',H‘."i Iva. :‘t' :3“. ' I: ‘. “ 9‘5 99"" . 92;: '9:- '.
""""""""" “' " ' ' " * ~3~23fiér¢~23~...
J‘fiai‘lq ('Muu
331'
'1'”?!

.9
:3;

'0‘.l~

.9'9'

'; "a, '3“ :1-
3 »;§"' {33,9 43* 3 7991337394333
~4fum?7“"‘3r “3:;- “‘33*"'3.,,‘ ..
A, a,“ 1'"- fink" 'ru'. ! '1'... 4"" hfig‘fi
S. '3}; $9.53} .‘ .J’r1";é-‘K';" ,:x‘~:," Y- urn; “3.212;”...
9 “1" m’."£L’."."J¢ "LT'J;'6J:I {FL'E'Q " t" “a 5!“! .a “H.":..
:1?” 4S", 'V‘I‘mv‘HJ '

9". ‘9‘ X
"3'39 ,,... ”49.;

‘9‘"? lhfl
. - kg "' "0' “We. 3
:".*9 'éfi'fi .t-I. I?" ‘3 1""
‘h kg'bnb. \‘92Nl' z‘?';:‘ ' 9
-M~r

r9".
‘0
If}

IllV
3
..

.19- J-
f‘<.n-A_'
~D'<. O

O
.J..

. r

 

_'.n ‘ .
:g- -'
"2.53.

1.
9'?

,-.

. .1.
n
“I“ ..._"O‘ ‘
J... I
"o'..“t
‘~ I.

04,3413"

I o\‘ 'II"

C .

It
It"! ‘9’,"
“‘3".
{:3
1 f. '0“ "9‘:,..‘

0.}-

.‘~’M-
1“ ' ‘;'=L'74‘."1::
.' .H 'HN

‘33,“ 7.32 "M.

.' \3;':
2'33‘

fl _

‘30:
v;

. . #39
11.37

9‘ 9u.-;“ a.
- ul‘: "E-_h .
:‘ka'vly , .-
. C 'KW

I .
~w9~4 .' -.
-.,u '. 4.-

2w

i",

' ~UYV
!

'1

'10."‘,‘1‘

'§ .‘§ ‘
‘9. ".~"!~
. .- I“... {"t'. 4~ 0’ .
O y Q
.. \,v.‘.

n n“ .'
,K‘.'.:‘. '6‘3“'.-915“‘.T;.
g

i .

f}, '11.;

‘H‘.
a-
I

7,“,

'1

Sign”: 4“ .4;
:~‘;‘°‘ ft: ‘ 1:9: ':9:'

 

'3.

‘33, 9'“
V. '

. hagd~ '

“.‘l::l |’:;::

 

. v ;i\ u. , . .
no“ |. f .794- _ «Itulr-v . Iron: .... .. tgfu ! I
. ._ . . .. .31. r w.‘ . .. 3i. .u§.$:neaéq: 9.1.5.»...
. .. A. a . . , . y . § ‘

‘

x I .v. ‘p n,
. .‘r‘I . . , s . ‘ .
. 4.... . ,1 . , . . _ . . 0;.

. o . .... . . { r . ‘ . A . r
. o . A . . . . .l'. m

.,

  

. .
- - ‘
”wt/xv.

. , . ..

O . u
....v.p. ~n .
. .
. ;

......., ‘ .
(.1 f n.1.«p.3‘.Uu..#‘qu/....c

 

-Ux

-.,..

 

 

 

 

OVERDUE FINES:

25¢ per day per item

RETURNING LIBRARY MATERIALS:

Place in book return to runove
charge from circulation records

 

TRaID OF ILDUSTRIAL AK) HJEICIFAL RfioRWATIUH

IN TIT".- LINS FIT} COILIJUN. TY

b
y 0
Alfred E. arose
e9”-

; Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty

in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of

M,ST3R OF ARTS

Qegartment of Sociology

Approved:

    

Head of major Departm

 

Qeen of Graduate School

lichigen State College

1934

."-. CKN “W133 D T3173". 11' T

The writerwishes to express his gratitude
to the Rec hotor Car Company of Lansing, Michigan,
for the CDOperation given in the search for materials
used in this study.

He also wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness
to Dr. Eben Mumford, Dr. C. R. Hoffer, and Dr. J. F.
Thaden of the Sociology Department of Michigan State
College for the kindly assistance and guidance

given during the preparation of this thesis.

13
use:
.33 :Y
we:
and

3
.4

I

J
(‘1
J
‘J

I

AC'I- m» m."

o‘-

Cin~ter Pq?
I T:¢?CUU3T 3: - - - - - e - - - - - - - * ‘ ' ' 1

,. Pu r:ose of Jtuiy - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
13- ’ etil‘JJ Of {Study
0. ufher studies of Industrial and

Lunicinel hecrcetion - - - - - - - - - - 7

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
l
I
I
I
I
I
‘73

II HIJTULY OE THE LALSILG CcL.LULIT"1 IL BYLLTIuL
To LCJLULLIUL ‘ - - * ~ - - - - - - - - - - - 11
A. The Founding an; Develooin; of L ns ing - - ll
3. LOC'?ti')n of I.gu~.511;g - ~ -' - - - - - - - 14
0- Con osiM on of IOpulation - - - - - - — - 16
J- Irstitutions of Lensing- - - - - — - - - - 7
III THY KLJLULTICI L IOLI 13$ LLJ ILO GPALB OF
LALQILG IiDU'S-TLIIIS " “ -' - - ‘ ‘ - - - - - - - Lib

A. Orgrnization and euministgotign of Reo's
Recreation Program - - - - - - - - - - - a?
B. liethod of Financing; the Recreation
Froaram - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - ~ - $0
3. heo's Recreation Previous to 19;? - - - - 33
D. Trend of Reo's Recreation Irog an
after 19;? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50
W. Recreation in the Other Industries in the
Lrnsing Conuuhity' - - - - - -- - - - - 5%

WE D7732 YTLT OF IUBLIC RECKU£TIOK IL ”HE

E a

A. MUnicipal Recreation in the Unitei Ste tes- 61
B. The Recreation lovement in the City of
Lansing,----------------6d

V KILLTIQI. 01‘ INDUSTLIAL 5.1;) l.LU‘IICII1‘-.L i53314§..TIOl~E
IL TH} LALSILG COYLUAITY - r ‘ - - - - - - - - o4
A. helstioushi of Puolic and Irivste
recr -; etion in Community Organization - - 55
3. Relationship of tue Irivste hecreation ‘
Irogrem of the Leo and othe r Iniustries
to the Public accrzation Irogram of the
Lansing Comrunity — — - - - — - - - - - El

VI CULULJSIOLJ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ' ' ‘ ‘ ‘ ' - - - - - 104

(D

Chapter I

The general movement for shortening the hours of
labor, the need for more wholesome physical activity as
shown by the condition of the men during the World War,'
and the desire of the industries to create better feeling
and greater cooperation between the employer and the
employee, have added stimulus to the innovation of provid-
ing educational and recreational facilities for the em—

ployees in industryfikThe importshce of outdoor recreation

to the well being of the peOple was particularly emphasized

by the President of the United States in the call for a
general conference on outdoor recreation, issued in the

(1)
spring of 1924. Tce Bureau of Labor Statistics was
designated to carry on a study to show as far as possible:
1. what is being done to provide recreational activities
for industrial workers; 2. the response made by employees
to attempts to furnish them with facilities for recreation;
5. and, the particular lines along which such work may bu
developel.

There are three general agencies which have been fore—
most in the promotion of recreational activities; namely,
public, commercial, and private. All three are found in
every city, and in nrny cases their functions and activi-

ties overlap.

 

 

(1) Health and Recreational Activities in Industrial
Esteblisnments, 1928, U.S.Jept. of Labor, L0. 455

4;“

At the present time the public agency is considered
as the most desirable type of recreational prOmotion.
Through such support as the community gives, a broad
field of play activities is furnished without direct
charge to the participant. The purpose is to invite uni-
versal participation so that all may share in the benefits.
The program seeks a better citizenship by fostering play
that is educational and at the same time is filled with
wholesome amusement.

In order that the public may be successful in its
program, a large outlay of facilities such as municipal
and 8Ch0)l playgrounds, field houses, social centers, and
parts are required. In order to provide all these facili-
ties a large expenditure of money is necessary. However,
the past experience of many cities shows that the play-
grounds bear names of local benefactors, who have donated
expensive playgrounds. Many times such organizations as
the Parent-Teachers Association, the Rotary Cluo, and oth-v
similar organizations interested in civic improvement, air
in securing the needed facilities. Also, industrial con-
cerns often open their privatsiy supported play space to
the general community use.

Leaders of recreation have expressed the attitude that
we can Judge how fully the need of recreation is supplied,
by the number of commercial amusements and the extent to

(l)

which they are patronized. By commercial amusement or

 

(l) Wilber P. Bowen and Elmer J. Mitchell, The Theory of
Organized Play, page 58

 

 

recreation is meant toe type that is provided by private
concerns in order that they may make money from the
patrons. Included in this class are such activities and
agencies as baseball parks, bowling alleys, pool rooms,
carnivals, dances, fairs, horse races and picture shows.

Commercial enterprises, always seeking big dividends,
really anticipated the need for recreation and gave oppor-
tunity for its realization before the puolic wzs stirred
into making appropriations for this purpose. In this
respect commercialized recreation has had a great oppor-
tunity; but it has largely failed. It has considered profit
first of all, and in catering to the spirit of the modern
generation it has fostered amusements that are often use-
less and vicious. Too frequently, as in the cases of our
movies and professional athletics, the people pay to see
others perform and themselves assume the passive role of
onlookers.

Commercialized forms of recreation are both good and
bad. However, many of those that are now distinctly evil
influences can be converted into useful and artistic forms
of play. A significant point of commercialized recreation
is that people will pay "frncy" prices to be amused, or
for a chance to play. Also, its very extensiveness shows
that the public playgrounds and other municipal provisions
are still inadequate, and that until the demands for

PGcreation are met more adequately by the community there

will always be undesirable forms of commercial recre-
ation.

Private recreational agencies include such clues
and organizations as have an interest in recreation from
the standpoint of the participation and benefits of its
members. Such clubs usually have a membership fee, which
must be paid before the privileges are extended. This
type of agency can further be divided into subgroups,
which are three in number: 1. Owen, where the restrictions
on memoership are very few, the one essential requirement
being good character, and where the fees of membership are
nominal enough to invite the public or may be omitted alto-

gether; 2. Exclusive, where the membership is kept very

 

:9

limited through ballot selection, through limiting the
enrollment to a certain number, or through fees that are so
high as to exclude automatically all except the very wealthy;
5. Informal, where individuals or groups promote their own
‘play without connection with any permanent organization.
Industriggiare included in the category of private

Meg-"n. w -'

agencies% Many industries have Joined in the new social
movement byftaking an interest in the welfare of their em-
EIIOyees through promoting recreation of a proper type. Some
Of' the larger companies have their own gymnasiumSand
aidiletie fields. Here the employees can meet for informal
Evanes, or for games where the competition is based on the

different units of the factory. The sports that prove

anCcessful for the formation of leagues are baseball,

 

yr r‘
5 VS“
In. u..\, .

a...‘
~ I“ a
”la .

u
"y 4

‘ H
(“‘6‘

s "

- r .
:;

t ‘

Y' \

~ ._~ J
~

C- ":4
H-
y“
u
‘
r-‘
4
.“§ :‘I
1
v,” _
.
.4 A“
t.‘
‘
..

" N
‘4 \
A
\—1

‘-
r"‘r.'
‘4..‘ -'
‘9-

-. .3"
‘V4 1

1'
1

playground ball, basketball, volleyball, and bowling. The
above leagues pertain to competition within the factory
and aim to get everyone in tne game. There are,also, se-
lected teams that represent the factory in much the same
manner as the varsity team represents the college. When
such representive teams participate in the city league
under the direction of the municipal recreation depart-
ment, the tendency is toward play of an amateur type.
However, when games are scheduled outside the immediate
locality, professionalism often becomes a factor. For this

reason it is important that the ideal of plant—wide partici-

flnhon ———-’"fi'
'fis not lost. N],

 

playgrounds through their welfare department, the original
aim of catering to their employees has been enlarged into
a neighoorhood project, with directed play for all. In this

philanthropic capacity the industry allies itself with the

municipal program. f,j‘.,,t 1.,5 , 9
s i" ‘ 1,4: '1‘”-

Purpose of Study. It is this alliance of an industrial and

 

municipal recreation program that raises the question
whether a recreation program in an industry is merely an

. .4” . . . . r
early experiment and forerunner in the develOpment of
Inunicipal recreation, or whether each has certain activi-
ties and functions which it should perform. This situation
.has led to the formulation of the problem of this study,

whinoh is to determine the relation of industrial and

municipal recreation in the Lansing Community. Although
all the industries will be considered, the writer feels
Justified in centering attention on the Leo Motor Car
Company because it is one of the oldest industries and
because it has carried on a far more extensive recreation-
al program than any of the other industries.

