Northern Berkshire United Way: War and Peace
Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, we will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its successes and challenges during the war years.
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The Community Chest started the decade on the upswing but ended with a decline in fundraising. A bright spot was its establishment of new agencies to help the citizens of North Adams and Clarksburg.
But what goes up, must eventually come down.
The 1940 campaign drive again set a goal of $39,600 and volunteers toted up $23,000 at the first meeting.
James Hunter Machine was the first to attain 100 percent enrollment with annual gift of $6.13 per person for a total of $1,275. Some 200 businesses and organizations hit their red feather level of 100 percent, including all of the schools as well as State Teachers College.
The litany of businesses and organizations included long-gone establishments such as Simmons Funeral Home, Spofford Motors, McCann Ice Cream Co., C.H. Cutting, West End Market, Apothecary Hall, Florini's Italian Garden, and Pizzi's, along with still existing enterprises like Whitney's Beverage Shop, Cascade Paper and Mount Williams Greenhouse.
The now annual dinner was served by the Ladies Aid Society of First Congregational at the YMCA, and attendees were entertained by singers from the Advent Christian Church, directed by the Rev. Martin Ball and accompanied by his wife on the piano. "Assisting in useful capacities" were YMCA junior members Howard Goodermote, Roy Modlinger, Fred Myers, Norman Remillard, George Grenier, Wallace Konopka and Anthony Pessolano.
Mrs. Robert K. Thompson and Miss Hulda Buffum tied as women raising the most as an individual; Thompson won the coin toss for a coffee percolator from Costine Electrical. Herbert Mausert won a GE radio as the man raising the most.
But sixth annual campaign wasn't quite the rousing success. The Chest failed to meet its goal for the first time, with a shortfall of $1,400 that was covered by reserves so none of the 11 agencies were affected.
The gathering showed "keen disappointment" rather than cheers when the final numbers were tallied. Chair Frank Bond said with the higher pay and increased industrial activity, there should have been a greater response.
"Too many people think of a donation to the Chest as a donation to one organization," he said. "Too many of them don't think of the 10 agencies which depend on the Chest for support."
Officials agreed on the need for more and larger individual subscriptions from the average citizen as the civic leaders who had provided large foundations gifts had died or left.
The Chest during the 1940s was largely dependent on individuals pledging an upfront or weekly payment. Categories changed over the years but were mainly industrial, mercantile, residential and special gifts. Teams of volunteers led signups at businesses, others went door to door. At times, some 200 or more volunteers signed up for teams; corporate contributions were far less than they are today.
Local clubs and organizations also provided donations, ranging from $5 to $200. They included the Houghton Community Round Table, the Eagles, the Moose Lodge, various religious ladies' groups, the Girl Scouts and, often the largest donation, the North Adams Hospital Auxiliary.
The chase for subscriptions had been rewarded with prizes and recognition — like coffee percolators — but was discontinued a couple years later. The "spirit of friendly rivalry is enough," said campaign Chair G. Churchill Frances in 1943.
At the annual meeting held in January 1941, Estelle Howard reported that her social index "confidential clearing house" had cleared 1,880 inquiries and that she'd set up a separate index for Christmas to avoid duplication. Some 172 inquiries were made, 13 duplicates found, and it was made sure that no needy family was overlooked.
Officials believed education on what the Chest's agencies provided would convince residents of the importance of their support.
The newspaper had been publishing briefs explaining the mission of each agency every year (Transcript Publisher James Hardman was a member of the Chest committee) but the organization pushed it further by offering examples of their work and pictures of the people aided.
An "attractive" brochure also provided statistics under the lengthy title "Let's Give More Than Thanks That We Live in America." These stats included the hospital providing 13,899 free or below-cost care days; 2,999 articles of clothing provided to the needy; 3,1813 nursing visits of which 80 percent were free or only partially paid; 124 children receiving tonsil, eye or infantile paralysis care; and 8,194 camping for boys and girls, plus teaching them skills and self-reliance.
The value of the Community Chest can't be "reckoned in dollars or cents," it stated, "it can be measured in human lives and happiness."
In 1941, more money was raised in one night than in the entire four-day campaign the year prior. The drive that year had raised the goal to $40,850.
