubhouse on North
Bartlett st. which was opened
for use a little more than a
year ago.
Presiding over the program
was Mrs. Dolph Phipps, the
10 MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Oreqon, Sunday, December 7. 1958
woman who was largely in
strumental in formation of the
club 25 years ago and who
has served continuously as
president of the board of di
rectors during the entire per
iod. Greet Guests
Eugene Thorndike, retired
Medford banker who has serv
ed on the board of trustees
for many years, greeted the
guests and conducted a joint
meeting of the two boards,
with election of officers.
As Mrs. Phipps reviewed
the first days of Girls Com
munity club, and major events
during the 25 years, she intro
duced a number of individ
uals who have been identified
with its progress.
The club was formally in
corporated in May of 1934
the papers listing Mrs. Phipps
as president; Mrs. I. E. Schul
er, vice-president; Miss Mar
garet Kerri treasurer, and
Mrs. Aletha E. Vawter, secre
tary.
First Directors
The first directors were
Mrs. R. B. Hammond, Mrs
William Holloway, Mrs. Port
er Neff, Mrs. Lewis Humph
revs, Mrs. Lawrence Penning
ton, Miss' Laura Drury (now
Mrs. Norris Porter) Miss Mar-
jorie Kelly, Mrs. W. V. Aid
rich, Mrs. H. M. Weishaar and
Mrs. M. M. Morris
Mrs. Vawter and Mrs. Neff
both remained on the board
until their deaths. Mrs. Phipps
paid tribute to both women
sne told now Mrs. xs'eff. as
la-Jit l'iW
NEW CLUBHOUSE - This handsome brick
and concrete structure at 229 North Bartlett
street was erected in 1957 to replace the old
frame building which had been in use by
Girls Community club for more than 20
years. The new building was a gift from the
late John R. Tomlin, retired Medford lum
berman, who offered the club's board of
directors a large sum of money without ever
having been asked for a donation. The
donor's name was unknown to the public
until his death, shortly after the dedication
-of the building in September, 1957. Other
individuals and groups of the valley do
nated funds to furnish the clubhouse, which
supplies low-cost housing for young women
coming to Medford to find employment.
Many groups also use the clubhouse as a
meeting place; parties, weddings and re
ceptions are often held at the club.
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FIRST HOME - Girls Community club, which celebrated its
25th anniversary of organization at a dinner Monday night,
took over this building at 229 North Bartlett street when the
club was first formed. Originally the residence of the well
known Haskins family, the clubhouse was later used by the
Medford YWCA. It was recalled Monday night that the site
of the two buildings has now been used for community pur
poses for 38 years. In 1955 the Medford Fire department
declared the old wooden structure a fire hazard, and use of
the second story as living quarters was stopped.
purchasing agent, worked
hard to keep the clubhouse
furnished and equipped on the
slimmest of budgets, and how
Mrs. Vawter had served as
treasurer throughout the
years.
Mrs. Newbury- and Mrs.
Pennington no longer live in
Medford, but Mrs. Penning
ton came from California for
the dinner. Mrs. Morris is still
on the board.
Eight Organizations
Mrs. Phipps pointed out
that the first board represent
ed eight organizations of the
city, plus representatives from
the former YWCA board.
Mrs. Phipps, assisted by Dr.
B. R. Elliott, reviewed the his
tory of the YWCA, Girls Com
munity club predecessor, and
told how support was with
drawn from that organization
because of the expense of pay
ing the salary cf a secretary
approved by YWCA national
headquarters, and of paying
national dues.
The new organization took
over the YWCA clubhouse on
North Bartlett, the former
Haskins' home, and the pres
ent clubhouse was erected on
the same site. Dr. Elliott men
tioned that the site has now
been used as a community
center for 38 years.
Purpose of Club
Purpose of Girls Communi
ty club when organized was
to provide low -cost housing
and supervision for young
women trying to get a start
in the business world, to pro
vide a recreation and program
center for girls out of high
school but not yet ready for
a program such as offered by
the business and professional
women's organizations, and to
operate club rooms where
various organizations of the
valley might hold meetings
and social functions.