_ '.,_

Kethod of Study. fOn visiting the sec Motor Car Company it

 

was found that they had on file a monthly organ called the
"Rec Spirit", which has been published since 1916. This
pamphlet includes in its pages all the educational and
recreational activities that have been Sponsored by the
company, as well as the reactions of the employees to these
activities. On looking through the files of the "Rec Spirit"
one could not help but notice the rapid decline in the
number and extent of recreational Opportunities offered the
employees after the year 1938. Realizing that this decline
has taren place during an era of unstable economic conditiong
this study will be especially concerned with those activities
and trends included in the twelve years previous to 1929.

Information concerning the organization and develOpment
of the municipal program has been acquired from two sources:
namely, the Lansing Recreation DepartmeLt, and from inter-
views with men who were active participants in the origin
and development of the present program.

Certain outstanding facts and conclusions dealing with

related phases of this study have been secured from other

sources. References to these facts and conclusions will be
made wuenever the data from such sources can be compared
with information derived in this investigation.

The writer maJored in Physical Education at Michigan
State College, and has had several years experience as a
worker and as a participant in the Lansing Recreation PrOm
gr'm. The activities in which this experience has been
acquired are: namely, summer playground director, athletic
official, social recreation director, and as a member of
athletic teams in baseball, basketball, and diamond ball.
The participation in the above mentioned activities has
made possible a direct contact with the recreation programs
of the Motor Wheel Corporation, the Leo Motor Car Company,
and the Lansing Recreation Lepartment.

The first step in carrying out this study was to mane
a survey of the Reo's recreation program in order to obtain
as much data as possible concerning the history, organization,
method of finance, and scope of their program. The next step
was to analyze the contents of the "Rec Spirit‘ and tabulate
such data as would be of value. It was then necessary to
secure the available data dealing with the origin and develop-
ment of the municipal recreation department. fl few tables
will also be presented showing the type and extent of the
recreation programs of other industries in Lansing.

AQfiher Studies of Industrial and_yunicipel Eecreation. The

study'prepsred by the U.S.Department of Labor dealing with

"Health and Recreation Activities in Industrial Establish-
(l)

ments in 1926" is perhaps the outstanding work pertain-
ing to recreation in industry. In this study information
was secured from 460 establishments with approximately
1,977,000 employees. These concerns represented many types
of manufacturing industries, and of transportation and
commercial enterprises in different parts of the country.

:0f the companies visited, 235 provided clubhouses, club
or recreation rooms, rooms for different games such as
billiards or pool, bowling alleys, and gymnasiums, while 316
companies provided lectures, moving pictures, and concerts,
or assisted in the maintenance of bands, orchestras, or glee
clubs.7

however, these features of industrial life have not been
uniformly successful, as about 100 companies reported that
one or more of these activities had been given up. Lack of
interest on the part of the employees was the reason for the
discontinuance of 25 musical organizations, 6 gymnasiums,

3 bowling alleys, 2 clubhouses and l dramatic club, while
other companies reported that the cost was too great, or that
the results did not Justify the expenditures. Musical organi-
zations seem to be the most difficult to manage.

Three hundred and nineteen of the companies,with approxi-
mately 1,300,000 employees, were reported as providing facili-
ties for various forms of athleticsor other mind of outdoor
recreation.

(l) UJS.Department of Labor, N). 458, Op. Cit. Passim.

Another study,prepared by the Policy Holders Service
Bureau of the metrOpolitan Life Insurance Company, discusses
outdoor recreation for employees. It gives a brief discussion
of such topics as, the employer's part, what other companies
do, fashions in recreation, noon hour games, gardening as

~ <1)
recreation, and advantages of competitive sports.

A bulletin prepared by the Industrial Department of the

.E.C.A. contains many valuable suggestions in regard to the
procedure of promoting recreation programs in industry. It
Contains chapters dealing with the field of recreation in
industry, selling the program, health education, athletic

(2)
equipment, programs of activities, and everybody in the game.

The Year Book of the Kational Recreation Association
is perhaps the most extensive study dealing with municipal
recreation. This Year Book is a report of the public recrea-
tion facilities, leadership, expenditures, and programs of
American municipalities. It is primarily a statement of
community recreation activities conducted under leadership
and of the facilities used chiefly for active recreation.

In order to be included in the Year Book, a city must report
one or more playgrounds or outdoor recreation centers con-
ducted under leadership, or a.maJor recreation facility

such as a golf course, swimming pool or bathing beach, the
Operation of which requires regular supervision or leadership.

‘

(1) Outdoor Recreation for Employees, Policy Holders Service
Bureau, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., page 4

(2) Henry F. Kallenberg, ghe Program of Health and Recreation
in Industrial Fields, page 3 ‘—

 

lllll : .. i v . xvi .2
-. .... “A ..r ”4 .9» 1o .4 e ...... \: ... ..v.. . .. . ...
MA. .il «J .v a .4 .1. at v». C r.. 1.. M . .1 +. 4 r; I. 3» +u
. i. no §L 7,“ n9 5 N f .. . n . . . . .35 w. 4... r . E. .J
.1 l o D:- n..u ".1. ”I .J WU . . Ell.-.\ e fix «C «t. N: ”L.
no .14 «1. r” r.. n. «o. .ru PL, 41 r“ :u «u
rC r. at“ ..Vi e a S.» e n nv .J A. . rt. f. see . - us
at A r. C. . .. » .nxv ‘L k i. s {It 8 PC NJ 5h YL ..J ». w: H t

 

10

The Year Book contains reports of such recreational
facilities and activities as provided by many municipal
and county pars authorities. It does not, however, include
all types of park service. Recreational programs provided
by industrial concerns and other private agencies for the
benefit of the entire community and which are not restricted
t; special groups are also reported. Similarly, reports of
many playgrounds, recreation centers and other recreational
service provided by school authorities are published, but
information concerning physical education(c§nducted by
1

schools is not included in the Year Book.

_,a--
’."

r

L The increase of leisure time, the need for more whole-

some hysical recreation and the complexit' and congestion
9 .L t:

of city life, all emphasize the importance of industrial

\

and municipal recreationygThe rapid develOpment of the
Lansing Recreation Department and the duration and scope
of the Rec Motor Car Company's program, show that they
possess certain interrelationships in their attempt to

promote recreation for the people concerned.

‘

(1) Year Book of National Recreation Ass., Recreation,
June 1951, page 152

"2' W...

 

 

ll
Ch pter II
HISTORY OF THE LANS N3 COKMURITY IE RULlTION To RfiCRWATION

Although the inclusion of a chapter dealing with the
history of the Lansing community might at first appear
superfluous, the writer considers such a chapter necessary
for a comprehensive understanding of the trends of recreation
in that community. The physical and social development of the
Lansing community has been of considerable importance in
determining what types of recreational promotion and recrea-
tional activity were to be included in the program of today.
ghe_§9undiqg_and Development of Lansing.

Where two rivers met in the heart of a dense Lichigan
forest land, there was_a scattering of rude huts called a
settlement. The small settlement was practically unknown
for several years. Its inaccessibility deprived it of con-
tact with the outside world. However, a gentleman from New
Yor: happened in the territory and was very much impressed
with it. After this man returned to New York he sold the
land in Michigan where Lansing now stands. He did not own
the land, so that the people who purchased and finally
settled in this territory were swindled of tleir savings.
However, they settled and started a hardy, conservative
community.

In 1845, Hon. James Seyxmore is said to have built the

first house in what is now the fourth ward of Lansing. He

also built a saw mill, so that it seems as if from the
very first Lansing has had industry as a birthright.

It was during the controversy in the Michigan legis-
lature over the selection of a new capitol site that this
small community attained its first important recognition.
In 1847 the state legislature voted to remove the state
capital from netroit to a site more centrally located. This
action called forth a number of generous offers from towns
already established. No offer is recorded as coming from
Lansing township. The State Journal history of the Lansing
Community states, "Lansing made no offer and that the
committee chairman presented the report to the session,
and because the debate was so bitter he suggested a place
that had never been thought of and one which was afterwards

(I)
called the 'Capital Joke' ". The legislature seemed to
grasp the idea to get away from the diSpute, and as a result
it was finally decided that the capitol should be situated
somewhere in Lansing township. The assembly finally voted
that fifteen hundred acres of land on both sides of the
Grand Liver should be laid out and designated as the Town
of Hichigan. This layout is bounded today by Willow Street
on the north, Grand Trunk tracks on the south, Sycamore
Street on the west, and Larch Street on the east.

Trevious to 1&4? the deveIOpment of the Lansing
community was very slow. The land was thh and mostly

(I) "Lansing and Its Yesterday“, Seventy fifth Anniversary
1dition of the Lansing State Journal, Jan. l, 1950,
page ll

13

covered with a thick growth of timber. Having been chosen
as the capital site, it rapidly grew in size and popula-
tion. On Narch 16, 1847, the legislature appropriated

the first capital building. The first news-

'1

22,515.02 fo

ICE.“—

paper, called the Free Press, was printed by Bagg and Harmon
of Detroit on January 11, 1848. Some time between the dates
of 1555 and 1855 the first fire-fighting unit was organized.
It was a volunteer organization, and in later years the city
purchased a fire engine, said to be one of the first made in
the middle-west. The arrival of the engine in the city was

a cause of a city holiday and a large parade from the city
limits on the south to the city limits on the north. On
September 3, 1556, the first offender was admitted to the
House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders. In 1059 the name
was changed to the Boy's Industrial School, and still later
in 1931 to the Boy's Vocational School.

The Town of Michigan with a population of 3,067 was
incorporated as a city in 1859. The name at this time was
changed to Lansing, in honor of an earlier settler by that
name and as an honor to the town from which many of the
settlers came in New Yora. It was during this time that
Lansing elected its first city officials. It is said that
the city then had a saw mill,.two flour mills, and an iron
foundry.

To show that the city was expanding and to acouaint the

reader with some of Lansing's geographical features, a

l4

quotation from Adams', Pioneer History of Ingham County

will be presented.

"In 1665, the city had eleven churches, five
hotels, two flour mills, three tanneries, two
breweries, three saw mills, two sash 2nd blind
factories, several brica yards, and a large number
of mechanic shape. About a mile from the city there
is an extensive quarry of fine building stone. The
city is handsomely laid out, in a high and healthy
location on gently rolling ground, and already
boasts of several elegant private residences and
public buildings. An extensive system of grading
and public improvement is being carried on by the
city governnent, which when completed will add
greatly to the appearance of the place." (1)

Lansing was unable to grow rapidly until it was pro-
vided with some easy means of transportation. This trans-
portation problem was solved by the coming of the railroads,
and as a result the city's p0pulation doubled in a very
short time. It is said that five railroads entered the city
between the years 1863 and 1867. This gave Lansing the con-
tacts it needed to increase its importance as a capitol city
and as an industrial center. Industry, starting with the
building of the dam, now began to assume significant propor-
tions and tne area along the Grand River, which was designated
as being apprOpriate for "Hydraulic Manufacturing", was
utilized to full capacity. By the late nineties Lansing was
established as the leading gasoline engine city of the
country, and it was a Lansing man, R. E. Olds, who first
built and marketed the automobile, thus creating for Lansing

the honor of being the cradle of the automobile industry.

Location of Lansi-g.

Lansing has a strategic location because it is in the

q 1—. ‘ u . —
(l) rranc L. Adams, Pioneer History of Ingham Co., page 4&6

 

15

re of the greatest

C;

heart of lower Michigan and in
agricultural, industrial, and commercial sections of the
United States, being only two hundred and twenty-eight
miles from Chicago, and eighty—five miles from Detroit.
Lansing is in direct contact with trade and industries of
these great cities and finds in their markets a large demand
for its manufactured products. It is also in close proximity
to the other larger cities of Michigan. Battle Creek is
forty-nin: miles; Flint, sixty miles; Grand Rapids, sixty-
four miles, Jackson,thirty-seven miles; Kalamazoo, seventy-
four miles; and Pontiac, seventy-one miles distant. In
addition to providing trading facilities for the City of
Lansing, this proximity makes possible athletic competition
between the teams of these cities and the teams of Lansing.
The temperature of Lansing is such as to stimulate a
diversified recreation program both in summer and in winter.
The summer temperature averages about 72 degrees and makes
possible approximately five months of outdoor zctivities
under comfortable climatic conditions. This period is of
sufficient length to permit the organizing and conducting
of athletic leagues in baseball, diamond ball, horseshoe,
soccer, and volleyball; the Sponsoring of golf and tennis
tournaments; and participation in swimuing, picnics, and
track and field events. Although the average winter tempera-
ture is 25 degrees, there are usually a few weeks of colder

~Neather which makes possible participation in skating, ice

16

hockey, sleighing and similrr outdoor winter sports. In
addition to the outdoor winter activities many events such
as basketball, volleyball, indoor baseball, gymnasium
classes, and social recreation hours can be conducted in
recreation rooms and school gymnasiums.

