Newspaper Page Text
February, 1917
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—Picture Courtesy Savannah Morning News
CHARLES M. MACLEAN
Mr. Charles M. Maclean died Sat¬
urday, January 4. His death came
after an illness of five months. He
was a distinguished Savannahian and
a member of a prominent Savannah
family. During his illness his duties
as president of the Georgia Infirmary
were carried on by Mr. Malcolm Bell.
While Mr. Maclean’s active career cov¬
ered wide and varied interests in the
business, military and social phases of
community activities as well as the
civic and charitable, it was in recent
years the improvement of the Georgia
Infirmary to which he devoted himself
and which application resulted in
marked changes and development of
this historic institution established in
behalf of colored people of Savannah.
One of the notable improvements
under Mr. Maclean’s supervision was
the obtaining of a $100,000 grant from
the federal government with which the
very fine brick annex to the infirmary
was constructed. Also under his di¬
rection the hospital inaugurated more
efficient methods of operation and
business precedure.
He became a trustee of the Georgia
Infirmary on February 10, 1936, and
was made president of the institution
on July 10, 1944.
The youngest son of Malcolm and
Mary Mills Maclean, Mr. Maclean was
a native Savannahian and was born on
Christmas Day, 1890, in the same
house at 722 Drayton street in which
he died. He is survived by his wife,
the former Miss Margaret Massengale
of Atlanta; a daughter, Miss Elizabeth
Ormond Maclean; two sisters, Mrs.
Robert Burton Young and Mrs. W. Wil¬
lis Wilder; a brother, Edward Maclean
of Washington, several nephews, a
niece and other relatives.
Mr. Maclean served as a captain with
the 15th Field Artillery of the Second
Division in France during World War
I. In the years following the first
World War he was chiefly instrumen¬
tal in forming the Savannah Unit of
the Second Division Association and
BETHESDA NEWS
maintained a contact with his old World
War “buddies” through this organiza¬
tion. From the beginning and for a
number of years he served as secretary
but declined to accept the office of pres¬
ident until in 1939, when he was out
of the city on business, the unit elected
him president, anyway. The only me¬
morial exercises and annual reunion of
this group which he missed on Armis¬
tice Day was that time last fall when
he was confined with the illness which
brought his death. Prior to going over¬
seas in World War I he served in the
Mexican Border Campaign.
Bethesda and Bethesda Alumni mem¬
bers are indeed indebted to Mr. Mac
lean for the many services he rendered
us. We enjoyed the fruits of his la¬
bors and of his active interest in help¬
ing Bethesda in so many ways. lie
served on the board of managers of the
Union Society for three years. He was
chairman of the agricultural commit¬
tee for the orphan institution and dur¬
ing the three years he served in this
capacity he made it a practice to visit
Bethesda twice a week, every Wednes¬
day and Saturday, to inspect the fields
and gardens.
Under his general supervision the
farming program at Bethesda was highly
successful. He arranged with the Wil¬
liamson Barber College to have the
boys come in each Saturday for hair¬
cuts.
His burial was held in Bonaventure
Cemetery and services were conducted
by the Rev. Charles J. Woodbridge, Ph.
D., pastor of the Independent Presby¬
terian Church.
Honorary pallbearers were Malcolm
Bell, Dr. T. J. Charlton, Dr. C. F.
Holton, Nephew K. Clark, I. A. Solo¬
mon. Jacob Gazan. George A. Mercer,
W. Hugh Stephens, Joseph H. Harri¬
son, Fred Wessels, Julian A Space and
T. T. Dunn, who composed the board
of trustees of the Georgia Infirmary
of which Mr. Maclean was president.
There were no active pallbearers and
the only others present at funeral serv¬
ices were members of the family, this
being the wish of Mr. Maclean.
GIZMO'S RADIO SERVICE
Skidaway Road, Between
38th and 39th Sts.
TAKE YOUR RADIOS TO
GIZMOS’ FOR REPAIRS
Owned and Operated by Donald
“Bones” Coleman
FORMER BETHESDA BOY
M. O. Seckinger
Plumbing—Heating Contractor
PHONE 3-3087
M. O. SECKINGER,
A Bethesda Boy
412 Whitaker St. Savannah, Ga.
Page Five
Bethesda Closely Related To
Rotary
By j. D. McCartney
Between Bethesda. America’s oldest
orphanage, and Rotary, Savannah’s
oldest service club, there has always
been a close and harmonious relation¬
ship. This has not been confined to
the giving and receiving of financial
support, but has been notable for a
kinship of the spirit. A particular,
perhaps an indefinable heart interest
lias been displayed by Savannah Ro
tarians in the boys.
In the earlier days, this was evi¬
denced by personal contact, that has
to a degree lessened because of changed
conditions but in the hearts of at least
tlie elder Rotarians there still remains
that keen interest, that desire to serve,
which found so many outlets in the
days of the old.
THE CONNECTING LINK
The connecting link between Bethes¬
da and Rotary for many years was Ole
Burroughs, superintendent of Bethesda
during the three decades from 1910 to
1945, one of the earliest members of
the club, its president in 1919-1920, and
now an honorary member. Ole’s strong
individuality, salty wit. and ready ton¬
gue, made him a marked man in the
counsels of the club. Asking nothing
for himself, but never reluctant to ac¬
cept help for his boys, he was not in
the least backward about telling Bc
thesda’s story to his associates. In the
old days a Rotarian answered roll call
by giving his name and occupation.
Ole’s tag line, always good for a smile
from the visitors, was “father of a
hundred boys.” Nor was “that a
joke, son” for he stood in that foster
relationship to each of the lads, home¬
less themselves, who found shelter and
training at Bethesda, “house of mer
cy. r >>
But Superintendent Burroughs re¬
fused to exploit his boys, or put them
on display to tug at the heartstrings
of prospective contributors. Here’s an
instance: When the club was smaller
it met on more than one occasion at
Bethesda, took part in the traditional
Christmas ceremonies, and enjoyed the
sight of healthy, happy youth. So it
was decided to return the hospitality
and entertain the boys at a Rotary
luncheon. Some kindly soul suggested
a gift for each boy, but Ole would ac¬
cept the invitation upon one condition,
that no present lie given, but that each
boy be allowed to give something to
each Rotarian and it was arranged that
way.
STUDENT WAS ORGANIST
The Union Society, which now oper¬
ates Bethesda, came into being in 1750,
then years after George Whitefield,
great Wesleyan evangelist, founded the
home. It has had a continuous exis¬
tence, despite the hazards of more than
one war, but that is another story.
Some of the descendants of the found¬
ers are members of the Rotary Club
today, and the club’s roster is sprinkled
with the names of men who have in
one way or another, by money or per¬
sonal service, or both, contributed sub
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