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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1962)
uiUding Plan. Would Continue Army's Service By JIM FRAKE Mail Tribune Staff Writer The Salvation Army has a big family to care for. During the past five years it has provided lodging for 14,021 persons, meals for 40,218, transportation for 45 transients and garments and shoes for 9,124 persons. In the five-year period, the Army assisted 19,194 travel ers, about 3,000 of them women. In addition to transient welfare, the Army furnishes aid to needy families. During the last five years, 686 grocery orders were provided, along with garments to 6,719 applicants, shoes to 573 persons, and medical aid to 12. Other assistance was given to nearly 4,000 ap plicants. Just as with other families, the Salvation Army must have a home and enough money to support it. If the Army spends more money than it has, one of two things happens it must curtail services, or addi tional income must be received. The annual contributions made throui the local United Crusade do not allow for expenses in excess of its regular budget. Hat Share of Misfortune In recent months, Medford Corps of the Salvation Army has had its share of misfortune. First, the transient shelter on Crews rd. was flooded when a water pipe broke last Jan. 25, during cold weather. About mid-February, the city condemned the Army's headquarters and community center at Fourth and Bartlett sts. because it was "unsafe for occupancy." The offices and store are now "literally jammed into limited rental space" at 30 North Holly st., according to Maj. William Ricken, local commanding officer. He emphasized that "when fall comes, and our youth and adult programs move indoors, we just won't have quart ers to house everybody." Building Fund Campaign Launched In order to continue its activities in the Medford area, the Salvation Army has, with the permission of the United Crusade, launched a $137,185 fund campaign. Money will be used to make repairs at the shelter and to build a new community center at Beatty and Edwards Ms. An existing building adjacent to the site of the pro posed building will be remodeled. A 10-day drive for funds, which began June 19, met with little public support. Because of this, the United Crusade approved ex tending the campaign until July 15. "Goal Getter Days." a special promotion held recently, raised $777.60, a small percentage of the amount needed. If the goal is not voluntarily subscribed, the Army may be forced to curtail it's operation in Jackson and part of Josephine counties. Total Cost of Building Program The total cost of the building program is $162,185. At least 15 per cent of the ..mount is expected to be realized from the sale of the condemned property. The condemned building on Bartlett st. was originally a Methodist church built in 1890. The Salvation Army purchased it in the early 1930's, and had used it until last January. The building housed the clothing depart ment, offices and, at one time, the officer's quarters. Four years ago the clothing department moved to Grape st. and then, more recently, to its present location. The headquarters were moved to the Holly st. building two years ago. Gro:p and young people activities were held in the now-abandoned building until January. Three Parts In Center The proposed community center will include three parts the chapel, an assmbly area and class rooms and office space. The chapel will scat approximately 240 per sons, including the use of a balcony. The building, which will face Edwards st., also will include a multi-purpose room, storage area for musical instruments, a classroom and an outdoor patio. A 20-car parking lot will adjoin the structure on the east. The existing building, formerly used by the Seventh Da" Advcntist church, will be used lor youth activities' anrge group meetings. The basement will scat 200' people, and kitchen facilities are available. The main floor will include, when remodeled, a large assembly room, six classrooms, a workroom, and a Sunday school office. Program Expansion Is Planned When the new center is completed, the senior citizen program will be expanded, according to Major Ricken. The Army now has about 35 to 40 senior citizens par ticipating in its programs. Remodeling of the present structure is expected to start the first of September if enough money is realized. Construction on the new buildings will start as soon after that time as possible. About $14,000 of the building fund iy jife j! 3? - H hi i'LwidiiR ii-n.-i- 1 - "r, J The former Seventh-Day Advcntist church at Beatty and Edwards sts. will be re modeled this fall before construction starts on the Army's new Community Center. The building will be used for youth activities, as well as other large groups. The basement can seat 200 people, and kitchen facilities are available, (Salvation Army Photo) goal is earmarked for repairs at the transient shelter. An average of 5,000 persons use the transient shelter each year. The 13-year-old building includes three family rooms, a dormitory, showers and laundry facilities, a din ing room and kitchen and a caretakers' apartment. The dormitory sleeps 30 men and the dining room seats 60. People Referred To Shelter Those using the shelter are usually referred by local law-enforcement agencies, the White City Domiciliary, Red Cross and public welfare agencies. They are usually transients, and arc here for a short time while seeking employment or while journeying to another town for work. No intoxicated persons are admitted. This is the only shelter of its kind between Redding, Calif., and Salem. Baby care also is provided at the home. "People are our business," according to Major Ricken. For the most part, people aided by the Army have a temporary emergency need which cannot be met by wel fare aid. "Government welfare operates under definite rules, but some of these rules eliminate emergency immediate aid," Maj. Ricken noted. "This is where the Salvation Army, with voluntarily-contributed funds, operating as a private agency, can give the needed temporary aid." The average welfare case runs from one to two weeks; the maximum is about six weeks. The assistance primar ily includes one's basic needs, food, clothing and shelter. Besides transient welfare, the Army serves the Rogue Valley in other ways, including Christmas gifts, youth and adult groups, prison and rest home visitations, and disaster relief. More than 100 gift baskets and