The Grand River, originating near Jackson, meets the
Cedar River in Lansinc and flows west to Lake Michigan. This
river, which is crossed by many substantial and artistic
bridges, practically divides Lansing in its center. It pro-
vides water power for some of the industries of the city; en-

ances the beauty_of the city in many places, and serves as
a playground for those interested in water sports.
Composition of £29 Lansingflggpulation.

Since Lansing was incorporated as a city in 1859 its
population has doubled many times. According to tJG 1950
report of the U.S.Census Buresu, the population of Lansing
was 75,597. Of this total, 7C,3OJ or 89.6 percent were native
white, 6,650 or 8.4 percent were foreign born white, and
1,409, or 1.6 percent were negroes.

Of the foreign born white population of Lansing, the
largest number has come from Canada and Germany. They have
been assimilated into the community and are not as distin-
guishable from the rest of the population as are many of
the Syrians and Negroes. For the most part they make good
American citizens and aid our industries by being steady
and conscientious workers.

When the foreign born whites immigrate to United States,

17

they tend to bring their native culture with them. If
they come here in sufficiently large numbers and settle
as a group, they retain many of the features of their 0rd
culture. If they make more random settleaents and adagt
themselves to the customs of this country, they become
assimilated and gradually relinquish their native habits.
Lany times the athletic games and recreational activities
of the foreign born white are different from those of the
peOple of the United States. It then becomes necessary for
the industrial or municipal recreation director to either
introduce certain foreign elements into his program, or
interest the immigrant in learning the Lmerioan activities.
In Lansing, however, the percentage of foreign born
shite is so low that it does not constitute a problem of
any great consequence. They quickly adjust themselves to
the American recreational grOgram through participating in
the activities offered on the playground, in the gymnasium,
in the clubhouse, and on the athletic field. Perhaps the
greatest recreation groblem in regard to the composition of
the pogulation of Lansing is the provision of pubLic recrea-
tional Opportunities for the negro. There is a tendency to
restrict them from participating in the various city athletic
lazagues, because certain organizations and individuals refuse
t0 participate with teams composed of negroes.
lgstitutions in Lansing.
Because of the large number of institutions in the City
Of’LLansing, only those bearing some significance to the

Preesent study will be discussed in this chapter.

18

The program of a city often depends upon the leaders
of its municipal government and the type of organization
with which these leaders have to work. In Lansing the city
government is vested in a mayor and a common council con-
sisting of two members from each of the eight wards. These
officials are elected by the people as are the various
other city government administrators such as the city clerk,
city treasurer, city assessor, etc. A board of education
supervises school affairs, a board of police and fire has
charge of the safety of the citizens, a board of water and
light administers the municipal plant, and a board of
cemetery and parse supervises the worn of these departments.
The Department of Recreation is administered under the Parks
department, but it is responsible to both the Parks Depart-
ment and the Lansing Board of Education.

The city of Lansing has enjoyed a nation-wide reputa-
tion as a city comparatively free from crime. This status
has been partly due to its efficient and well-trained police
force. This force consists of about seventy-five uniformed
patrolmen, motorcycle officers, and traffic ”cops". The
department also has several radio pilice cars that patrol
designated sections of the city and are able to rapidly
.Naach any point of disturbance. The presence of police
0f1?icers at the many athletic contests results in efficient
directing of the crowds, as well as preventing any unsports-

nmrsship conduct by either players or spectators.

19

According to the Lansing City Directory there are seventy-
five churches, missions, synogogues, volunteer, and

(l)
salvation army halls located in Lansing. The Roman
Catholic, the Methoaist, and the Lutheran denominations
have the largest individual membership of any in the group.
These religious institutions have many times served as
community centers. Most of them have sponsored social and
recreational programs, and a few have gone so far rs to
build gymnasiums in the annex of the church or in the church
prOper. Some of the Churches have supported and encouraged
team sports and have entered their basketball and diamond
ball teams in the city industrial leagues. Others have
organized leagues li iting the membership to churches, and
using only church facilities.

Lansina's educational system consists of thirty ouild-
incs valued at ;:6,3b(,,CCC-. There are two senior high schools,
modern and fully equipped, one of Which vas built in 1939
at a cost of $1,0t0,0UO. Each of the high schools at the
present time accommodates about l,lCC students enrolled in
the lOth, llth, and 12th grades. There are three modern
Junior high schools, enrolling at the present time about
5,5bo children of the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. There are
twenty-two grade schools, two special schools, and an

administration building.

 

.‘
-..

(l) Lansing City Directory, Volume XKAII, 1931, Page “8

‘Aj

L4

Incuiry is often made from school officials in
Lansing as to how this community happens to be in such
an unusually favorable financial condition, and at the
same tine maintain its schools, ooth in plant eeuipment
and instructional service, at such high standards. The
answer is that whrn its last bonds were paid on April lst,
1905, some wise citizens of that day discovered that the
buildings for which these bonds were issued hrd been ptid
for several times in principal and interest. The citizens
then and there detennined to thenceforth pay for their
buildings out of current taxes. during the intervening
years it has meant at times some sacrifice to maintain this
policy, but it has left the present generation with unin-
cumoered school property and at a modest tax rate.

The educational system also maintains free public
evening schools for all who wish to attend. The purpose is
to provide adult education for the people of Lansing who
desire such facilities. Other fomns of Special education
for the people are offered through three open air schools,
one oral school for the deaf, and a school for the crippled
children.

lhe administrators f the Lansing educational system
Lrovidc numerous opportunities for the pupils to participate
in recreational activities such as athletics, dramatics, a d
SOCial clubs. The two high schools and the three Junior high

SChools have their varsity athletic teams wno play inter-

El

scoool end intercity contests. In addition to the varsity
teams these schools conduct large intermurel programs,
which make possiole particiyrtion for everyone. The many
graded schools limit their :thletio grogrmn to interschool
and intermurel athletic ectivities. In order to insure
*hysicsl ectivity and health education, on intensive grogrrm
of ”hysical and health education is conducted in the lrrger
schools.

// The Lensing recreation system is perhets the least M
institutionalized of eLy of the city projects. The city hrs
on abundance of parks which include an area of 551 acres. Of

the eleven perks which serve several thOUSPUd geople esch

veer, Eotter Park is perhegs the most popular and is dies

c.

tinguisheole by e well-stocked zoo. oriC{ overs, tebles for
esting out-of-doors, tennis courts, :nd a large equig,ed p s:
are? are other reasons why this grre hes 3 large attendance.
Hoores Fern, loceted on River Jrive is s naturrl emphi-theeter
with rolling grounls and enquisite Lerdens. A large end fully
eouipged swimring pool is one of the feetures of this park.
3encroft Park provides an unusorl beauty spot for outitg end
for recreation. Here rlso sr bricr ovens and teoles for

picruxrgparties, ea beseOsll iiewnnni for thee

(’3

athleticxlly

inclined, and equipment for a winter skating rink. OP& Pars
has a SWimuing pool, tennis courts, a beseoell diamond, and
9 large end fully equioped play egace for both children end

I

qults. )urant Perk, Ferriss Pork, end Centrel Perm ere

city. Asnney Porn, located oetycer nensing end oys Lcnsing,

provides nine tennis courts and s li

In eddition to those menti ned there :re menv smeller “rrks
(‘4 V y

‘nout the city which provide prortunitie:

(+
(o
’3
o
p.
(+-
L
*1
u
it

scst

H
‘17
$.14
L;
(D
5‘.
fl
p
’ 'S
(0
f 4
J
k I
'1.
(+-
H
I.)
:3

for physics

3esides the narv recrertionol orportunities offered

~o

through Lansing's Nuniciprl lrogrn , several grinte indus-
tries also cerry on recreational progrrus within their
fectori-s. They inclode in their program such activities as

besebell, basketosll, bowling, volleyorll, wrestling {Ed

oeen en industriel center ever since the
first srw mill wrs esteblisned by Hon. James Seymore in 1643.
Juring the test twenty years Lansing has risen to a ooint
where, industrially, it is one of the leading cities of the
stete.fln 192’ esproximetely one hundred and eighty menu-
‘fectiring concernsxnere doing business and they'were employ-
ing on the average 18,000 men end women. These industries
very in size, some employing a fe' men and some es high as
5,(CO- A few descriptive remares about each of the larger
plants followzl

The Rec Lotor Car Comoany wrs orgrnized in 1904 and is
one of the oldest companies of its kind today. Froduction
was started under the roof of one swell building with 304
men employed. Today the shots of the company have a total

flOor specs of m re then 52 acres, end during normal

economic conditions more than 5,000 men and women are on
the payroll.

The Olds hotor Worse (a prrt of the General Kotors
Corgoration) is one of the most modern automobile factories
in the country. The property consists of approximately 86
acres. The inception of the Olds Lotor WorKs dates from the
establishment in laoo for the manufacturing of gas engines
and in 1597 to making automobiles. There are in the build-
ings nearly two million square feet of floor space.

Hugh Lyons and Company, manufacturers of "papier mache"
form models, display fixtures, and automotive bodies and
equipment,was organised in less. This is one of the largest
and best known concerns of its kind.

The Novo Engine Company, manulacturers of gasoline
engines, hoists, pumps and air compressors, was organised
in 1908. It hes three hundred thousand feet of floor space
and does an annual business of approximately $3,000,0CC.

The Motor Wheel Corporation, embracing the Prudden
Wheel and the Sier Pressed Steel plants, is one of the
world's greatest factories for the producing of automobile
Wheels. The average employment is close to 1,000.

Other important industrial concerns in Lansing are the
Fisher Body Corporation, Michizan Screw Company, Ideal Lawn
Mower Company, Federal Drop Forge Company, nnd the Auto Body
Company.

Labor Conditions up to 1929 were quite satisfactory.

There has been a feeling of respect and CJOperation between

b4

the employer and the employee. The industries realizing
that the training of new workers is an expensive process,
have encouraged long tenure by giving awards to their em-
ployees at the completion of five, ten, and fifteen year
perioas of service. This feelinb of good will has been
fostered through tne emgloyer taking a real interest in the
mployees, end giving such cooneretion as was necessary for
the bes welfare of all concerned. This cooperation is best
exemglified by the war; that is being done by the welfare and

recreation deyertments of the larger industries.

n5
Chaoter III

W“? FCCREATIONAL POLICIES 33) PRUGLALS OE

1.3-23: "JG I‘ll-)UL‘JTRIE‘S

(f
r

TInterviews with several men who have been active
in recreation work in Lansing showed that of all the
industries, the Eeo, the Clds, end the rotor Wheel have
been the most active and progressive. As previously
stated, the Rec Lotor Car Company is one of the oldest
industries in Lansing and it has carried on a more
extensive recreational program than any of the other
industries. Therefore, this chapter will include a more
comgrehensive account of the organization and adminis-
tration of the Rec Recreation Program than of any of

the other industries of Lansing.

The recreation program soonsored through the coopera-
tion of the emgloyer end the emgloyees has contributed
considerably to the feeling of good will and harmony that
seems to be present in the plant of the Rec Hotor Car
Company. This company, usually referred to in Lansing as
"The Leo", has aided in providing recreational activities
for its workers during the greater part of its existence.
The real value of these activities cannot be determined,
out if it were gossible to apply to this situation the con-
clusion reached by John Jewey in his "Democracy and Educa-

tion", that "the value of a social group can be measured by

the extent in which the interests of the group are shared
(1)
by all its members”, the progrsm sponsored by the Leo
would have a very high rating.
A question that often arises in regard to the promotion
of a recreational program by an industry is whether the

benefits Justify the expenditures. To show the attitude of

the Eeo toward the work they are doing in this field a few

:1)

r- raths are quoted from the "Rec Spirit”. The question

03
012

P
pertains to why the ”Leo Spirit" is published, but the answer
can be as aptly applied to the question of why they conduct

a recreational proarmn.

