Chapter Formation

The American Red Cross was in its twenty-sixth year of being. Residents of Indiana County were familiar with the objectives and functions of the Red Cross on both the national and international levels and they were eager to show their participation in the war effort by channeling their energies in a most useful and humanitarian way. One of the means by which they did this was by the formation of a Red Cross chapter in Indiana County.

On Wednesday evening, April 4, 1917, two days prior to Wilson’s formal declaration of war, a group of citizens met to form a Business Men’s Reserve. The objective was that they would be ready, with minimal preparation, when the call came for active service. It was, however, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce that had taken the initial steps, on April 5th, to form a chapter of the American Red Cross. On April 6th the Executive Board of the Chamber of Commerce met to finalize plans for a mass meeting of citizens of the county to formally establish the organization.

Patriotic feeling was running high in the county because of the imminence of war. This movement to form a chapter met with a most enthusiastic response. The Indiana Gazette called attention to the world situation daily and Indiana County could not afford to be left behind.

On April 14th The Indiana Gazette reported that Irving S. Cobb, humorist and periodical contributor to the Saturday Evening Post, spoke at a meeting in Philadelphia on behalf of the Red Cross. In his talk Mr. Cobb made reference to Indiana County, asking if anyone in the audience would be one of the thousand members for the Indiana County Chapter. Indiana, to have a proportionate showing, must have at least 1,000 members.

At 7:30 p.m., April 19th, a mass meeting of 500 boosters from all sections of the county, was held in the Auditorium in Indiana. The objective of the meeting was to formally organize a chapter and to elect officers and to "get to the business at hand." Judge J.A. Langham presided. The stage was decorated with the American emblem and patriotism was the keynote of the speakers. A volunteer choir provided the music. The audience was led in the singing of patriotic songs accompanied by an orchestra and Mrs. W.S. Hamilton at the piano.

Following the speakers at the event, the officers of the chapter were elected. Mr. J. Elder Peelor, of Indiana, was elected president of the chapter; Mr. Frank Finswaite, of Cherry Tree, vice-president; Miss Anna Laughlin, of Indiana, secretary and Mr. Thomas Hildebrand, of Indiana, treasurer.

Judge Langham then relinquished his position and the new president, Mr. Peelor, took charge. The men, by a standing vote, pledged to support the ladies by bringing home the important concepts taught by the Red Cross.

Following the pledge, envelopes were distributed and those in attendance were asked to sign their names on the blank provided, enclose a dollar, and become active members. Over one hundred signers were received within a few minutes; the remainder of the envelopes was returned to "headquarters" the next day. Since there were no permanent headquarters, subscription envelopes were available at Troutman’s Department Store on Philadelphia Street. There, regardless of sex, people were urged to enroll. The public was made aware of the location of "headquarters" through the newspaper.

During the course of the meeting, word was received of the formation of a Red Cross organization of 150 members in Saltsburg, and that group expressed its willingness to become an auxiliary to the Indiana County Chapter.

The next order of business was the planning for presentation of meetings throughout the county, the objective being the formation of auxiliaries. As a result of these activities and meetings, the Indiana County chapter of the American Red Cross was founded on April 19, 1917 and it was chartered by an Act of Congress through the National Red Cross on April 27, 1917.

The American Red Cross was established on broad lines that provide a functional base for local units. The Indiana County Chapter enlisted volunteer services of men and women from every occupation, stressing that the Red Cross was not merely a group of women who met periodically to roll bandages, but that it was an organization that included excellent training in health and safety services, blood donation and disaster relief, all of which remain vital today.