75th Anniversary History
Bradford Sullivan Counties Chapter
American Red Cross

1917-1992

The organization was to be one Chapter for each county, which should not be a working chapter, that is not working making Red Cross supplies, but a clearing house for Red Cross activities conducted by its branch units. It was agreed by all members to include the Dushore Branch.

An election of officers was held on July 6, 1917 and the following officers were elected: Chairman -- E. Everitt VanDyne, Troy, PA; Vice-Chairman -- Mrs. F. R. Ahbe, Athens, PA; Treasurer -- W. E. Lane, Towanda, PA; Secretary -- Mrs. Harriet W. Dodson, Towanda, PA. The Secretary's salary was set at $600.00 a year for full-time duties.

When the Chapter was first formed, it had eight working branches with a number of Auxiliary Units, totaling 57 Units. Membership had reached about 15,000. The Branches and Auxiliaries were as follows: 

ATHENS:  Athens Boro, Ulster, Smithfield, Laurel Hill, Warren Center, Sheshequin, Willawana, Oak Hill, Milan, and WCTU of East Athens.

CANTON:  Canton Boro, Alba, Minnequa, LeRoy, Laquin, East Canton, Grover, Windfall, Shunk-Wheelerville, Ward-Epworth (Armenia Mountain District), Beech Flats, and Union.

DUSHORE:  Dushore Boro, Cherry Township, Colley Township, and a small part of Forks Township.

MONROE:  Monroeton, Monroe Township, and Franklindale.

SAYRE:  Athens, Sayre, South Waverly, Waverly N.Y.

TOWANDA:  Asylum-Standing Stone, Bernice-Mildred, Ghent, Herrick, South Hill, Hornbrook, LeRaysville, Lopez, Mac, Macedonia, Neath, New Albany, North Orwell, Overton, Potterville, Orwell, Rome, West Franklin, and Windham.

TROY:  Troy Boro, Austinville, Columbia Cross Roads, Granville Center, Sylvania, West Burlington, East Troy, Leona, Springfield, Wetona, Armenia, Coryland, Gillett, Burlington, Snedekerville, Bentley Creek, Big Pond, Checkerville, Mosherville, and Fasset.

WYALUSING: Wyalusing Boro, Wyalusing Township, Tuscarora, Terry and Wilmot Townships, Campton, and Silvara.

The first and biggest problem the Bradford County Red Cross Chapter had was the lack of railroads between eastern and western Bradford County. This was soon overcome with the advent of automobiles so that the Canton and Troy units came to the Chapter Office.

The Chapter's Units were very busy from 1917-1919. The Chapter shipped 200,000 surgical dressings; 21,707 pieces of garments and supplies; 27,000 knitted articles; 12 tons of second-hand clothes (all in good condition). These were sent abroad for refugees. Eleven-thousand four-hundred thirty-seven (11,437) quarts of soup and vegetables, fruit, and jellies were shipped. A photo of a carload of soup, consisting of 9,359 quarts, weighing 36,000 pounds is below. Six-hundred fifty picture puzzles; 1,608 hospital scrapbooks. A sub-committee of Boy Scouts sent 1,000 trench candles and 58 boxes of cut flowers.
 

In January, 1917, the Junior Red Cross was organized with Professor, L. J. Russell, County Superintendent of Schools, as director and was organized along the same lines as the Senior Society.

There were 261 schools with about 10,000 pupils. One-hundred sixty-six of these schools with membership of 7,963 enrolled as Junior Auxiliaries. These schools raised their membership money by giving entertainments, socials, and bake and rummage sales, raising $2,838.24.

The Juniors took an active part in all the different American Red Cross Campaigns. One collected 2,200 pounds of old clothing. Another shipped eight barrels of fruit pits and nuts. Another collected one dollar for each man, woman, and child in their borough. Another supplied all the handkerchiefs and towels in a linen drive. Collectively, they shipped 1,500 surgical dressings; 307 hospital garments; 184 refugee garments; 61 infant layettes; 59 knitted articles (including 12 afghans); 28 packing cases; and one bulletin board.

Also within the Chapter's borders is a very important railroad center in Sayre. During W.W.I., a canteen was staffed by the Sayre-Athens Branch, American Red Cross, Bradford County Chapter. It was supplied from all the branches in Bradford County. They served about 47,000 serviceman bound overseas as well as those returning home. They were offered food, clothing, relaxation, and in the summer - weather permitting - a bathing beach on the Susquehanna River.

The total amount of monies contributed during W.W.I. was $131,267.78. This was from July 6, 1917, to March 1, 1919.
 

The Bradford County Commissioners gave the American Red Cross an office as well as an office for the secretary.

Three most notable personages from Bradford County that served on the National Level were:

JANE A. DELANO -- Chairman, National American Red Cross Nursing Service and Superintendent of the Army Nursing Corps. She saw service all over the world. She died in France on April 15, 1919. She received the Distinguished Service Medal, posthumously, at Washington, D.C. Her home was in Minnequa.

MAJOR GENERAL HENRY P. DAVISON -- was the first Chairman of the American Red Cross War Board under an appointment from President Wilson. He was born and raised in Troy, Pennsylvania.

MAJOR DANIEL E. POMEROY -- He worked in special American Red Cross work overseas. He was also from Troy, Pennsylvania.

We had numerous young ladies who served with the Nursing Corps overseas and in stations in the United States.

When the Bradford County Chapter of the American Red Cross was inaugurated, it was under the jurisdiction of the Atlantic Division, with Headquarters in New York City.
 

Jane DeLano