”; serious-minded fellow employee asked us the other
day, 'Just why does the company publish the Eco Spirit
for the eoployees?’ Our answer, equally serious, was
this, "To aid the company in making money'. First off,
this may seem like a cold<blooded way of looking at it;
but when you come to think it over it isn't so at all.
Several thousand people are dependent upon our company
for their livelihood, and many of them have devoted the
best years of their life in the service of our company.
If the company could not maxe money it could not exist,
and so cold-blooded or not, the fact remains that profit-
making is the first essential. There are two classes of
profits; direct and indirect. We can trace and definitely
place direct profits produced through our manufacturing
and sales departments. we cannot state in dollars and
cents the profits produced by our advertising, research,
and similar departments, yet we Know they are highly
essential to that end. For the arms reason we cannot
trace any profits to the Rec Spirit; perhaps there are
none. There is, however, the thing or condition of "labor
turnover". Th n the rate of labor turnover is high, it
means the replacing of a large number of men who have
left the company to seen employment elsewhere, usually
becruse they have become discontented and dissatisfied.
It is the aim of every business organization to keep
labor turnover down to the lowest possible point, because
it is expensive. Any new employee, no matter how well
qualified or expert, is carried on the payroll at a loss
for days, weeks, and sometimes months because he cannot

‘

(1) John Dcsey, Democracy and education, pa

 

7
iv

immediately get going in his full stride of efficiency.
He has to learn his Job and the ways end policies of

the company, and this cannot be done in a minute; some
never learn and so have to oe replaced at a still
further loss in actual dollars and cents. The employee
who is hap‘y and contented will remain in our company
and become more valuable to the company and to himself
as the years go by. Dissatisfaction, discontent, and
unhappiness in the individual are often caused by con-
ditions entirely outside of his or her business Judgment,
but the effect on earning ability is the same. The
primary object, therefore, of the Leo Spirit is to help
reduce labor turnover. It has sought to help you to
think straight so that you will not be misled by the
false and specious arguments of the unscrupulous. It

has sought to teach you how best to conserve and improve
your health and how to save and to wisely invest whet
you have saved. Summed up, its sole ochct is to help
you achieve, in a practical way, happiness and content-
ment now and for the future, because it is good business
for all of us". (1)

fOrganisation and Administration of Reo's Recreation Program.

I

L»

 

The heo's recreation program is administered through
a special department established for this purpose. A director
of recreation is employed to supervise and administer the
many activities. His ofjice is situated in the Rec Clubhouse
(this being the logical place bec use of the many activities
that are carried on here). he has complete charge of the
activities of the clubhouse and acts as a leader and adviser
in the organisation of athletic competition within the
.factory. He is constantly looking for indications of an
interest in a new activity. When he discovers such an interest,
it is his duty to develop it in such a manner as to leave all

the reaponsibility with the members of the activity.

 

(l) “Reo Spirit" Eebruary 1335’ ”a

The employees are given the entire responsibility
in the organization and administration of the leagues in
such sports as bowling, baseball, volleyball, and basket-
ball. This is accomplished through the issuance from the
Director's office of a call for a general meeting for all
those interested in the sport. Kotices are placed through-
out the plant informing the workers of the type of activity,
the date of meeting, and the place of the meeting. It is
the duty of the director to call the meeting to order, and
give such introductory remar s as are necessary. A committee
is then elected by the memoers present at the meeting and
this committee assumes the responsibility of planning the
schedule, securing the equipment, making such rules and
regulations as are necessary, and deciding on any other
points that may arise during the progress of the season.
The next step in the organization procedure is appointing
or electing of team captains, who act as intermediary units
between the team and the committee. This procedure is
followed each year in each of the sports, and tends to
distribute the work and reaponsibility among all the members.
:a diagram is shown on the following page.

In some industrial institutions it is desirable to
Organize the different teams on a shop or department basis.

This, however, is only possible when the different units are

U

f‘ approximately the same size. In the heo plant this is

 

ewes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

same .pmmo Esme Esme
nmwo same omppHEEOp .pmwp snap
a a
ooppweSor moppHsSOQ
Hamppmxwwm mmwpfibfipod . J. wcthHHHm
Hawphmfiao> owpmfigps one mmsdpoog ds« mdnmo
.pmmmm sooeeH moapasapoe mmapasapoe mm >0;
use Hamsmmwm meaaeom Heoamss seasomwesq H s
. ,/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mpaomm same mmapfi>fipoa adom nooz mmapfipapoe mmsozpdao

_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:ofluwmnoom Mo Housmsam

_

.pmon pqmshoamsm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hanSoo use Hones com

 

 

 

HZMEHmwme zOHe¢mmomm 0mm mma mo ZOHE<NHZ¢umo

30

impractical because of the great variation in the number
of men employed in some of the departments. The team
usually represents some one department, but includes a few
members from other deparhnents which are not large enough,
or do not have a sufficient number of interested partici-
pants to mane up a team.

A somewhat different procedure is used in organizing
the bowling teams. his is possible because the group is
small. In bowling a team consists of four players, and in
a match the total score of the four members constitutes
the team score of the game. The scores of each bowler for
the entire season are tabulated and placed in rank. They are
then used the following season in organizing the team and
leagues. This procedure manes it possible to keep the teams
nearly equal in ability and thus promote extremely interesting

competition.
~i:?.!.‘f

Method of Financing the Recreation Program. //’

  

There are great variations in the methods and amounts of
financial aid that industries of the United States give to
their recreation programs. In almost all the cases, however,
the employer provides the ouarters for carrying out the
recreation.

The General Electric Company, of Schenectady, maintains
athletic grounds and offers prizes; the employees pay all the

othmsr expenses. The Acheson Graphite Company has placed all

31

financial management and responsibility for recreation

in the hands of the athletic association of which every
employee is a member without dues. The company allows space

in the several advantageous parts of the plant for the

selling of candy, cigars, cigarettes, etc. The revenue fron
these stands are used to finance athletics. The only finan-
cial aid given by the company is to pay day wages to employees
the day of the annual outing. The company is very much in

favor of the activities of the athletic association, but does

Qhw
W a;

I

not attempt to interfere or dictate in any way. J! r? 15a;

r .
I

The StudebaL-r recreational program, which is conducted
by the S udebaker Athletic Association, is financed by dollar
membership fees. There are nearly 8,COC members of the
association in the South Bend Plant. The membership fee en-
titles them to admission to most of the events and participa-
tion in any of the tournaments. The corporation assists by
furnishing an executive secretary and usually by some con-
tribution to the expense of the annual field day. The pamphlet
published by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company contains
the following statement, "there is a growing belief that
employees do not fully appreciate privileges which are given
free of cost. When allowed to eXpress themselves freely, they
are happier in the things they do, particularly when the\

1
activities are initiated and fostered by themselves". ( I
The Western Electric Company, after a careful study of

the recreational needs and activities in its several plants,

 

(1) Outdoor Recreation for Employees, Policyholders, Service
Bureau, hetrOpolitan Life Insurance Co., page 7

32

has come to the conclusion that not only the initiative
and the management of recreation activities, but also the
most of the current costs should be borne by the employees.
hot only does this policy increase the enthusiasm of the
employees for such activities, but it relieves the employer
of charges of discriminatory treatment of different groups
and different localities, which grow as the company increases
its financial support or active management of these activities.
The company cooperates in every way possible in providing or
securing facilities for any recreational activity arising from
a spontaneous desire on the part of the employees.

//The Reo's method of financing its recreational prograr
is cuite contradictory to the policies and procedures of the
industries mentioned above. By means of a special yearly
appropriation it pays nearly the entire cost of the recreation
program. Bowling is the only team game in which the partici-
pants have to pay the cost. Tven in this sport the company
contributes whatever sum is necessary to mane up any deficien-
cies that may arise after ten cents per game has been collected
from each of the team members. The only other activity for
which the participants have to pay the cost is the pool and
card tables in the Rec Clubhouse.

The only type of money subtracted from the pay check is

40¢ per month, which the employees have votei to have with-
drawn. The purpose of this sum is to give needed aid to the

employees and their families in case of sickness or inJury.

33

Heo's Recreation Prggram Previous to 1927.

The chart on the following page shows the maJor
recreational activities promoted by the Rec Motor Car
Company, and the years during which they are sponsored.

The first issue of the "Reo Spirit" as well as inter-
views with some of the "old timers" have upheld the fact,
that the rec promoted certain recreational activities pre-
vious to 1915. However, no definite, concise, and accurate
records are available dealing with the early develOpment of
the program. The activities which were sponsored at such an
early date include band, baseball, indoor baseball, and
basketball. The method of organizing and administering the
three sports was to promote department team leagues within
the factory, and also to pick an all-star team from the total
membership to represent the plant in games with other cities.
The early rivalry between the Rec and some of the nearby
towns such as Owosso and Charlotte was extremely high. Often
passenger coaches were used to transport the players, the
band, and the fans to the forthrcoming contests. In order to
carry out these early athletic games it was necessary for the
Eco to own or operate their own baseball parks and basaetball
floors. Many of the baseball games were played on what is nor
Sycamore Park, but at that time belonged to the Bee and was
called Reo Park.

The type and extent of other activities thrt may have

been offered previous to 1915 cannot be definitely determined

 

Hawm esoswflm m.HuHu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hampmwwm nowsdw

 

 

QSHHsom m.Hnfiw

 

T 11 T T
III: a...
i

N Hawnpmemsm m.HsHo

 

 

 

 

 

_ M soapwpm ca 2

fl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mmsdoo Edmohq

 

 

 

 

 

Hamm poem

 

 

 

 

i a . 233:8

 

mmsdpoflm nowpo:

 

mQHHSOm m.QmH

 

E I , fie. 0%

 

omfiozndao 0mm

 

 

Dian mawwm

 

0‘1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

panama 0mm

 

Hamnmmwm pooesH

 

i 3333 Pay.“

 

Haappmxmsm m.:sn

 

i 228$ 09..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mmqflpomfi adom zoom

 

 

seem com
I I T. TL .L I T. I I I .L .L WL .L T. T. T. T
6 6 cc 6 o no 0 6 no 6 o no 6 o 6 6 6 6 \\\. wPHbHssd
C. C. C. 8 8 3 8 8 3 8 3 8 8 T. I I I I r
8 T. no 6 8 In 9 C. V o. as T. .U .6 8 A 9 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mama I mama “mfiqmw Wm .Vz«mfloo mdo mopofi 0mm mwp mo mMHeH>HPo¢ HdZOHpqwmomm

 

55

but Table I, which shows the type and extent of activities
during the year 1916, would indicate that some of them

must have originated some time before this date.
Table I

Type and Extent of Recreational Activities Promoted

by the Rec During the Year 1916

 

 

Type of Activity : No. of Active Participants
Rec Band : 30
Basketball : 75
Noon Hour Feetings : 150
Rifle Club : 37
Indoor Baseball : 46
Baseball : 72
Reo Family Picnic : ?
Night School : ?
Rec Choral Society : 56

' 9

”Rec Spirit"
This table indicates that a well diversified program was
being Sponsored by the Rec as early as 1916. Bee use of the
type of activity and the lack of records, it was impossible
to determine the number of active and passive participants
in each of the events.

The first uniformed Rec Band mane its debut some time
in 1906. It consisted of 18 pieces and was directed by
Irvin Bliss. It received considerable recognition during its
early days through playing at many of the functions and

entertainments in Lansing, as well as travelling to other

cities with the Rec baseball team. Each Wednesday night
during the summer of 1916 the band staged a concert in
the North Side of Lansing. Its pOpularity was evidenced when
8,000 people attended one of its concerts during inclement
Weather with the temperature as low as 45 degrees.

The type and extent of the noon hour religious services

,,,.__

which was held during the year are shown in a quotation from
the October 1916 issue of the "Rec Spirit".

"Noon hour religious services which were decidedly
popular with many of the Rec Family last fall and
winter were started Monday, October a, on the second
floor of the final assembly room.

The services are limited to forty minutes and are
of non-denominational character. They begin at 11:40
o'clock and end at 12:20. Every member of the Rec
Family is extended a cordial invitation to attend and
lend their ear to the talks by the local clergy as
well as their voices to the song service.

The meetiigs will be continued all during the fall
rnd winter months and into the spring until hot weather
sets in. They will be in charge of Roy Livingston,
chairman of the safety committee, who will also act
as choirmaster. John Bush is again assigned the office
of organist. It is planned this winter to pay special
atteLtion to the musical prooram and each week there
will be solo and chorus numbers by the Rec Choir.