Throughout the years, this
policy has continued with
year -by -year adaptations to
meet the community's needs.
Early activities included
courses and classes l n eti
quette and social culture, sex
education and health; bridge
and dancing, and handicrafts.
A girls' basketball team was
organized and played games
throughout the area. Badmin
ton and Softball was also
played by club members. .An
orchestra was organized, and
directed by Mrs. E. E. Gore.
A free employment bureau
for domestics was maintained
for several years.
Useful Service
One of the most useful of
the club's services was pro
viding quarters for group
meetings, and more than 40
different organizations have
used both the old and the new
clubhouse for this purpose. In
addition parties, weddings
and receptions, bazaars, hob
by shows, and various other
functions have been held in
the buildings.
Mrs. Phipps stressed that
all the leadership and teach
ing had been on a volunteer
basis. She introduced Mrs.
C. Rease Braley, who had con
ducted some of the classes;
Mrs. Charles Champlin, who
had lived at the club as a
young girl just out ol hign
school; Mrs. H. G. Wilson,
who had been on the YWCA
board and supported the new
club; Mrs. Norris Porter, who
had attended some of the
early classes, and Mrs. Nellie
Laing, who had played on one
of the basketball teams.
First Matron
Mrs. Florence Laing, who
became the first matron of
the club in 1935, was intro
duced. Mrs. Laing, now 85
years old, recalled that she
had been paid $20 a month
for her services. The former
matron spoke of the club's
early days, said "there were
no idle girls in the clubhouse"
and added that only one had
been asked to leave because
of misconduct.
Following Mrs. Laing's res
ignation, Mrs. Stella Hend
rickson served at matron for
a number of years until ill
health forced her to leave.
Mrs. Mabel Houck was then
hired as matron, and remains
in the office at present. Mrs
Houck spoke of the manner
in which girls wishing to live
at the club are interviewed
and chosen.
Twenty -two girls are now
living at the club, and the
average living at the club
during each month is 26. Al
most all are in their 'teens, a
time limit is put on their
length of stay since once they
have become established in a
job, the club directors believe
they are able to find other
suitable quarters.
Interest Shown
The president spoke of the
interest shown in the club
and its program by other
cities of- the state. Mrs. Phipps
was asked to establish a simi
lar club at Grants Pass, and
served on a state committee
which gathered and dissemin
ated information on the sub
ject for cities in Oregon. The
National Youth association
used the club as a plan for
setting up other Oregon clubs.
Activities of the club dur
ing the war were reviewed.
In addition to routine war
work, the club aided the
wives of soldiers at Camp
White in finding housing and
employment.
Thorndike reviewed the
club's methods of financing it
self, spoke of the years when
it was a Community Chest
agency, and of the develop
ments brought about by the
club's being dropped from the
Chest. The club then conduct
ed its own fund-raising drive,
with success, and continued
to operate.
Fire Hazard
In 1955 the club building
was termed a "fire hazard"
by the Medford fire depart
ment, and the upstairs was
closed as living quarters. It
was then that the club's
building committee, headed
by Thorndike, redoubled ef
forts to find the money for a
new structure.
Thorndike and Mrs. Phipps
related how the late John R.
Tomlin, retired Medford lum
berman, selected the. club as
the recipient of a large dona
tion for the proposed building.
Mrs. Phipps stressed that
the directors had never sought
Mr. Tomlin's help, but that in
his efforts to find a worthy
place for disposal of his for
tune, he had decided that, a
community clubhouse would
best suit his ideas. Mr. Tom
lin made the gift anonymous
ly and only after his death
was it revealed.
Building Completed
The building was completed
in the summer of 1957, and
dedicated in September. One
of the organizations which
had met in the old building,
and now meets in the new, is
the Medford Chin-Up club.
