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Our History
The Appalachian Chapter has a long history of doing the right things and rising to the meet the occasion.
It all started in August 1917 when a group of loyal
patriotic Clinton women decided they wanted to do their part to help in the war effort. So they organized a Red Cross auxiliary to the Knoxville Chapter. They began sewing and knitting for the enlisted men and few months later started a class in surgical dressings. Funds for class and dressings were derived from benefit concerts and donations by Clinton businessmen.
By spring, 1918 there was so much interest and activity in the Clinton Auxiliary, the Knoxville Chapter advised the group to try to organize a Clinton or Anderson County Chapter.
In March, the Anderson County Chapter was formed with 200 members with jurisdiction for Clinton, Coal Creek, Briceville, Andersonville, Scarboro, and Robertsville.
The Chapter was quickly put to task. In early September, there was a national drive to collect clothing for the needy Belgians; Anderson County exceeded its goals by shipping some 1,500 pounds. Later in the month, the Chapter responded to an emergency call for hospital linens and shipped a box containing 553 pieces.
In December, a branch of the Chapter was formed in Coal Creek (now Lake City). Auxiliary branches were soon formed in Briceville and Andersonville. By the end of 1918, the Chapter had 1,034 volunteers. The County population was 17,700.
That’s just how it started…
The first major test of the Chapter’s disaster relief capabilities came in March 1929 when the worst flooding of the century struck Anderson County. The Clinch River “bulged the banks at a crest of 35.5 feet and overflowed adjacent territory” with significant damage and destruction at Coal Creek (Lake City) and Briceville. Many houses were destroyed and the bridges between Coal Creek and Briceville were washed away. Business buildings in Clinton were also heavily damaged. This disaster cost to Red Cross was $10,000.
Then came World War II. Remember what you have learned about the Red Cross mission, it is always evolving. This event was not exception. Oak Ridge was created in 1942 as a major site of the "Manhattan Project," a massive wartime effort to produce the world's first atomic weapons.
The towns of Scarboro, Wheat and Robertsville were swallow up in a high secret project known as the Clinton Engineer Works. The project became the 5th largest city in Tennessee growing to 75,000 workers, consuming one-seventh of the electricity produced in the United States, Had the 4th largest bus transportation system in the United States and had 300 plus miles of roads built or improved & 55 miles of railroad (Project cost $1.65 billion in 1945.) All of the project was built inside of a security.
Usually the Red Cross only tends to the needs of veterans and service men. However the unusual security requirements surround the Oak Ridge site meant that there were needs for many civilians inside the fence including thousands of construction workers. Rather than have multiple assistance agencies, the Red Cross was requested to include service for civilians.
Initially, the Anderson County Chapter performed services from the Clinton office but was quickly forced to open a small office inside the security area. This office was located in the Elm Grove Shopping Center.
In this picture, you can see Red Cross Grey Ladies working in Oak Ridge. The term "Gray Ladies" refers to American Red Cross volunteers who for many
years provided friendly, personal services of a non-medical nature to sick, injured, and disabled patients in American hospitals, other health-care facilities, and private homes. Their work ranged from writing letters, reading, tutoring, and shopping for patients to serving as guides
to visitors and as hostesses in hospital recreation rooms and at information desks. Gray Ladies also provided hospitality services in Red Cross Blood Centers and joined forces with other Red Cross workers in caring for disaster victims.
Chapter activities soared. In December 1943, the Chapter received a request for surgical dressings of which 124,000 were shipped out. The Chapter also assisted the Roane County Chapter with canteen work when an army plane crashed killing 12 servicemen.
Disaster struck again. July 6, 1944, the Chapter was electrified with news about a terrible train accident. This accident became knows as the Jellico Train Wreck.
This was a troop train wrecked between LaFollette and Jellico on the Louisville & Nashville or L&N line. Nurses from the Chapter assisted with Emergency First Aid at Jellico. The injured and dead soldiers were brought to the nearest military installation which was Oak Ridge or as it was known at that time, the CEW.
At that time kept Oak Ridge was still a Secret City, so all inquiries and notices were sent to the families through the Anderson County Chapter. The office was open 24 hours a day (staffed by volunteers) and volunteers served transporting families to the hospital, sending out casualty notices, answering telegrams, helping with funeral arrangements. Our ladies also helped in the canteen at the wreck. 34 men died and another 75 were injured. — Cost chapter $293.67
7/24/44 – Received letter of appreciated from Colonel K. D. Nichols, The District Engineer for the Manhattan District stating:
“Your efforts in connection with the rescue work at the accident undoubtedly saved lives and reduced the suffering of the injured men. Your prompt and conscientious handling of messages and replies to and from relatives of the injured and dead reduced greatly the worry and anxiety of many anguished people.
This station, victims of the accident, and their relatives owe a debt of gratitude to you and your organization.
Sincerely, K D Nichols.”
Here is a photo of the women that managed the Chapter for 10 years during this heyday, Mrs. Maurine Owen.
She was the voice and vision of the Anderson County Chapter. She looks a little like Tony doesn’t she? Check out the hair!
09/29/44 Anderson County - We had our second worse flood in Lake City, 75- families were driven out of their homes and a lot of damage was done.