Last year the average daily attendance was 150. The
attendance grew as the year progressed and many of the
Rec Family found the service not only a fine noon-hour
diversion but they went away with a good thought; for
the maJority of the speakers, in their limited talks,
left something to think about." (1)

The Reo Rifle Club was organized and granted a charter
by the National Rifle Club on December 29th, 1916. The
membership included 37 of the Reo Family and many others
were expected to Join. Since the club was affiliated with
the National Rifle Club at Washington, it was able to

secure its ammunition at cost from the Federal Government.

 

(l) "heo Spirit" October 1917, page 11

37

The government also owned a shooting range on the Hunter
farm near Larsing.

A basketball league of eight teams furnished enter-
tainment for the members of the Leo Family, as well as good
wholesome physical recreation for approximately '75 of the
Reo workers. During this early date Reo had the use of a
club room on Ottawa Street, and it was here that they played
their basketball and indoor baseball ganes.

A four team league of indoor baseball was conlucted
within the factory during the winter months. Besides playing
in the Rec league a representative team picked from the
factory played several genes with teams from Detroit and
Jackson.

The same procedure was followed in baseball, but there
was a six team league rather than four, and they played
their games on the Lansing High School field and the heo
athletic field.

The Rec Family picnic was held on August 19, lQlfi, and
was one of the largest ever held by the factory. It was
estimated that about 25,000 people participated in the annual
event. Stunts, contests, and track events were included in
the program and prizes were given to the many winners.

In 1917 several activities were added to the program
and a few of those already established were enlarged. By far
the outstanding achieveuent of this year was the erecting of

of the keo Clubhouse. This building was built by the

58

management of the Rec at a cost of over $100,000. It was
turned over to the Reo Family on May 8, 1917, to serve as

a community center for the Rec employees and their families.
Here they could pursue their social and recreational
activities in a wholesome environment and a well equipped
building.

The first use to which the clubhouse was devoted was
that of concentrating 273 aliens there on Lay ll and 12,
when one of the largest citizenship classes recorded in the
county of Ingham was examined for citizenship papers. Thus,
the clubhouse was started immediately upon a career of
Americanization and good citizenship.

It was opened for practical use on May 14th. Its value
and popularity was proved by the large number who used its
dining rooms, game rooms, lobby and reading rooms, and its
auditorium. The auditorium offered a large variety of amuse-
ments and entertainments for the Rec Family. It included in
its program, concerts, organ recitals, moving pictures,
lectures, discussions, plays, dancing, social gatherings,
and community meetings.

It was also during this year that a baseball league was
carefully organized by theapresentatives of the different
teams within the factory. They had a general meeting on May
6th for the purpose of electing officers and directors,
aJOpting a constitution and a playing schedule for the
season. A few of the more interesting features of the consti~

tution are presented here:

59

"Section I. This association shall be called the Rec
Factory neague of Amateur Baseball Clubs.

Section II. The objects of the league are: (1) To per-
petuate baseball as the national game of the United
States. (2) To surround it with such safeguards as to
warrant confidence from the ,eo Family in its integrity
and methods. (3) To establish and regulate the b seoall
championship of the Rec Factory

Section III. The league shall consist of five clubs
(the membership shall not be increased or diminished
except by unanimous consent of the board of directors)
named as follows: KcQowell, Redner, Leavitt, Miller,
and‘Wilson.

Section IV. The officers of the league shall oe

president, secretary, treasurer, and board of directors.
(1) Should any office become vacant by death, resignation
or removal, the board of directors shall have the power

to fill the vacancy at as early date as in their Judgment
is necessary and proper. (z) The board of directors:

shall consist of one member from each of the teams holding
membership in the league.

Section V. The board of directors: (l) The board shall
have general supervision and management of all affairs

of the league and all other duties conferred upon it by
this constitution. It shall be the sole and exclusive
tribunal to hear and determine disbutes between clubs,
and complaints by a club against the managers or players
of another club. (2) The board shall have the power,

upon proper proof, to suspend or expel any league manager
or player guilty of gross misbehavior including intoxica-
tion, fighting, quarrelling, indecency, or other scandal-
ous conduct while on the playing field or going to or
coming from the same."

Another innovation of the year was the Leo Funfest. It
was similar to a large family picnic. The only thing the
f.milies had to furnish were their oxvn lunches, and they
were encouraged to leave their pocketbooks at home. The
program of events for the day is shown on the following
page. The attendance at the picnic was estimated at about

3C,OCC. it was largest in the afternoon and the two events

which drew the largest group of

game
part

we re

and the children's parade.
1y due to the fact that the

open to the community.

Program f Events -

Reo Ii

40

sgectators were the ball
The large attendance was

bionic activities and events

cnic - August 18, 1917

 

 

Event Number : Time of Event : The Event
1 : 9:!0 A.K. : Baseball Field Sports
1. Fungo hitting
e. Circling the bases
3. Bunt & run to 1st.
4. Long distance throw
5. Accurate throwing
2 : ,lO:CO 5.x. : Baseball game
3 : 12:00 : Children's parade
4 : 1:50 P.L. : Girls' 50 yd. dash
5 : 1:45 2 K : Boys' 100 yd. dash
6 : 2:00 P.H. : Free for all 100 yd. dash
7 . 2:15 P.M. : Ladies nail driving
8 : 2:30 F.X. : Ladies sawing contest
9 : 2:45 }.1. : Ladies balloon race
10 : 3:0L P.I. : Boys' pie eating contest
ll ' 5:15 P.;. : Tug of War
12 : 5:30 P.4. : Boys' shoe contest
15 : 4:00 P.h. : Canoe Race
14 : 4:15 P.M. : Canoe tilting cortest
15 : 4:30 P H. : Wrestling match
16 ' 5:30 P.M. : Balloon ascension
17 7:00 P.I. : moving pictures

 

The Rec must have gone to considerable work and expense

to provide the above program for their emgloyees. One would

seldom see as extensive a program if he were to attend a

homecomingcmflebration in one of the villages or small cities.

The last event of the year 1917 was the Reo Fair which

41

was held the week of October 29th. It was the first under-
tak'ng of this kind, and the responses of the employees

and their families was the final test as to whether it would
be an annual affair. Booths were constructed for garden
truck, red cross worx, knit good; needle work, cookery,
samples of manual training by the boys, etc. The fair was
held in the Rec Clubhouse and there was something doing every
day and evening during the week.

The fair was so successful that it was decided to make
it an annual affair. That more garden produce would be ex-
hibited the next year was indicated by the interest mani-
fested in the vegetable exhibits. Michigan Agriculture
officials, among them Prof. Burgess and Prof. Loree, com-
mended the Rec fair idea and expressed themselves as seeing
in it a great community benefit. Prizes were awarded in the
following exhibits; namely, fruits, vegetables, floral,
poultry, domestic arts, culinary, fine arts, pet animals,
curios and antiques, baby show, and special prizes.

Table II is presented in order to show the type and
extent of activities that were being carried on in the Rec

Clubhouse from month to month.

42

Table II

heo Clubhouse Activities for November 1917

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date : Attraction : Attendance
l : Rec Family Fair : 1,459
2 : Reo Family Fair : 2,785
3 : Heo Boseoall Banq. : 70
4 : Open Forum Meeting : 370
7 : Loving Pictures : 161

10 : Leo Picnic Picture : 1,700

12 : Safety First Jeet : 900

13 : Safety First leet : 850

14 : Noving Pictures : 600

17 : Roving Pictures : 2,60C

d1 : Yoving Pictures : 900

24 ° Roving Pictures : 1,700

25 ' Open Forum meeting : 300

28 : Moving Pictures : 1,600

Total 14 : 15,995

 

The attendance in the above table is not absolutely
accurate, and it is also prooeble that the same families
were counted more than once. However, it does show that
the clubhouse auditorium wrs being used considerably and
that a large number of people were showing an interest in
its activities.
The first event of the 1918 recreational program was
the organization of a bowling league. The bowling alleys
were practically completed in the Rec Clubhouse, and were to be
ready for the opening of the season. A general meeting was

called for all who were interested in bowling and the result

J}-
(A

was the organizing of a 12 team bowling league which would
include about 85 bowlers. The rules and regulations were
decided upon as well es the method of selecting the teams.
For this first seeson of bowling each captain was given a
certain area of the factory from which he could select his
teem. The alleys were to be open to the Eeo employees and
their families at all times, except of course when the
regular league gs es were being bowled. A sum of ten cents
wes charged for eech game.

Another event which wos odded to the progrem was a
billiard and checier tournament. The purpose of the tournament
wrs to get lovers of both genes together and to orgenize both
checxers and billiards into a more common amusement at the
Clubhouse.

ouring this year the Y3?.C.A. orgenized the first city

indoor besebell lepgue. A representative teem of the Beo was

c+

one of the eight teams included in the orgenization. All he
gs es were played in the Y.L.C.A. building on West hichigen
Lvenue. The Leo teem won the league championship.

These were the only new activities instituted during the
year. All of the old ones with the exception of the Rec Fair
were continued and enlarged. The Rec Frir wrs omitted from
the program this year because of complications brought ebout
by the World War-

An unusual feature of the 1919 organization w:s that

both the Y.E.C.A. and the Rec conducted baseball leeeues.

44

The league organized by the Y.h.C.g. was celled the Lensing
Industrial League. Reo conducted its own league within the
giant, and did not have a representetive teem in the Indus-
trial League. It did, however, play a nicked team from the
Tndustriel League and defevtei them 5 to 2. Still later in
the season the chamoions of the Leo League played the
champions of the Industrial L ends to determine the city
factory championship.

filthough noon«hour programs had been soonsored for
severel years, they had never been as extensive as in the
year lQlG. The reason for the extension of the progrsm was
the interest shown by the employees in the activities, and
the popularity of several new features. The program wes very
diversified and included such acti ities es boxing, wrestling,
recitetions, sermonettes, war talks, chalk talks, 09nd con-
certs, singers, and noted Speexers. An unusual feature of
these meetings was that no restrictions were placed on
smoking during the grogram.

The Leo indoor baseball team, which had easily won the
industrial league championship the grevious winter was barred
from competing in the league again in 1919. The reason given
by the members of the aeoocietion was that the heo teem was
composed of highly skilled ,layers, and the entrance of their
team in the leegue would result in unequal competition end a
loss of interest by both players and sgectators. It was also

necessary for the Eeo to abendgn their hope for a league of

45

their own, for all of the available space w-s being used
for other activities.

The Industrial Basketball League, which was organized
this year, included two eams from the Leo factory. The
strength of the Rec teams was again shown when one of them
won the championship and the other team placed second.

Several names were also played with teams outside the city

0
in which the Eco continued to show its superiority.
A significant happening of the Heo's recreation program
during the 1920 season is brought out in an article written
by the sports editor of the ”Rec Spirit".

“Have you got the baseball big yet? This is about the
time of the year wnen baseball fans ocgin to talk

about whats to follow for their amusement for the
summer. The writer has been having a vision of what

he believes would be an ideal arrangement that would
satisfy the most rabid fan. We wou;d like to see an
organization of a first class industrial league.
Composing this league would be two teams from the Rec,
two from the Olds, and one each from four other factories.
Three diamonds could be utilised, the Eeo's, the Olds‘,
and one on the North Side. Games could be scheduled so
that each Saturday at east one game would be played at
each end of the city. Get up a set of rules that will
aid the smaller factories in getting out good baseball
material and curb the two larger factories, the heo and
the olds, from getting all the "cream". We )elieve that
if some such program could be mapped out, considerable
more interest would oe displayed and greater attendance
had, than if we went ahead and organized a Reo league
of four or five teams and Kept the competition within
oni"yvn cord‘ines." (1)

In a later issue of the "Rec Spirit" it can be seen

that this suggestion was quite worth while.

A‘

(1) "Eco Spirit" April 1320, page 18
"Reo Spirit" Kay 1920, page ls

"heo baseball fans are to be introduced to a new
arrangement along baseball lines for this summer.
Instead of having a league within the fectory
confines, two tears representing the heo have
become members of the Lansing Industrial League.

As there alWays has oeen Keen rivalry between the
baseball players of the various industrial concerns
of the city, spirited contests can be looked for.
The Eco and the Olos are represented in the Indus-

trial Leaéue by two teams each, While the Uichigrn
Screw, Frudden Wheel, Gier Pressed Steel, and the
Auto Body will each have a representative team in
the field. Games are to be played each afternoon
at the Leo Fara, the Olds Iarh, and in the Earth
Side of the city." (l)

Other activities that were organized or expanded in
the Eco during the 1320 program were sand lot volleyball,
boWling, and the Lansing Industrial Field meet. This field
meet was held at the K.f.C. athletic field, and included
many entries from the different factories of Lansing. The
Olds won the meet and the Rec was the runner-up.

