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Hostel history: 70 years ago, WWII refugees sought help at Scattergood
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 08, 2009
Next week will mark 70 years since four Europeans, fleeing for their lives from Nazi Germany, found refuge in West Branch at Scattergood School.
More and more would come, and in four years 186 “Scattergoodians” passed through what became the Scattergood Hostel from 1939 to 1943.
Cedar County Historical Society Museum recently acquired an exhibit marking the school’s World War II contribution and at 7 p.m. April 15 will host an official public opening and dedication of the 200-square-foot display.
Some 85 percent of the refugees were Jewish. The average stay was four months, and in that time the Quakers helped the visitors learn English, American history and geography.
In return, the guests pitched in with gardening, yardwork, farming and household chores like dishes and laundry. Even the men.
“That was totally unheard of ... (such chores) were not part of European culture,” Museum Recording Secretary Sandy Harmel said. “But they all did it.”
Scattergood School had closed in 1931, another victim of the Great Depression, Harmel said. But when the Friends heard that refugees needed a place to stay while getting acclimated to America, they considered the closed school ideal.
Between 25 and 30 could stay at one time. Many of the refugees came alone, some as children. Some waited to return home. Some were forced to leave family behind. Many never saw their families alive again.
“I ask kids to imagine what it would be like if they lost all their friends, toys, and most of their family and moving miles away to a land where they don’t know the language,” she said.
Scattergood staff produced a newsletter to give them updates on the war.
The exhibit’s main feature looks like part of a house built indoors, a house similar to the Berquist House (torn down in 1958) where the refugees lived. There are numerous large panels explaining the history of both Quakers and Jews up until WWII, and by following the panels a visitor enters the front door of the house and sees furnishings and items that represent the times. There are even glassed-in cases displaying actual items preserved from the hostel and photographs of guests taking part in activities, like eating meals, doing chores and partaking in American Christmas celebrations.
“This is a story that needs to be told and retold,” Harmel said.
Three people with ties to the hostel have confirmed their attendance, Harmel said. One is George Willoughby, now living in New Jersey, whose mother helped open the hostel and then helped work on staff. Another is George’s daughter, Sally.
A third is Nicole Hakel, now living in Philadelphia, who was a guest when she was between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 years old. Harmel said that Hakel tells her she still has vivid memories of her visit, despite her young age at the time.
The Museum acquired the display in December from Traces, a World War II museum in St. Paul, Minn.
The Scattergood Hostel opened before the United States entered the war, Harmel notes. Two years later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. A short time after the hostel closed in 1943, the American Friends Service Committee, which relocated refugees in America, asked if the West Branch Friends would reopen the hostel for Japanese refugees.
At first, the Friends agreed.
“Then there was an uproar from the locals,” Harmel said. “People were afraid.”
The idea died.
IF YOU GO
Events lined up to mark the 70th anniversary of the Scattergood Hostel's opening:
April 12 — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cedar County Historical Society Museum in Tipton a “bus-eum” (museum in a bus) from Traces, a history museum, will discuss German prisoners of war in Iowa with panel displays and a video; 2 p.m., Scattergood Reunion at the school in West Branch; 6 p.m., Coe College Prof. Steve Feller will discuss “P.O.W. money” given to purchase items from hygiene products to newspapers to hobby materials.
April 15 — 7 p.m., Michael Luick-Thrames, author of “Out of Hitler’s Reach” and founder of Traces, will speak and present a slide show at CCHSM.
April 18 — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., another “bus-eum” will discuss Iowa P.O.W.s in Germany at CCHSM.
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