09/29/44 Oak Ridge – Trainer Derailment on the L&N Rail, a half mile north of the overpass at Elza Gate at the Dossett Tunnel of the Cow Creek branch of the L&N Railroad. Delivered meals and coffee in a driving rain in a leaky station wagon followed by a ½ mile walk along the tracks to the temporary canteen. $14.15.
The Anderson County Chapter’s 1944-45 Annual report humbly states some of the following:
1,811 Home Service Cases. 491 of these cases were ex-serviceman and their families. Gave financial assistance to 107 for total amount $3,858.81. Mileage for Home Service 11,535 miles. Averaged 20 home visits per month. This work was done by 2 full time workers and one part time stenographer.
The Chapter also did a lot of work for the families that had sons that were Prisoners of War. There was a mass meeting at the courthouse where a worker from the National Headquarters came to talk with the families. The Chapter assisted the families with packages to be sent to their boys. They received and sent many inquiries. When the boys were liberated, the Chapter delivered many of the messages. Although the Chapter never delivered casualty messages, there were many times that the military asked for assistance while trying to locate families.
01/01/45 – New headquarters for the Oak Ridge Chapter were made available on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Tyler Road (908 Oak Ridge Turnpike)
4/16/46 – There was a tornado in Oliver Springs involving 18 families. Two men were electrocuted.
In 1947-1948, the Oak Ridge Branch Chapter was granted a Charter by the National Headquarters to serve the people inside Oak Ridge.
Over the years, there were more disasters, more fund-raising events, more educational programs. The Chapters continued to meet those challenges.
02/24/93 Tornado – Blacks Ferry Road / Bull Run with 45 affected dwellings of which 12 had major damage and 5 were destroyed.
03-12-15/93 East Tennessee Blizzard which closed I-75 going into Kentucky. The chapter operated a shelter at the Anderson County High School for stranded motorists.
04/22/00 – The Chapter provided immediate emergency aid in Scott County when a tornado struck the Scenic Hills subdivision near by Huntsville. The following month, the Chapter responded to the Christmas Lumber Fire in Harriman.
9-1-1 – There were Herculean efforts by the community and the Chapter to raise funds to assist those affected by the 911 attacks. Several of the Chapter volunteers served on national assignment in New York City.
2002, the Chapter was blessed by a community effort to raise funds for the purchase of the Emergency Response Vehicle that sits near the very entrance of this auditorium. The ERV arrived in October, just in the nick of time.
Three years ago Thursday… 11/10/02 – Veterans Day Tornados DR-283 ravaged Mossy Grove, Petros, Medford, and Briceville resulting in many destroyed homes, shattered dreams, and loss of life. The Chapter responded by assisting Knox County provide relief efforts in Morgan County while also caring for our citizens in Medford and Briceville.
The following spring (02/27/03) – East Tennessee Flooding included Anderson County area by I-75 and northern area of Anderson County. Chapter volunteers dutifully stepped out the door to assist clients in need.
In the fall of 2003, (09/18/03) – Hurricane Isabel landed on the East Coast (NC, VA, MD, PA, DE) Chapter volunteers left with the ERV which was loaded with snacks and supplies for the Coastal Caroline Chapter in New Bern (near ground zero) bridging the gap for many local residents.
5/8/04 to 5/9/04 – K-25/ETTP Sodium Reaction/Fire with evacuations. Chapter personnel opened a shelter at the Oak Ridge High School and assisted at the shelter at the Roane State Community College in Harriman and at the Roane County EOC.
8/5/04 – The Chapter provided snacks for some 300 people participating in a Small Pox (Bio-Terrorism) Exercise at the Oak Ridge High School.
01/15/05 – The community stepped forwarded and embraced that Red Cross’s request for financial assistance on behalf of victims of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia by raising over $160,000.
And now for another tidbit that will stand the test of time for this Chapter’s distinguished history.
August, September, and October of 2005, Hurricane Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast followed by Hurricane Wilma in southern Florida… The Chapter Disaster Services roster went from only 6 in the DSHR system to 235. The overall volunteer roster went from around 100 to over three hundred. Chapter volunteers spent countless hours assisting 150 families that evacuated the Gulf Coast to east Tennessee.
Over 500 blankets and 100 sleeping mats were shipped to Knoxville for use in shelters.
Hundreds of volunteers took disaster services training offered by the Chapter.
Over 100 volunteers were assigned to assist the Knoxville Area Chapter, which was operating two relief shelters simultaneously, and a service Center.
Two Chapter volunteers took the ERV to Knoxville and stayed on assignment for weeks providing essential transportation and feeding services. Thousands of meals were transported between the Southern Baptist Feeding kitchen and clients in shelters and the service center.
Another 35 volunteers went on 2-3 week national assignments around the gulf coast disaster area to locations such as:
Atlanta, GA
Baton Rouge
Mobile, AL
Biloxi / Gulf Port, MA
New Orleans, LA
Montgomery, AL
Beaumont, TX
Birmingham / Tuscaloosa, AL
Tampa, FL
Key West, FL
Miami, FL, and
Palm Beach, FL
The community including several wonderful corporate sponsors donated over $307,000 in cash and other in-kind donations to support the relief efforts. This isn’t pledged money, this is donated money.
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