An interest arose within the Rec plant for playing
volleyball during the noon hour. Several nets were secured
and courts layed out for the development of this Sport. It
was hoped that a six or eight team league could be organ-
ized; later, these steps were taken.

Bowling had increased rapidly as a Reo sport. aFCh
year more t>ams were applying for entrance into the league.
This year it was necessary to organize another league in
order to efficiently care for the many new teams that were
anxious to participate in the program.

Another significant movement tool place in the Leo's

recreation program in ljil. This time it was the instituting

 

(13 "heo Spirit" Hay 1930, pace is

s
‘ V

47

of an eight team soft bell leeeue. Although they hove

been playing indoor besebsil for many years, this was the
first time they used the soft bell in p eying out—of-doors
in an orgnnized league. The gene is similpr to brsebail but

is plzyed on a ensller diamond, and the rules in regerd to

L

D

the pitching and the stealing oi brses are somewhat differ-
ent. The introduction {and eccegtnnce of this gene wz-s largely
due to the fact that less equipment, less s<ill, less space,
eni less physical activity were required then for baseball.

A baseball league see {150 organized to care for those who
were still skegticsl about the new gene. filthough the new
game was much more practiorl for the older employees of the
factory, it was usually these ”old timers" who were toe lest
to take up the new gene.

Another ediition to the clubhouse activities wrs a
lyceum course. The first number was held on Novemoer 2 ,
1921, and was composed of s groug of musicinns who were from
the Schubert Joncert Company. The clubhouse seating censcity
of 1700 was not large enough to take cere of the hure crowd
thet attended.

Only one new activity was introduced into the program
in 1923, and tnst was the starting of boxing and wrestling
blesses. ‘lthough boxing end wrestling had been one of the
annual events on the noon hour progrsm, no special Clesses
hpd been established for those desiring such treining. It
wss hoped thet these classes would be instrumentsl in

discovering new talent, and in improving the skill of those

is.
Cb

who appeared in tnc noon hour progrem during the Winter
Inonths.

”he popularity of softbsll with the workmen wss demon-

strated in 1933 when epnlicstions were received from four-

‘

tug‘ , . . ~ 7'11 ' ‘
ternnior admittrnce into the heo lesgue. inis made it

necessary to orgenize rnother leegue. ”hus, the final

arrangement wrs the establishing of a class A lengue of

)

U)

s 3 leegue consisting of six tee-ms.

eight teams, and s Clc
This yeer the factory did not conduct 8 bnsebrll leegue
witnin the ylent, out entered e representative team in the
industrial league. fill of the other activities were con-
tinuei end nwwu/ of them were egririenile red. Of the irr

dividual activities, however, bowling seemed to be the

The installation of 2 broalcestim: station in 1924
wrs a lerge and e pensive project. The call letters of the
station were W370, and many talented members of Reo's own
family entertained the surrounding count-;. fimong the
lenders of the entertainvent group were the Rec fiend, the
onnd quartet, and the band glee club. The studio WFS
located in the clubhouse and it was from this source that
thoussnd of peogle throughout the states received the pro-
grams broeicest by 7170. Although Lansing was toe cspitrl
of Tichigen end the home of e nunoer of large industries,
it did H)t heve e broadcesting stotion previous to the one

established by the Eco.

its
'5)

Four rmrv owliiuj 91183%51n-re anoilt lJl the cliflohouse

istrnt

U)
.3
(D
r.
w
‘7‘
t)
U

q
*5
(1
co"
’0

'J
r—J
)4
FW
‘9

+
ro

in 1925. This mov wr
increese in the number of
u.rcieli te in the ieo Bowling Lenjues. This meie a total

of eight slleys, which were being o‘ercted for the benefit
of the e ployces, but not to rehe money. A few statistics
"ethered t-om the 1924 season will illustrete the relation-
ship of the employer end the exployce in rcgerd to financing
the bowling alleys. During the year the alleys took in

~ ‘fii f ‘ p " 'V‘ . ,— ~ \ ' “ 1 ' i ‘ r V 1‘ V
VL,7~/0)L alter keying the iin bovo. The ceretsrer's solerv,

new pins, shellac, olish, repeirs choreeehle to last
seeson's weer Phi tepr, end score sweets cost $1,826.50.
This did not include yert: end repairs mede in the Eco
factory, or eryth ing for hert, light, or rent.

With the instolletion of the four new elleys, a totel
of five lee :ues or 4L te cams bow led weekly during the 1925
serson. fillowing six rembers to 9 teen, the to t: l nunher
participating in the orgenirei ieo leagues would equal 24C.

Having S3onsored athletic teams in prncticnlly every
snort in the industrial leagues, the same golicy wrs followed
whencnlindustriel volleyoali league wns organised in 1936.
R60 entered a strong team and won the city elm niionshic.
All the volleyoell games*vere played in the Patten oill
Junior High School.

The week of hay 6th, 1937, marked the tenth anniversary

of the onening of the [lee Clubhouse. In cornmernoreti on of the

event, s.1rr5e and varied grogrsm was PTrargEu. Included

in the :ctivities of the wnniverssry ween were singing,
addresses, movies, bend concerts, cards, athletic shows,
dances, and a sufficient number of other amusements to make
u; 2 full program.

Trend of Reo's Recrea tion 1rogr am After 19e7.

The yes r 1327 shyzs the first curtailment of the re cree-
ticn program of the Rec. It is impossible to give the exact
reason, but it could as easily construed as the first indica-
tion of the coming 0 f the gresent economic retrenchment. The
?ersonne1 Director of the Rec Motor Ce Comgsny exoressed the
thought thet W273 was sbcndonel because it was er gensive to
reintein, and bccruse it wrs impossible to nersure the benefits
derivel from its Operetion. fl rwuit tion from the Softerher

1127 issue of the "Reo Spirit“ give 9 brief statement dealing

I”?
,4
V
r.
1!)
1+
I0
(‘1'
1—»
U
:3

Witfl the ebenionmcnt of the comgsny's broaices,7
and the 380 :ipnd.

"The rruxngnent tars found it amiviseble, {kuc'Vsrious
ressons, to close the com3eny's brosdcesting stotion

z-rxi di sco11t1nuc the fee %->11d.

The Eco fiend led been established forr a greet
reny yeers and mms one of the out.t rding: sicel
orgeni7st1ons f L'nsing. bor more than 11m jCPJS it
had been under .he direction of Carl hell Dewey. It
had oeen in dewrhi for 211 loo 1 events of imuort nce
and scores of times hel gone out in the stete - crd
st tines out of the st t: - e- t:e of-1clrl 1us1121
crgs.izstion of lclwcs, corvrntions, etc.

1370 hod been estrhli"hrl for refrlv three yerro
{111 its 31c ;.rsns incl brouzht :1;_1elise Lmacis fro

rustrslia end Surcpenn countries. Hundrels of Heoites
found their first radio enJoyment in oome- mede crystal
sets, "itll which they "tuned in" on their 0-:n stz-‘tion.
From this first interest has develOped a considerable
radio interest at the R60, and hundreds of Eeoites

 

.4 LI?!" I...

.u'.l14‘- , x 1,
.r l I 1 >1. F

have displaced their first sets with radios that
ushe the enjoyment of the distant stations a
reelization." (1)

Another activity that disepgeared from the recreation
program of the heo Rotor Car Company was the heo Fair. That
the management was not glanning on aorndoning this activity
can be seen by an article which egpeared in the August issue
of the ”Rec Sgirit”.

‘Tt has been officially ennounced that there will be
no Peo Fair this year. This does not mean thpt there
will be no more feirs, but simgly that it wps thought
a "vacation‘ would be e gooi thin¢ even for our big
gogular celebration. There will groor0ly ce a "Digger
end better” fair in lass." \z)
however, this event was never realized as wrs su¢gested in
the quotation.

Althouéh geo teams heve constantly participated in the
city leagues 2nd industrial leagues, r definite movement
toward the discontinuing of athletic congetition within the
plant, and the sponsoring of representptive teams in the
city l€ngu3 is noticeable in tho. A 3irls' basketball team
was started this year and participated in the Lansing Girls'
Basketball Inter'City League. The company also sponsored a
boys' Junior bpsebell team in the City Junior League. Resides
these two new teams, the Rec continued to have regresentetive
teams in basketball, brseball, indoor baseoall, 2nd volley-
ball. host of thaother activities in the plant were continued
eni the bowliné lragde was again enlarged.

The only athletic league within the factory in l939 was

9 soft ball orrenization consisting of eight teams. A

 

n—
\ , P - . . ' . . u _ -.. “n w,
$1; ‘hou 9,1r1t ’.wegt6rbnifi lJ37, l_...,C_._e a
- “ r ' . . n -- (a - - -‘ '- F:
\k ) .'_:‘.'~\ J 3:}.1 r1 t‘ H iizA. UR} t' 1..){vr-l’. 1"," 5.8 k)

CI]

(‘7

continuous interest had been mrnifested in this sport since
its introduction into the Rec program in 1331. GJL “as the
only new sport to be added during this season. TvervOLe
interested was encouraged to turn in tne best score within
the last month, and then the eight highest scorers combeted
in a tournaient in order to determine the Leo golf Changi-
onsnip.

The years 133C, lBSl, and lQSZ can easily be discussed
in the sane paragra h because they regresent crectically the
same trend or movenent in the Reo's recreation program. The
athletic teams continued to participate in the city leagues,
the Rec 33ft Ball League continued to function, the bowling
league enJoyed its best season, and the movies were more
popular than ever. However, the other activities of the

factory and the cluohouse showed a gradual decrease. Teble

\-

ITI shows the number and tyse of educational rnd recrestional

.1.

”1

activities sgonsored by the Rec Motor our Company in lJlG,
1:34, and lDSl. These activities were secured by going
through the files of the "Rec Spirit" for each of those years

and listing the activities.

Table III

Rumber and Type of Educational and Recreational Activities

Sgonsored by the neo in 1916, 13:4, and 1351

Activities in 1916 Activities in 1924 : Activities in l?31

 

-- .-

 

 

Reo Band : Leo Band : hovies
: Noon flour fleeting

Noon Hour Meeting : Rifle Cluo : Bowling (wen & girl)
: Basketball '

Rifle Club ; Baseball : Basnetball (")
: Indoor Besecall '

Basxetball : Soft Ball : Clubhouse
: Kovies -

Baseball : heo Spirit : Rec Spirit
: Bowling

Indoor Baseball : unso station : Soft Ball
: Reo Apprentice Cluo

heo Picnic : Rec Fair : Girls Diamond Ball
: Lyceum Course

Fight Scnool : Checkers : Gold Tournament
: Reo Cliohouse

Reo Choral Society : Ticnics : Volleyball
: Art Guild

Reo Sp;rit : Volleyoall : Baseoall

Titel lC : 19 : 10

This table would indicate that there was a gradual
increase in the number and tyge of activities up to 1924, and
that some time after this date a decline took place. On more
careful inanection of the available records, it Was ascer-
tained that the decline did not start until 1927. A notice-
able change in the 1931 prOgram is the introduction of team
activities for girls and women. The three sports in which the

Women participate were oowling, basketball and diamond ball.

D
t

The bowling was exclusively a .eo activity, but the

basketball and diamond ball teams consiste' of both em-

ployees and outsiders. The last two mentioned teams played

in the city league and were sponsored by the Rec hotor

Car Company.

lecreation in the Other Industries of the Lansing Community.
The other industries never attempted to pronote as an

s

extensive r creation urogram es the Rec. However, several or

&

erable interest in providing some tyge of

H
0.

them did show cons'
recreational activity for their emyloyees. Included in this
group is the Olds Corporation.

The Olds sponsored reoresentative teams in basketball,
baseball, and indoor baseball, but the only leagues it had
within the factory were indoor baseball and bowling, and
later soft ball. The recreation program of the Olds Corpora-

tion for 193s is shown in Table IV.

Trble IV

The Recreation Program of the Olds Corgoretion for 1953

 

 

 

Type of Activity : Number of Participants
3yvling : 250
Golf : lot
Soft Bell a 150
Ken's inivnond Ball : 115
Girls' Diamond Ball : l3
Ken's Basketoall : 10
Girls' Basketball : 10
Total 7 7 546

 

This able shows thet the Olds enchsored seven tyyes of
recreationrl activity in 193;, end that there were hygroxi-
metely 546 active participents in their program. The four
lower activities in the above teble were representative teems
participating in the Lansing City Leagues.

Another industry of Lansing which has been active in
promoting recreation is the Motor Wheel Corporation. Although
it never had an organized recrestion program with the factory,
it has been active since lQl? in the programs soonsored by
the other recreationpl institutions and organizations of
lensing. Table V shows the recreational activities soonsored
by the Motor Wheel Corporation for 1952

K

(1) Personnel Dept., Olds Motor Car Corooration,Lansin;, Rich.