Harry Chipman, long - time
Chin-Up member, related how
Mrs. Phipps had determined
what special planning was
needed for the club members,
many of whom are in wheel
chairs or on crutches. As a
result, the clubhouse has
extra - wide doors and one
floor -level entrance for the
convenience of the physically
handicapped.
The meeting closed with
election of directors and trus
tees. Named to the board were
Mrs. Phipps, Mrs. Martin
Luther, Mrs. M. M. Morris,
Mrs. "Mamie E. Sleeter, Mrs.
G. R. Owens, Mrs. Hugh Cole
man, Mrs. T. K. Oliver and
Mrs. Marrs Gibbons.
Mrs. Oliver read wires and
letters from Mrs. W. W. Aid
rich, now in Hawaii, and Mrs.
Don Newbury, who spends
the winters in Arizona, and
Mrs. Holloway, who now lives
in Tempe, Ariz.
Named to the board of
trustees were Thorndike, Dr.
Elliott, H. H. Pringle, Edward
Branchfield, John C. Boyle,
John P. Moffat and T. K.
Oliver.
Mrs. Sleeter was chairman
of the nominating committee.
Faith circle of First Presby
terian church, Medford, pre
pared the dinner and five
residents of the club served it.
Handi capped Children
Get Care in Doll IKIouise
MORE FOR DEFENSE
New Delhi (TJPD India must
spend more for defense be
cause of the outside military
aid received by neighboring
Pakistan, Prime Minister Ja
waharlal Nehru said Friday.
Nehru called Pakistan un
friendly. During a discussion
of military expenditures in
parliament, he said: "Person
ally I am convinced there is
little chance of a conflict with
Pakistan, but my government
cannot take risks."
CONSIDERS VISIT
Montgomery, Ala. -!UPD-The
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Negro integration leader, is
considering a visit to Russia
next May, his secretary said
yesterday. The secretary did
not say whether King had
been invited by the Russian
government or planned to
make a private tour.
Ilt
'T7frarrri'twl W'M: 1 1 i:irff
PLAY-TIME IN DOLL HOUSE - Mrs. L. L.
Poutre, proprietor of the Doll House on
Buckshot rd., Medford, hands one of her
little charges a rattle. All of the children
staying in this home are mentally handi
capped. This small patient is in one of the
MM
play-pens in the nursery. Children are en
couraged to entertain themselves and are
prepared for the care they will receive later
at Fairview Home which will give them
more specialized treatment.
By JOE COWLEY
Mail Tribune Staff Writer
Many children are thinking
of doll houses for Christmas.
However, parents of south
ern Oregon are thankful for
the Doll House, the name of
a home on Buckshot rd.,
which care for mentally hand
icapped children.-
The home is called the Doll
House because Mrs. L. L.
Poutre, 2653 Buckshot rd.,
thinks of her patients as "lit
tle dolls."
These children, most of
them from four months to
five years of age, are of de
layed mental growth.
There are a variety of 10
to 15 syllable medical words
to define their cases. Perhaps
two of the most common cases
are hydrocephalic and micro
cephalic. That means young
sters either have . over-sized
heads caused by too much
fluid, or. development of their
heads is retarded, resulting in
small-sized heads.
To the parents who place
their children in . Mrs. Pou
tre's care, the Doll House is
a miracle. It's a place where
they can put their children
where they .will receive both
loving and efficient care. It j
is a stopping place en route
to Fairview, where the young
patients will receive more ex
pert care.
"Trouble Is," a welfare de
partment official said, "the
parents of these children de
cide to send them to Fairview,
then because of the long wait
ing list, they may have to
wait as long as three or four
years. Keeping the children
at home a little longer works
a strain on the parents. At the
Doll House, the children re
ceive the same loving care
and ' they are prepared for
the treatment they will re
ceive at Fairview."
Parents are allowed to visit
their children often and when
ever they can. Mrs. Poutre
sets no visiting hours since
practically all of her patients
are from other counties. In
fact, during the two years the
Doll House has been in licen
sed operation comparatively
few of the youngsters have
come from Jackson county.