Mayor Faxon Bowen told the first drive meeting that "the biggest endorsement of our civilization is that we take care of our charities in our stride," adding inelegantly, that a characteristic of Americans is to "find the stuff to meet the situation."
The number of subscriptions was 8,848, 600 more over 1940, with about 37 percent participation between North Adams and Clarksburg. President Frank A. Bond said it was one of the happiest hours of his life.
The year 1942 would also see a goal of $40,700 by $655, accomplished in three meetings when in the past it had taken four.
The industrial-utility committee broke is previous records with more than 5,084 raising $21,659.73, or more than half the goal. Chest leaders noted that this record was made in spite of the closure of Arnold Print Works in North Adams, and the loss of many workers to the armed forces. Schoolchildren had also donated $60.97 in pennies.
The upswing continued in 1943 and 1944, when the Chest exceeded its goals. These campaigns also included the United War Fund, which supported the United Service Organizations and China Relief. The success was in part to the city's major industries to matching their employees, dollar for dollar.
In 1943, Army Air Forces Sgt. Leslie Schwartzer, who had completed 55 bombing missions, and Navy Pharmacist's Mate Lafayette Sprague were seated at the head table and Army Pvt. 1st Class Romeo LaFaive was pointed out.
In 1945, the combined drive looked to raise $72,000. The special guest was Nondas Metcalfe, an actor and producer, who spoke about her experiences overseas with the USO.
"This campaign is more than support of the USO, more than raising money for the entertainment of our troops," she said. "It is the rehabilitation of people who can't get on their feet without the help of America."
Bond was the War Fund chair for the county, and he stressed to the volunteers to use whatever methods had succeeded in the past to meet the campaign goal.
"Remember whatever we do, no matter how much it seems, is pretty dog-gone small compared with what our men have done for us," he said.
But it wasn't enough. The city apparently was tired — of the war and of the campaigns. The drive came up short by more than $6,000, an "easing up" of spirit that Bond said was practically impossible to overcome. Even James Hunter, usually the first out of the gate to pledge 100 percent, came up with only 74.
Frances said the biggest disappointment was that 1,400 to 1,500 people gave nothing at all. "Something is radically wrong with our method and it is up to us to find the answer before another year," he said.
Many people weren't convinced that the USO was still a "basic necessity without which the Army would be seriously handicapped," despite what Gen. Dwight Eisenhower might say.
The following year, the Chest divested itself of the National War Council campaign, and attorney William O'Hearn took the lead as president. The Chest also took on more than simply collecting funds for its member agencies.
A member suggested one way to show the usefulness of the Chest was to create a free "well" babies clinic. This led to a survey of needs in the community, the transformation of the Visiting Nurse Association into the Community Nursing Service, the creation of a Family and Child Center, and the establishment of a council, in collaboration with the city, to streamline social work.
First, though, campaign co-Chairman J. Victor Nissen met with industrial sector captains in the North Berkshire Gas Co. auditorium to call the first day of the 1946 campaign "D-Day." It was going to be tough, he said, because the "war hysteria is gone and the nobility of contributing during the wartime is over."
It was a losing battle. The drive came in short again, a situation repeated over the next several years despite lengthening the campaigns and pulling out all the stops. O'Hearn pleaded with residents just to give 50 cents to the canvassers sent back out to knock on doors.
Estelle Howard, standing at left, was the executive secretary of the Chest and involved in social work within the community. She was instrumental in expanding the Chest beyond fund raising.
It was reported that only one worker out of 74 workers in one plant room contributed. "I'm against the Chest and every agency in it," was one refrain.
The Transcript chastised its readers for avoiding community responsibility, editorializing that there are "too many people in our city who are looking for a free ride ... in short, are spongers."
But while the Chest continued to struggle, forcing it to cut back on its allocations to its member agencies, which now included the Austen Riggs Center and the Berkshire School for Crippled Children, it funded the Community Nursing Service and established the Family and Child Center.
By 1949, the Community Nursing Service was reporting it made 268 visits that August, and the Family Center was doing everything from couples therapy to improving the housing for a family of 10.
Howard was instrumental in setting up both these organizations and planning the social services council, of which she was also secretary. She was chair of the Red Cross chapter and heavily involved in social service work.
"The service of the Community Chest cannot be evaluated solely in terms of the amount of money it raises," she declared.
Read about Northern Berkshire United Way's founding here.
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