Table V

(1)

Recreational Activities Sponsored by the hotor Wheel, 1354

 

 

Tyge of Activity : Kumber of Tarticipants
Bowlirgg : 60
Baseball : 39
Basketball ; 10
Indoor Baseball : l4
Gymnasium C asses : 20

 

Total 5 = 143

 

The Rotor Wheel Corporation sponsored representative
teams in three different activities, and promoted a bowling
league consisting of employees. The company does not hav
any bowling alleys, so it is necessary for the em;loyees to
conduct their league on one of the commercial alleys of
Lansing. The gymnasium classes were coniucted in one of the
school gymnasiuns. Termission to use the school gymnasium
facilities one high Ler week was secured from the Lansing
Recreation department which has charge of administering
adult recreation in the school buildings.

The other larger industries of Lansing, such as the

Auto Body, Lansing Steel and Tool Comgany, *tlas Jrop -orge,

*_

ll . '\ ‘P '7' O I I
\1) Personnel nept., hotor wheel Corporation, LrnSirg, rich.

lensing Foundry, Prudden Wheel Corporation, Hichigan
Scren Company, and Fisher Body, confined their recrea-
tional activities to representative teams participating
in the city leagues in baseball, indoor baseball, and
basketball.

There are two main reasons why the other larger indus‘
tries of Lansing, mentioned above, confined their recrea-
tional activities to the sponsoring of representative teams
in the Lansing City League. The first reason is that the
companies or industries were not financially large enough
to appropriate a sum of money each year for the adminis-
tration of a satisfactory recreation program, and second,
the individual industries did not employ a sufficient number
Jf workers to deem it necessary or worth wnhie to institute
a recreation program within the industry.

A summary of industrial recreation in the Lansing
Community will show that the Rec has been very pro;ressive
in this field. From its very origin in 1904, when it
employed only 304 workers, it has promoted some type of
recreational activity. Ls the company expanded and employed
more men, this program was enlarged in order to offer recrea-
tional opportunities to the new employees. The policy of
conducting a recreational program for its employees was
carried out by the directors of the Rec because they were
aware from the first that a recreational program was a

valuable asset to the industry because of its influence on

the social relationships, labor turnover, and harpiness
and contentment of the Eco employees.

Although a director of recreation was emgloyed, the
employees were given the entire responsibility in the
organization and administration of the leagues in all the
soorts. The director of recreation acts as generel super-
visor of the sports program, and has complete charge of the
activities carried on in the Rec Clubhouse.

Throughout the develOpment of the recreation program
the Rec management has furnished practically all of the
facilities and finances. This policy, however, is not in
keeping with the practices of many of the other industries
of the United States, for these concerns feel that the
emgloyees agpreciate the recreational activities more if
they are allowed to share in the expense.

in analysis of the recreational activities promoted by
the Eco during the years 1915 to 1953 would lead one to
conclude that recreational activities must have a real
value, both from a recreational standpoint and a social con-
tact standboint. The thought is often expressed that social
contzcts result in a modification of attitudes, values, and
organization, and that the direction of the mooification
depends upon the situation and the leadership. If this is
true then there can be but little doubt that the attitudes
of the emplayees of the Rec, the Rec Family, and the Lansing
Community have been constructively modified by the recrea-

tion program of the Reo.

[1-1:
; e . 4

Perhaps the outstanding recreational project of the
Reo‘was the building of the Rec Clubhouse in 1317. It
was built to provide a community center for the Eeo Family,
and while admirably fulfilling this purpose, it had the
indirect influence of creating the following thought in the
minds of certain recreational leaders. "If it is good for
the Rec employees, it should be good for the other employees
of Lansing."

During normal economic conditions the Eco expended a
large sum of money each year in conducting the many recrea-
tional activities. Although no statistical data is available
dealing with the costs of the recreation program, one could
easily understand that a large sum of money would be required
to promote such activities as the Rec Familu picnics, the
fairs, the broadcasting station, the athletic program, and
the clubhouse. The Eco, however, found it necessary to cur-
tall the recreation program in 1947 and 1928 due to unfavor-
able economic conditions. Even after effecting a large
curtailment in the program it still offered a variety of
recreational activities to the Rec Family, at least enough
to promote numerous social contacts in a wholesome environ-
ment.

By Sponsoring representative teams in the Lansing City
Leagues the industries were able to furnish a certain amount
of wholesome active recreational activity to those workers
athletically inclined and wholesome passive recreation to

those workers enyoying the ones as onlookers. In addition

09

CC

to aiding the industry itself, both from the building of
a feeling of cOOperation and resgect between the emfiloyer
and the employees, and serving as a means of advertising
the company, the sponsoring of teams in the city-wide
recreation program aids in develoying a more cooyerative

feeling between the different institutions and organiza-

tions of the Lansing Community.

61

Jhrpter 1‘

TH? QT”"TCILTXT OF PUBLIC H.01T ATIOH IN TH” LANSING

C TI‘IIITY

Participation in rec reati1n is universal. It is so
necessary a phase of our daily life that, in addition to
many of our institutions like the church, the factory, and
the school, the community promotes a broad field of play
activities without direct charge to the players. The purpose
of a community recreation program is to invite universr
participation, so that all may share in the benefits. The
public recreation program seehs a better citizenship by
fostering play that is educational, and at the same time
filled with wholesome amusement.

Municippl Recreation in the United States.

 

Placing the responsibility of providing recreational
opportunities, for the people concerned, in the hands of a
piblic de,artment is a comparatively recent innovation in
the United States. The early development took place in the
form of a playground movement, which was given impetus by
the organization of a Playg round Association in 1306. Al-
though playgrounds were the chief concern of this ori':an niza—
tion during its early life, it soon reached out and aided
in deveIOping an enlarging other forms of recreation.

Recently the name of the Playground Association was
Changed to the Rational Recreation Association of Imericr.

This or; nization is prinw rily interested in furthering the

62

recreational Opportunities of every community in the
United States. It sends out field workers to the
lifferent cities to aid local units in planning pub—
licity campaigns, stirring up local interest, and in
giving practical aid to each municipality in organizing
its own recreation department.

In addition to aiding the different communities
directly, the National Recreation Association carried on
continuous research in the recreational field in endeavor-
ing to promote recreation on a more scientific scale. Its
Year Book summarizes and portrays the public recreation
situation of the entire Unitei States. Its 1951 report
shows that although 1350 was a year of business depression
the expenditures for recreation were ass,51s,194.ss, ex-
ceeding by approximately 95,000,COC the largest previous
amount reported spent for this purpose within a single
year. of this total nearly one third was spent'for land,
buildings and improvements. The increase in capital ex-
penditures reflected the tendency reported by many cities
in 1:30 to relieve unenployment among the citizens through
the expansiOn and development of recreational area and
facilities. The bond issue for recreation totalling
$6,573,420.99 passed in 41 cities is another indication
of this municipal policy. It is gratifying to note, on
the other hand, that these improvements were not accom~

panied by a reduction in the amount provided for leader—

ship, which shows an increase of more than @1,CCC,COC.LO
1)
over the previous year.
The Year Book also includes a summary of community

recreation in the United States for the year 1950. This

summary is presented in Taole VI.

Table VI

f Summary of Community Recreation in 1330

 

Item Number

 

 

Cities Reporting Sugervised -
Facilities : 980
kew Play Areas Opened in 1930 791
Total Number of Separate Play
Areas Reported :
Outdoor Playgrounds :
Recreation Buildings :
Indoor Fecreation Genters :
Athletic Fields :
Baseball diamonds :
Bathing Beaches :
Golf Courses :
Stadiums :
Summer Camps : 154
Swizming Fools : 1,034
Tennis Courts ' : 0,422
3

13,354
7,677
642
2,066
1,843
4,322
457
312

90

Ice SKating Areas 1,806
finiature Golf Courses 184
Ski Jumping 59
Toboggan Slides 221
Employed Recreation Leaders 24,949
Year Round Recreation Leaders 5,660
Volunteer Leaders 8,216
Persons Wnrolled in Training Course 10,029

-__ A.-
.-

(1) Year BooK of the Rational Recreation Association,
Recreation, June 1951, page 117

-rwr7

(3) Recreation, Volume ..., No. 1, June 1331, page 116

 

 

64

These figures show that public recreation promotion is
very extensive, and that the communities and facilities
mentioned do, no doubt, provide recreational Opportunities
for millions of people who would otherwise be shut off from
any type of wholesome recreation. he promotion of a recrea-
tional program, also, provides employment for a large number
of people either as leaders and supervisors, or as care shers
of the many buildings and grounds.

At the present time there is a lack of agreement among
recreation leaders as to the best method of edministering a
municipal recreation program. Que to the fact that a large
number of municipel departments are already established in
cities, there is a tendency to place the_re5pondibility of
administering the recreation program in one of them or a
combination of several. However, the past experience of some
municipalities shows that more care must be exercised in
placing the resyonsibility of administering the recreation
program in municipal departments. The perplexing problem of
recreational administration is briefly stated by Bowen and
Tltchell.

"Hany cities have maintained playgrounds where the
support has come through donations or popular subscrip-
tion, and in this case the body of people primarily
responsible for the interest has continued in control
of the form of a Board of Directors usually called a
Playground and Lecreation Association. The great
maJority of playgrounds, however, have been supported
by public taxes, and in this case there has been no
settled policy as to which municipal department should
be in control. As a result, several different plans of

management have been followed; in most cases the
authority has been vested in the school board, but the

J)
()1

pars board has also been given this responsibility,

and of late the idea of a separate recreation

commission has been growing in favor. Still another

plan that has been followed is to divide the authority

by allowing the schools to operate their own play-
grounds, and the park boards to control the play in

the public areas. The extreme of the divided type of
management has come when in the same city there would

oe found schools, pares, and private agencies conducting
recreation independently of exch other. Each 9f the

above plans has its Special adherents, but in general

it may be said that no one of them can be effective
without a considerable zmount of cooperation between the
different parties whose prOperties are bdng used. Possibly
a lack of cooperation in this respect, and the factor of
political interference, also, have been the two most
serious hendica,s that hove stood in the way of efficiency
in playground and recreation administration." (1}

Continuing this discussion the Year 8 oL of the

L)

Bationa Recreation Aesociation presents the different
possible combinations of municipal administration of a
recreation program, and the number of cities in tne United
States conducting each type. This information is shown in
Table VII.

Table VII

Fonrs of Nunicipal Recreation Administration
and Humber of Cities Lenorting

 

Kanaging Authority : Lumber of hgencies
Iark Comm'SSiOMS : 239
Playxround & Lecreation Comm. : :33
Roard of Education : 141
Iayors, City Council, City figrs. : 60
Farm and Recreation Commission : s
Tunicipal llayground Committees : 30
Department of Public Works : 15
Bd. of Ed. & City Authorities : 30
3d. of 7d. & Par; Board : 4
Recreation Comm. & School Boards : 5

(1) W. E. Kitchell & W.D. Bowen, Theory of Orjenired Play,p 66
I ‘3 ° 0 o .- ‘ x
lo) National Recreation Res. Recreation, June 19:1, p lsl

 

3‘ '— 0 a I; n : ‘- 5 t- I ' O . ‘z I I '_‘ I _‘ h
The table on TECFCuthh administration lhhletCo that

the number of cities in which recreation service is pro-

ri-

vided by park authorities is a;proxim:tely he sere 's in
the eras of playground and recreation boards and depart-
ments. In many of the former, however, the service is
limited to golf courses, swimming pools or other supervised
facilities, whereas playgrounds and other centers under
leadership are conducted by practically all recreation
commissions or boards. The importance of the recreation
board or department in providing year around programs is
indicated by the fact that in more than half of the cities
reporting one or m re full time year around recreation
leaders, the work is under this type of administration.

The euphasis placed on tne type of municipal depart-
ment through which the recreation program is administered,
is partly caused by the yearly fight for a budget large
enough to continue the recreation program. The.bud5et for
recreation promotion is often dependent on the desires and
interests of the department heads, rather than the needs of
the citV. Therefore, if the recreation pregram is placed in
the preper municipal department or in a department created
for that purpose, the recreational needs of the city will
be better understood and the fight for a workable budget
will be more earnest. Considerable progress has already
been made in removing the recreation budget from the hands
of politics and placing it in the hands of the people. This

progress is discussed by Arthur Williams of the National

Recreation Association.

