The Origins of the Wheel Chair Home - 1940 to 1949

On June 7, 1941, the Buffalo Savings Bank president Charles L. Gurney sends the women of the Wheel Chair Home a congratulatory letter. The subject is their astonishing accomplishment of paying off the $35,000 mortgage they took out in 1937 to finance the expansion. "I believe it is an emblem of what a body of conscientious, intelligent, hard working women can accomplish," he wrote. He also notes his regret for losing "exactly the character of loan we would like to retain."

A review of the January 1943 bookkeeping shows wages of $66.20 paid to superintendant C. C. Reinhart for two weeks of work, she is the highest paid employee at the time. Wages for the month for all employees are $1,945. The bill paid to Buffalo Niagara Electric Corp. was $80.32. The monthly medication bill is $102.25. The telephone bill is $1.93.

In celebration of the 35th Anniversary in 1945, the Board of Directors gives a tea at the home and serves their guests a tiered birthday cake. Past presidents of the home give a special program, which includes highlights of the history of the organization.

Little mention of the impact of World War II shows in records from the time. A note in the Day Book marks the conclusion of war on August 14, 1945: "V Day. Victory declared over Japan at 7 p.m. Patients are quite comfortable, no change in Miss H's condition. Miss A. better."

In what appears to be a handwritten speech from 1947 by Mrs. Nettie Brown, President of the Board, thanks the Junior Board for their continuing involvement. She describes the Junior Board as "teachers, business girls and young married women who do so much that we as busy housewives are unable to do. Ours is the official running of the home, theirs the cheer and extra touches of comfort and love."

She also notes that of the original Board of Directors of 10 women, only one was still alive and was "in our Home here ending her days with us."

Mrs. Brown also speaks of the difficulties faced by the budget committee due to rising prices. "It is no easy task to provide food for 110 three times a day... The buyers of food have always tried hard to buy the best, although we are always hearing criticism. You may hear that this meal or that is not what should have been given invalids... Alright you be here sometime and see as we do, the plates pushed away with the remark ‘I don't want that stuff." It seems that some things never change.