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
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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
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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
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