The Red Cross Convalescent House: Compassionate Care for Vancouver Soldiers

Recuperating soldiers relax in robes and slippers on the sun porch of the convalescent house.

Courtesy of the Clark County Historical Museum P83.5.4.

The Red Cross convalescent house at Vancouver Barracks, constructed in 1918-19, was one of nearly 100 Red Cross convalescent houses built on military bases nationwide. During and after World War I, these facilities provided relaxation and entertainment in a home-like atmosphere for soldiers suffering from lingering injuries, illnesses, and post-traumatic shock. The focus was comfort, for both convalescing soldiers and the families of patients who were provided with rooms on the upper floor. "Full dress" in the convalescent house, day or evening, was a bathrobe and slippers. Comforts included the large lounge, cheery sun porch, library, kitchen, billiard and smoking rooms. Volunteer hostesses, known as "gray ladies," occupied the soldiers with such things as game tables, snacks, sing-alongs, music, amateur theatricals, dances and movies.

The Red Cross convalescent house as it appears today.

NPS Photo

The Unique Vancouver Barracks Convalescent House

Architecture, furnishings, and activities were standardized among Red Cross convalescent houses. The architecture of the house at Vancouver Barracks, however, is distinct, adding to its significance. Here, concessions had to be made due to the size and configuration of the land that was available. The unique plans for this building were drawn locally, by Sergeant E. C. Hartley of the 1st Provisional Regiment at Vancouver Barracks. Rather than the standard cruciform architectural layout (similar to the Red Cross symbol), Hartley divided the building into an administrative area - the two-story section on the north - and a convalescent area - the large lounge and sun porch on the south - each with its own entrance.

The architecture has been characterized as incorporating Period Colonial and Georgian elements. Features of these two styles found on this building include the shallow-pitched gable, (peaked) roofs and the balustrade, or railing, on the south roof. Also representative of the style is the bilaterally-symmetrical façade on the north side, with its full and pilastered (built into the wall) columns, the entablature and pedimented gable (the area above the columns including the triangular shape), and the six-over-six light, double-hung sash windows. The cupola, also a Period Colonial feature, provided ventilation for the lounge on other Red Cross convalescent houses. On this building it was placed on the ridge of the northern section.

Newspaper articles and official documents indicate a "projecting room of the moving picture theater" on the second floor of the building when it was built in 1919. Recent architectural reviews of the building show that the projecting room was altered immediately after construction or perhaps later, resulting in stresses on the structural components of the high-ceilinged lounge.

The original landscaping was designed and implemented by L. M. Thielen, landscape architect for the city of Portland, Oregon. Many other local citizens contributed time and materials, resulting in a great sense of pride and patriotism within the community upon completion of the building.

Victory in Europe! The Soldiers and Volunteers Go Home

The cornerstone for Vancouver Barracks' Red Cross convalescent house was laid on November 11, 1918. This also happened to be the day the armistice was signed. The assumption at the time was that the house would be needed for the lengthy rehabilitation of soldiers. This was not the case. The soldiers recovered or moved on to other rehabilitation programs.

By November of 1919, Red Cross and US Army officials were negotiating the transfer of the building and its furnishings to military use. The Red Cross suggested that it be used as a "service" club for soldiers and non-commissioned officers. One of the difficulties cited by the Red Cross in funding the continued use of the building was that it was the most expensive on the post to heat, having a steam heating system that required "one ton of coal per day." So, sadly for many, the building was locked and Mrs. E. B. Hamilton, its hostess, turned the keys over to the Army.

The Army was initially unsure what to do with the building. At the time there were less than two hundred soldiers stationed there and the post already had one service club. However, documents show that by 1928 the building was, in fact, being used as a Service Club. But, rather than being strictly for soldiers, it was also used by officers and family members:

"...the Women's Club, wives and daughters of the enlisted men, self-supporting in their work, meeting each Thursday afternoon; Married Enlisted Folks' Parties, cards and dancing, monthly; the Kindergarten [free for children of enlisted men and a reasonable charge for those of officers]; Children's Dancing Classes Saturday afternoons, supported by the Officers' Club; the officers' monthly hops, monthly bridge parties and ladies' bridge club once each month."
- 1928-29 Vancouver Barracks Board of Governors Service Club brochure

The Army's Education and Recreation Branch provided funds for the activities and upkeep of the building and one of the officer's wives, "render[ed] pleasant and efficient service as a hostess." Around 1934, among other modifications, the west porch of the building was enclosed.

The Great Depression and World War II

The building was officially designated as a Service Club in 1934. This was undoubtedly prompted by the growth of Vancouver Barracks due to the presence of the Civilian Conservation Corps' (CCC) District Headquarters and regional training facility. By the early 1940s, there were approximately 4,000 CCC workers in the forests of Oregon and Washington, mostly young men unable to find work due to the Depression. Their duties included fire fighting, road construction, and tree planting. Learn more about the CCC at Vancouver Barracks here.

Also, during World War II Vancouver Barracks served as a staging and training facility for troops assigned to the Pacific Theater. The Service Club was a welcome respite, especially for those returning from what was certainly physically and emotionally strenuous duty.

One soldier, comforted by the peaceful normalcy of the Pacific Northwest, commented on the ambiance of the Service Club: "We then went to the very comfortable service club, with its armchairs, library, games, records, etc., and there we got cold cokes through the magic of the nickel machine." (Between Tedium and Terror: A Soldier's World War II Diary 1943-45 by Sy M. Kahn).

Architectural alterations during this period included the removal of the cupola from the north roof, the installation of a new steam furnace, and basement partitions.

Rehabilitation of the Building

The Red Cross convalescent house was targeted for restoration as part of the larger West Barracks rehabilitation launched by the City of Vancouver in the early 2000s. In 2001 the governor of Washington signed a capital budget with included $392,000 for rehabilitation of the building.

Soon after, the building was designated an official project of Save America's Treasures. Matching and additional funds were provided by the National Park Service, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust. The Vancouver Chamber of Commerce hosted the grand opening of the restored building in September of 2004.

Today, visitors can walk by the Red Cross convalescent house on a tour of the West Vancouver Barracks. Learn more here.