Red Cross Building

This building was constructed in the old American colonial style as one of nearly 100 buildings around the nation for veterans returning from the battlefields of Europe for the purpose of providing a place of recreation away from the hospital atmosphere and to help boost the morale of the recuperating soldiers.

The Red Cross Convalescent House originally served as a place for soldiers with long-term recovery needs from serious wounds, the ongoing flu pandemic, and also pneumonia and tuberculosis, to convalesce in a more home-like setting than the Post Hospital. The building was designed with comfort in mind. Recovering soldiers had bedrooms upstairs, comfortable furniture throughout, and use of a lounge, kitchen, library, sun porch, and rooms for billiards and smoking. The convalescent needs of soldiers at military bases proved to be more short-lived than predicted, however, and the Vancouver Red Cross Building was soon transferred to Army ownership. By 1928, the comfortable spaces were in use as a Service Club for military family members and housed a kindergarten, card parties, and a Women’s Club among other activities. The building came into heavy usage in the 1930s with the influx of Civilian Conservation Corps members for training, and throughout World War II for troops embarking to and returning from the Pacific Theater.

The Vancouver Barracks Red Cross House is one of the few remaining examples of convalescent houses. The city undertook rehabilitation of the Red Cross Building in 2001, securing $392,000 from the state legislature for the purpose. Rehabilitation was further advanced with grants from the federal Save America’s Treasures program, state Heritage Capital Projects program, and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Additional funding was provided by the National Park Service, City of Vancouver, The Historic Trust, and generous donors. Today’s Red Cross Building has been in use by the public as office and event space since its grand re-opening in September, 2004.