The children at the Doll
House are mostly from aver
age families. These children
may come under welfare spon
sorship since their care is ex
pensive. A medical ' bill for
one of the youngsters often
runs $85 a month. -
Mrs. Poutre keeps children
up to 10 years old. The Doll
House capacity is 18. The
children receive loving care
but at the same time it is
firm. They must be given the
control which they are incap
able of providing- for themselves.
Mrs. Poutre raised her own
children, then missed having
them around the house. So,
10 years ago she became a
foster parent in the. welfare
department's program. She
developed strong affection for
handicapped children, and
later, founded the Doll House.
The plain spoken, kindly
woman manages, the home
with usually only a 'young
girl assistant. Mrs. Poutre
takes care of the children and
does all the washing and meal
preparation. Her assistant
does the house-cleaning.
Since the children have lit
tle or no control over them
selves, washing is a continu
ous operation.
Although not especially
trained in the care of these
children, Mrs. Poutre has a
knack for understanding the
particular needs of each child,
and the best way to handle
him or her. However, all th
children are placed firmly in
a strict routine. They are
awakened at 7 ajn. for the
first feeding. Nap time comei
in mid-afternoon, then finally
at 7 p.m. it's lights out and
nursery doors stay closed
against everything 4,but - an
earthquake . or fire," Mrs.
Poutre said.
Feeding, in some cases, hat
its problems. The children
need solids but some cannot
be spoon-fed. So, Mrs. Poutre
uses a plastic baby - bottle
capped with an over-size nip
ple with a large hole cut in
it. As the child sucks on-the
nipple, food is squirted down
its throat.
"How do I feel about these
kids? Why, like any woman
should feel about children.
They're no different. They
just don't. talk back!": Mil
Poutre said.
Mrs. Poutre Is licensed by
the state board of health. Al
though there is no waiting
list for her home, she has no
trouble filling the cribs in the
eye-appealing, little nursery.
Often she finds herself in
the position of the woman in
the nursery rhyme, "she had
so many children she didn't
know what to do." Then she
thinks of expanding her
home. But it, too, would have
its problems. She would have
to almost double the number
of patients received in order
to make it pay its way. It
would mean more equipment,
24-hour service, and more
staff.
So, the little Doll House on
Buckshot rd. will remain just
that the little Doll House.
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LONG - TIME LEADERS - Medford civic
leaders who have worked for many years to
keep the Girls Community club in operation
attended a 25th anniversary dinner Monday
night at the new clubhouse: Among those
participating were (left to right) Dr. B. R.
Elliott, member of the board of trustees;
Mrs. Martin Luther, board of directors mem
ber for many years and now vice-president;
Mrs. Dolph Phipps, one of the club's found
ers and president of the directors continu
ously for 25 years; Eugene Thorndike, chair
man of the building committee and trustee
for a long period; Mrs. M. M. Morris, 25
year member of the board of directors and
treasurer and Mrs. T. K. Oliver, board
member and secretary.
ATTEND DINNER - Among the guests at the 25th anni
versary dinner of Girls Community club Monday night were
(left to right) Mrs. Lawrence Pennington, Redding, Calif.,
Mrs. Florence Laing, the club's first housemother, and Col.
W. H. Payne. Mrs. Pennington was a member of the first
board of directors and Colonel Payne is one of the city's
civic leaders identified with the history of the club. Mrs.
Laing recalled that the girls aided by the club during her
years as matron were for the most part hard-working, re
sponsible young women who appreciated the fact that they
were being helped.
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LOWER FUEL BILLS
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trol fire . . . your home and family safer!
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8th St.
at Fir
SMITH-DYNGE LBR. CO.
You rely on her
for many things. Scarcely a
day passes in which Mother is
not called upon to apply her
judgment and wisdom for the
benefit of others. You depend
upon her for love, comfort and
understanding day after day.
Count on us, too
There comes a time in everyone's life when
comfort and understanding "from the outside'
is important, too. We constantly provide that
help, when it is most needed. ,
Conger-Morris
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ASHLAND MORTUARY
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by Invitation
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