Media Contact: Michael Tedesco
(585) 623-6144 | michael.tedesco@redcross.org
ROCHESTER, August 24, 2024 — American Red Cross of Western New York volunteers and staff – as well as residents of the Village of Dansville – today celebrated the grand reopening of the American Red Cross Clara Barton Chapter #1. The site, at 57 Elizabeth Street in the Village of Dansville, holds a very special place in the history of the larger American Red Cross national organization as it was the very first Red Cross Chapter in the nation established by Red Cross founder Clara Barton on August 22, 1881, nearly 143 years to this date.
Clara had made previous visits to Dansville in 1866 for lectures before visiting once again in 1875 to stay at the Jackson Sanitorium in Dansville to recover from her experiences of the Franco-Prussian War. She stayed for several years and built a network of friends and supporters in the region as she continued to work on her vision for an American chapter of the International Red Cross. This came to fruition in 1881, with the establishment of the Clara Barton Chapter Number 1 in Dansville.
Today, her legacy is honored through the beautiful home at 57 Elizabeth Street, built circa 1840 and remodeled around 1900 by noted architect Claude Bragdon. It was graciously donated by the Noyes family in 1949 and has been designated a National Historic Site by the National Parks Service. The building remains a meeting space for Red Cross volunteers and staff, and a museum of Red Cross history. As careful and responsible stewards of this unique piece of Red Cross history, the Red Cross of Western New York finished a lengthy and comprehensive project to restore the building to its original splendor and preserve it for today and future generations to enjoy. Just a sampling of the renovations include:
While touring this historic property, visitors can view original artifacts from the Civil War, Clara Barton, and dignitaries that have visited this site. Exhibits include includes letters of passage from Civil War Generals and numerous Civil War artifacts, a program signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the chair that the President sat in during the Golden Jubilee celebration in 1931, as well as Barton’s personal correspondence with other nationally known contemporary leaders such as Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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