12 May 1926
My dear Mr. Graves:
The Boy's Barracks at the Bowen Country Club were built on the "other side of the ravine" and [accommodated] from fifty to sixty boys. The building had no real bathing facilities and in many ways was rather "rough" for the younger boys who are often selected because they are delicate and out of health.
We have long hoped to have a separate "little boy's cottage," not so far from the hospital and other cottages so that the children might have feminine care and supervision.
The insurance of $3600 on the barracks will just build a new one for thirty boys on the old foundations, restoring the out-door cold showers. The rebuilding is already started and is proceeding rapidly.
We would like, however, to keep that for the boys over ten and to build a new house for the little chaps.
The plans have been drawn for a new cottage costing $5000 with its own bath rooms and approximating the other cottages in general appearance.
We should be most grateful if Mr. Rosenwald felt that he could give this. We would like to start at once, feeling that it is most important to have it for this summer.
The mattresses and bedding belonging to the old barracks were fortunately stored in the hospital when the fire [occurred], but the iron beds were so melted and twisted out of shape that even the junk man doesn't want them. [page 2]
We hope that Sears, [Roebuck] can furnish us with fifty-five beds for which we have the mattresses and blankets, and of course if we could have four dozen kitchen chairs we would paint them gayly and be quite restored.
This seems to be asking a great deal, even from a trustee, but the children would be better cared for than ever before.
Thanking you for your interest in the matter and hoping that I have not made too long a letter, I am
Faithfully yours,
Jane Addams [signed]
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