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Chapter History
The American Association of the Red Cross was established in 1881 as the
agency charged with the direction of all voluntary aid to the sick and wounded in time of
war. Prior to receiving its Federal Charter in 1900, the name had been changed to
the American National Red Cross. From 1900 to the onset of World War I in 1917, we
continued to grow. Home nursing, hygiene, and first aid classes were developed.
Volunteer nurses were enlisted to act in times of disaster and to meet the needs of
the armed forces in the event of war. In 1914, lifesaving and water safety programs
were developed. Disaster Services Programs also continued to expand, along with new
areas of the Red Cross.
On February 11, 1917, the Niagara Falls Chapter was founded in the office of the Shredded
Wheat Company on Buffalo Avenue. The first five years bore witness to the development of
various volunteer services: production, canteen service, motor corps, first aid and water
safety. While nurses were recruited for military hospitals at home and abroad, the
service to servicemen and their families was started.
Since its inception the Niagara Falls Chapter has had many homes - rooms shared with the
Family Welfare Society on Chilton Avenue, free quarters in a former Board of Education
building at Walnut and Portage Road, and in 1950, quarters at 704 Ninth Street. In
February of 1980, the Niagara Falls Chapter moved to its new home at 719 Ashland
Avenue. This move was made possible with money left to the Chapter by Elizabeth
Ambler, a dedicated volunteer of over 25 years. On May 28, 1980, Mr. George M.
Elsey, President of the American National Red Cross formally dedicated the building and
had a plaque installed in memory of Elizabeth Ambler. July 21, 2003 marked our move to our
current chapter house on 2079 Sawyer Drive which will help us to be more accessible to our
community.
Today, our Chapter and its family of 1.4 million adult and youth volunteers throughout
America are a vital part of nearly every community of the United States, constantly
adapting to meet the needs of our neighbors. Expanding into areas such as blood
services, HIV/AIDS education ,and preparedness for technological disasters, we enter the
21st Century strong, trained, and ready for the future.
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© Copyright 2000,
The American Red Cross Niagara Falls Chapter. All Rights Reserved.
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