boystown.html

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., July 1, 1954, page 2
Includes photograph - title follows

BUILDING BOYS TOWN IS A MAN-SIZED JOB

NEARING COMPLETION is this $75,000 building at Camp Columbia, Boys Town of the West near Husum. Shown above (left to right) are Major F.H. Blake; T.E. Phillips and Carl Bahl; Grant Salisbury, John Christopher, Glen Gunderson and Myles Cady, all from Washougal and Camas.
All are volunteer carpenters and retired associates from Crown Zellerbach's maintenance department. These men and 12 others are devoting their days off to speed the badly-needed a three story structure. The population of Boys Town is now 32. (Photo: Carl Millington)

CAMP COLUMBIA PREPARES FOR 75 BOYS; MORE EXPANSION PLANNED

Before describing of the progress at Columbia Boys Town, a few preliminary facts are in order. Camp Columbia is incorporated under the laws of Washington. Major F.H. Blake, Camp Columbia's founder and manager, has relinquished all title to the institution except ownership of the land. This is leased to the Board of Trustees for $1 a year. Eventually title to this 80 acres will pass to the Corporation, according to Collins Finch, treasurer of the board.
Under terms of the incorporation, the board is required to maintain Camp Columbia as a Boys Town, retaining its original philosophy and take over responsibility for the budget. This will eventually amount to $1200 per boy per year as compared to the cost of $2,000 in a state training school.
One more fact should be made abundantly clear. No funds are dispersed by Major Blake. Treasurer Finch must account for every dollar received or spent. Every check requires two signatures, Finch's and John Felty's, the Camp's counselor.

* * *

Now then, here is the story. From the day that F.D. Wallace bulldozed out the basement for Camp Columbia's first building, Major Blake never doubted that it would be completed. Despite discouragement and criticism, both from the public and even some of the boys he has harbored, the Major has rallied plenty of helpers. The $75,000 building is nearing completion.
Most of this assistance has come from a distance. On two recent weekends a score of carpenter's from Crown Zellerbach's maintenance department spent their days off at Boys Town. Among them were two soldiers on leave: Privates Bob Carr of Washougal and Casper Arashiro Los Angeles.

MAJOR'S BOYS

Although Carr and his Japanese buddy didn't know it, their help might be considered a repayment to Boys Town for the alumni who are now serving their country: four in the Marine Corps, one an artilleryman and another a paratrooper. A seventh boy of whom the Major is very proud is ready to graduate as a professional photographer from Seattle's vocational school.
The population of Boys Town now numbers 32, the highest ever. Last week Major ordered the fire-trap shacks they have lived and for four years torn down to safeguard the new building. Providing he can obtain tents, the boys will move under canvas until their new home is completed.
The new three-story building will not be occupied until it is finished, furnished and okayed by the state fire and electrical inspectors. Everything has been built and wired according to the Seattle code. Nothing is needed in this respect except a fire escape.

TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

Local 32 Plumber and Steam-fitters Union -- also members of the Ballard Eagle's lodge -- has contributed $20,000 worth of labor and materials. Special mention should be made of Harold Horenbeck and Clarence Graves who promoted such support from Ballard and provided four electricians and 11 plumbers to do the actual work. Materials were obtained by bumming the plumbing trades in the Puget Sound area.
Downstairs in the 38 x 50-foot recreation room Harold Clark of Seattle built a handsome rock fireplace. Plumbers have traveled hundreds of miles to install washrooms, toilets and laboratories on every floor.

CHURCH AND SCHOOLS

Above the recreation hall is a similar-sized dining room. This will be completely furnished by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 1 of Seattle. The Ballard group has constructed the kitchen to conform with strictest sanitary standards, and when it is finished will equip it with stainless steel fixtures. Adjoining the kitchen is a large pantry and space for a walk-in deep freezer, now awaiting delivery from Seattle. Next to the kitchen is an office for Major Blake if he ever has the leisure to sit down.
The upstairs is divided into six dormitory's. Each is named after the Eagle Aerie which furnished it: Yakima Puyallup Portland Auxiliary, Vancouver. One room represents the joint generosity of three lodges: Kelso, Longview and Castle Rock. Chehalis is providing a room for the counselor, John Felty, a graduate of the University of Washington.
Felty is also in charge of the school which meets in the dining hall. Desks were furnished by Portland's school system. Class's up to the 8th grade are held for those boys who are not emotionally stable or certified by achievement tests to attend the White Salmon Valley public schools.
Until recently Major Blake was too busy scrounging a hand to mouth existence for his boys to set a goal for Camp Columbia. This month he announced the final limit as 75 boys.
To house them Camp Columbia will start construction on two more wings to the new building as soon as it is finished. Already on the architect's drawing board are plans for a gym, a church and trade shops.

THE TURNING POINT?

Valuable help has been given from the immediate are. Stevenson Plywood Corporation donated all of the plywood needed. Hollenbeck Lumber Company of Bingen furnished all of the heavy dimension lumber. Broughton Lumber Company of Hood has supplied thousands of feet of flooring.
J. Neils of Klickitat donated the shiplap. The 12x16's came from Cascade Locks. The mill at Cook provided 2x4's . More building materials came from Stevenson Lumber company at Stevenson, Neal Creek, SD&S, McCormicks, a mill at Hood River and Oregon Lumber at Dee.
As Major Blake looks back over his tribulations of the last four years, he likes to think of Father Flannigan who also weathered the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" in establishing his Nebraska Boys Town.
According to a French proverb, "Nothing succeeds like success" and according to Collins Finch "The future has never looked brighter for Boys Town."
There are signs that Major Blake won't have to rely so much on milk-bottle collections from widely-scattered bar and café counters. On Sunday he released this information. Last month two state conventions of Eagles resolved to help out - Washington by contributing $1 per Eagle per year on a voluntary basis; and Oregon by considering Camp Columbia their main youth project.