hundreds of toys are given annually to local people unable to pur chase gifts at Christmas. In addition, several thousand people are visited in hospitals each holiday season. Youth programs are provided for children from 4 years old through high school age. With a new commu nity center, the Army will be able to expand its young people's programs, to include its own Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs, as well as comparable groups for girls. These Scouting groups will be for underprivileged young sters who do not belong to other such organizations. Special Bible Study Course Several teen-agers are enrolled in a special Bible study course. Others belong to the Sunday School and youth fellowship groups. There are 144 junior members of the Army; junior members are under 15 years old. There are 90 senior members. V' Religious services are held regularly for individuals not affiliated with another church. The services are Protestant, interdenominational meetings conducted by the Corps' commanding officer and his assistants. There are two women's groups-the League of Mercy and the Ladies Home league-whirh have regular meet ings, and contribute much of their t,ime lo the Army's activities, such as making Christmas baskets and visiting rest homes. There are also activities for the men, making the Salvation Army a "family affair" that serves the community. It is this Idea of family usage and service to the valley that will make the Army's new home a "Commu nity Center." The proposed $162,185 Salvation Army Community Center is to be located at the corner of Beatty and Edwards sts., Medford. The new three-unit Center will house youth, adult, family welfare, administration and religious activities programs. The building at the left Is the former Seventh-Day Adventist church. (Salvation Army Photo) Features Medford Sports Tribune SECTION B MEDFORD, OREGON. SUNDAY, JULY 8, 1962 PAGES 1 to 8 fe ! II fc:r- If! V (i fe -fl-'---1-' - -til I: ,T. iSWtl. 1 t ..esrCSALieka ' . I. - - - The Army's former headquarters and Community Center at Fourth and Bartlett sts. was condemned last February bv the city because it was unsaie ior occupancy, me Duuoing, originally a mcwiouisi tiiuii-n uum m mnu, waa purchased by the Medford Corps of the Salvation Army in the early 1930 s and has been used by them ever since. (Salvation Army Photo) I( includes a i,". n ,.r..n iraniint shelter on Crlwi rd. Medfor4, is urri by more than 5.000 people a year. Me e)oritr, famil rnor see" t i i pn irh Heu 0. F,hy tart alsnls prnvidrei. Approxima!rl $14,0i.) ft t'L. ni J-T 9w V Ut mmVm. (Salvation Army Photo) Temporary By BOB VHOMAN Mail Tribune Staff Writer Most youngsters have built playhouses out of card board boxes or made a tent out of an old blanket. It would seem that it is human instinct, even among chil dren, to want a "home" of their own, something that offers a feeling of security and a sense of protection from the elements. Yet, when someone becomes lost in the woods, like a recent case of a child in the Portland area, building a simple shelter does not seem to enter his mind. Naturalist Odd Bjerke, director of the YMCA summer camp at Diamond lake this summer, feels that erecting a shelter should be the first consideration of anyone who is lost. It could save his life, Bjerke said. Assured of Some Comfort For one thing, he said, the lost person will assure himself of some comfort during the night. He might not L sleep as well as he would in his own bed at home, but at least a shelter otters some protection trom ine coin night air and a good bough bed makes it possible to rest with reasonable comfort. But the most important thing a shelter does is to stop the lost person. He is not wandering aimlessly through the woods, putting more and more distance between him and his searchers. He is saving his energy, eliminating the danger of over fatigue and injury. The shelter becomes his headquarters and it Is pos sible, if water is available, for him to stay alive under such conditions for weeks, even if he has no food. Morale Will Be Better If he is aware of this, his morale will be better. He is not apt to "go to pieces" like many persons do when they are faced with the prospect of spending the night alone in the forest. With camping and the out-of-doors becoming more and more a part of American life, Bjerke feels that youngsters and adults alike should leach themselves to be wise in the way of the forest. This year, thousands of Americans will become lost in the woods. Most will be unharmed, but some will di of fatigue or exposure or will seriously injure them selves In their panic to get back to "civilization." One Phase of Survival Training The construction of emergency shelters will be one of the important phases of the wilderness survival train ing program being olfcred at the YMCA camp this sum mer. There will be about 20 types of shelters on display and youngsters themselves will build one of their own choosing on overnight survival training trips, Bjerke said. Woods and water safety, the study of edible wild plants, the construction of traps and snares, smoking and drying food, improvised fishing methods, firemaking without matches and nature study will be other phases of the training program. It is the first time such a wild erness school has been held In this area. A snug shelter that can be constructed In an hour or so is the A-frame type shown at top. Using two poles crossed at the top to form an opening, the ridge pole lays on top of these and extends to the ground. Bjerke is showing Max Chrislianson how the shelter is (hatched with fir boughs. When a fire is built In front of the opening heal is reflected inside. 4 4 4 Four or five person could sleep In the lean-In type shelter. Logs around the perimeter keep fir bough beds from scattering and help keep out draughts. Although this shelter Is built in the open, it is possible to utilize trees to support the pole over the opening. Bjerke has con structed a log fire reflector in front of the shelter. 4 4 4 In extremely cold weather, the trench shelter at the bottom Is considered to be one of the best types. It will he as much as 20 degrees warmer inside. Bierke (right) and his two volunteer assistants Max Christiansnn and Dean Parrott, Jacksonville, Bre shown at work on the framework of a trench shelter at the YMCA camp at Diamond lake. omes in the Forest mm? wOi Efllgt:"''iiwwijwi 1 n mmxij,mmm.mmmy n wm niuiiiiumi suem. i m minu wit , '7 '"'' ' -v,Pi'l:'-l