"Iuolic su,;ort of playgrounds and recreation, with
legel ssnction by stete and‘city hes repidly repleced
drives, tag days and other means of private supgort.
Twenty states now hsve recreation eneoling laws.
Through Louular vote, connunities in 12 of these
states, which have referendum features in their laws,
may quic;ly secure 2 tax sugrortei recreation system
under leadership. City planning and zoning legislation
work hand in hand with recreation laws to insure gro-
visions for future play sgace." (l)

Althou;h the movement of organizing :nd rdriristeriig

trogrrm through a municipal deysrtment is

a recreation x
still in the experimental strge, considereole progress has

been achieved during the past 20 yesrs. Starting with only

a few leaders and little funds, the movement hes developed

to include 25,000 leaders, and an expenditure of @36,518,l§é.55.
During the early attempt to aiminister community recreation

it was necessary to raise the needed funds through drives

and teg days, but at the present time the people of many

cities are enJoying recreation promoted by a tex suggorted

recreation department.

¥

 

‘ ¢ .. o r . , ,»
(11.Arthur Williams, hecreetiog, Lay 1931, page 80

68

M

1he Recreation Movement in the City of Lansi

 

The at eileb 18 date dealing with the early recrention
reverent in Lansing: shows thr-t the program Was unorganized
end extremely meager. The earliest FCCTCLtiJD activity
mentioned was an opera and musicel show in 1865. Roller
skating became popular in 1:80, and the first vaudeville
theater WFS built in 19C5. Athletic lergues end team sports

(1)
VEFG never referred to in the dete.

It is imposs7ble to strte Wiether the Reo Motor Car
Company was the first industry in Lansing to realize the
value of an extensive recreation program, or vvhether it was
the first industrial concern eble to finance a large progren.
However, whatever the repson, it wrs the first industry in
Lansing to orgrnize 9nd maintain an extensive recreation
Irogrem.

Son etin=e between 1310 pni 1915 the Rec promoted its
o~n athletic lee gues within the factory, and representative
teams of the Leo played independent t”sns of Lansing and
nearby towns. The other 12 iger industries of Lansing Sponsored
independent terms, but none particippted in any type of
org- nixed le«gwmn Ifmvever, in 1913 the local lflfhflufi. too:
active steps in organizing an iniustria 1 leszue of indoor

12nseo211 sni basketball. The Zoo entered two teens in brsket-

bell end one in indoor b sebell in the 1EP£UG thrt yerr

"J
:3
L1.

it nrppeheu that the Leo terms were victorious in both of

the snorts.

 

75th frn'iveeru ry'fiditicnv, LarmflJp; $t9tx:.1ournel,
Tar H1911; 1..3t, ] 93C, jnssnint.

l

69

During the years 1917 eni 1918 the Lonsing Senators,
represented Lansing in s frofeni.or brsebnl] league.
There were no Lsnsirg indu~tria1 baseball lenrues orren—
ized these two years beceuee many of the leaders in
Lansing were desirous that Lensirg should be the hone of
a professionnl bnseb:11 club, and they did not wish to
sH-oxs r any organized rctivity thet nirht retard the success

rofess1onr1 or enlv tic 11. However, in 1313 when the

H)

the

L)

Pf}

professional teem Wes dishrrded, the Y.I.C.A. conducted on
eight teem industli ] b:seb ll league. The Leo also continued
its own league within the fnctory, hut it did not enter a
representative team in the industrial league. The terms which
did enter this league represented the following industries:
namely, Auto Body, Lansing Steel and Tool Congony, fitles
Drop Torre, Lensinf Foundry, Trudden mierl "or‘orrtlox Gier
Ilont Steel Company, Auto Wor s, end the Hicrivrn acres Compeiy
It \vus in 1L 0 that th‘ heo suggested the orrr' niza tion
of a city industrial league, consisting of two teams from
the Eco, two f1 om the Olds, and one each from four other
factories. The fou r other industries entering teams in the
league were Lichigen Screw, Prudden Lheel, Gier Tressed steel,
and the Auto Body. This league was discontinued in lgul end
19:; sec use prof ssional besebsll was agein attempted. The
Drofessionrl organization was called the Central Leegue and
consisted of teams from Lansing, Luding ton, Jackson, Iusregon,

fielanazoo, and Grand hagids. The team rein rese nti at Jackson

7C

drouged out during the last season enl the entire league

was discontinued at tne enl of the 19a2 season bec use of
financial losses due to the lac. of patronage by the people

f the cities in which the tears were established. In 1933
and 1944 industrial league baseball was resumed in Lansin .
An eight team league was conducted during these two years and
was called the Lansing Baseball League. The Rec and the Olds
each entered one team in the org nization.

An innovation of the 1935 baseball season was the intro-
duction of Junior baseball into the city leagues. These Junior
leagues consisted of players from Lansing and Test Lansing
under 16 years of age. Althouéh a few of the terms furnished
their own facilities such as balls and Date, the common
,ractice was to glay under the auspices of some industry or
merchant of either of the cities, with the backer furnishing
the necessary equipment. The Junior baseball organization
included two leagues of six teams each which were conducted
throughout tne first season.

111 of the industrial leagues continued to function
during the years 1926, 1927, and 193s, and a volleyball
league was aided to the program in 1926. Leagues were now
being conducted in basketball, indoor brseball, baseball, and
volleyball. Each user city-wide meetings were held at which
the officers of the leagues for the ensuing year would be

elected.

71

‘During all of these years it was necessrry for the
industries and the teams participating in these leagues
to pay all of the expenses of organization and promotion.
It was not until the early months of the year 1325 that a
group of men, interested in the advancement of amateur
athletics in Lansing, had a meeting in which they decided
to appeal to the city for aid in the financing of amateur
sports. The body was called the Lansing Recreation Council
and was composed of 26 members representing the following
industries and organizations of the City of Lansing: Lotor
Wheel, Reo, Qlds, Hichigan Screw, Central Temple House,

1-!
4
-.J

Fisher oody, Consumers Power Company, Kovo ngine Company,
Lansing Paris Department, Board of Education, Durant Motors,
Ltlas Drop Forge, Harden Oil, and the community welfare
society. It was the opinion of this council that more could
be accomplished by bringing all the amateur sports under one
head. R. Lee Bancroft, city forester and parhs director,

was named chairman of the committee which was to draw up the
budget and the plans that were to be presented to the city
.council. It was hoped by the recreation council that all
Sports which had heretofore been managed under independent
auspices could be united and placed on an amateur basis under
the Jurisdiction of a city—wide organization. The city was to
assist tne organization by providing funds for the actual
expenses of conducting the programs, an; the athletic fields

( ‘

for play. Working with chairmen Bancroft was J. opeelman,

aw

Jirector of Physical education in the public schools of

72

Lansing, and Alex Urquhart, Jr., Treasurer of tne Lansing
Baseball League. It was planned to carry on the work under
the park department and so a code of rules was drawn up in
order that the park board would Know exactly under what
conditions athletics would be presented. The budget committee
invited organizations such as the Junior Baseball League,
Industrial Basketball and Baseball Leagues,and others pro-
noting amateur athletics in the city to communicate to them
the amount that would be necessary to carry on their

(1)
respective programs.

The committee was successful in its appeal to the city
council for funds, and so a permanent organization was evolved.
At a meeting held in the Leo Clubhouse later in the year 1928
they decided to adopt the name of the Lansing Athletic Feder-

ation. At this same meeting they drew u* a constitution for

the organization and in Article II they state their motive in
organizing.

”The obJect of this organization shall be to foster,
organize, and promote non~commercialized competitive
athletics upon or within playfields, parks, buildings,
and recreational centers owned, controlled or under the
'urisdiction of the Pars Board or Board of Education of
he City of Lansing." (s)

In order to carry out its obJectivcs as outlined above,
the Federation attempted to

l. Unite all competitive teams of the same class into
leagues.

2. Aid the constituent organizations or individuals
of this federation in their effort to improve and
place wholesome athletic activities within the
reach of all.

 

(1) Newspaper Clippings, Files of the Rec Recreation dept.

I . \ _.. . ... _ _ A __

3. To worK toward a unified year~ar0und recreational
program for the City of Lansing.

As the recreation program exprnded the Lansing Athletic
federation realized that a full time director was necessary,
who withhis training and experience could take the work
already done by them and build solidly upon it. This step was
taxen in 19e9 when at a Joint meeting of the Board of Educa-
tion, the Far. Board, a representative of the Rational Recrea-
tion Association, and the Kayor, the Department of Lecreation
became a fact and Mr. August Fischer was hired as the director.

// Thus, after many years of excerimentation and trial by
industries, civic groups, and the Y.L.C.A. the industrial and
other institutional leaders of Lansing were able to unite the
recreational facilities of the city, and to place them under

the Jurisdiction of the newly orgrnized Department of Recrea-

0‘
d
H-
d
m

tion. The staff of the Lansing Recreation Department
inception consisted of hr. August Fischer, Director, Yrs. E. J.
Gleason, Secretary, Hrs. H. h. Harvey, in charge of girls' eni
women's activities, and the part-time plajground and sports
directors.

The organization of the new department was a progress've
step in the furmiering of recreational Opportunitirs for
everyone in the Lansing_community. During the years from 1915
to 1958 the recreational opportunities for the worker and
his family were considerable restricted. In most cases it was

only the larger industries that were able to expend the

'74

arount of money that Was necess ry to secure the needed
facilities and to carry out a recrertion grogram. The
play activities were limited to a few teem games, and the
greater part of the LGsin5 nogulation could take part in
the activity only as passive participants.

The school buildings of Lansing had never been open
to the Lansing community as community centers, though they
were used as recreation centers by certain industries and
organizations in l936. The records of the Rec show that an
industrial volleyball league was carried on in Prttengill
Junior High School during that season. Although the organi-
zation of the Lansing Recreation Jepartment in 1929 resulted
in the promotion of an extensive adult recreation program in
the school gymnasiums of the Lansing schools, it did not
result in the opening of the school buildings as community
centers.in the true Sense of the wor d.

Playgrounds had been conducted in several of the porgs
of Lansing since 1911. During the first two years in which
the playgrounds were directed, the entire financial e :endi-
turns for the ogeration of these ylaygrounds was secured
through donations. In 1913 the Department of Feixs contributed
its first financial aid to the playground project. Since
1913 there has been a great increase in the number and extent
of playgrounds and playground activities. Under the Juris-
diction of the Lansing Recreation Department in 1932, 17
school and park playgrounds carried on both child and pdult

reCIEational activities during the summer months.

75

The park facilities were a valuable asset to the
Lansing Community but they had little to offer in the
field of recreation during the winter months. The value of
using the school buildings as recreation centers had already
been demonstrated by many of the cities and comnunities
throughout the United States. So when public Lressure was
brought to bear on the City Council and the Board of Educa-
tion, the FGSULt was the uniting of the park and school
facilities under one degartnent with the City of Lansing
and the Board of Ed cation dividing the cost of the adminis-
tration and supervision of the unified program. The employ-
ment of a Director of Recreation resulted in an immediate
enlargement and exoansion of the existing program. The
success of this endeavor is Shown in Table VII through a
I,resentation of the tyge and extend of organized team
leagues promoted during the first year the Jirector was

employed.

Table

Type and Extent of Team Games Sponsored by
the Lansing Recreation Department -

1930

76

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type of Activity : Number Games : Players Spectators
of Teams
Baseball Leagues
Capital City 7 vs 110 : 124,200
Public Service : 5 58 120 : 41,150
Civic ° 6 31 95 : 5,409
Industrial . 4 24 50 : 9,250
Junior Leagues : 15 94 150 10,790
ngfietball League
Class A . 8 56 80 : 18,175
Class B T 8 56 80 3,175
Class C ' 8 56 80 : 3,639
Indoor Baseball
Class A 5 35 75 : 3,670
Class 3 6 4E ‘ 90 ° 3,748
Soccer League
One League : 6 : 23 180 21,750
Let's lhjggggd 3811:
One League : 7 : 35 105 3,983
Golf League
Three Leagues : 24 168 192
Girls} Basketball
Two Leagues : a 37 100 7,650
Total : 120 614 : 1537 : 267,099

(1) First finnual Report, Dept. of Recreation,

Yichigan, 1930

*—

Lansing,

77

This table indicates that during the first year of
the existence of the Lansing Recreation Department, it
promoted athletic leagues in 7 different sports. Included
in the program were 120 teams consistirg of 1,537 active
participants. Of all the sports promoted baseball was by far
the most extensive. Its program consisted of 5 leagues, or
4? teams, who played 279 games witnessed by approximately
191,000 spectators.

0f the five leagues of baseball, four were composed of
teams representing practically every industry in the City of
Lansing. The leagues assumed the titled of Capital City
League, Public Service League, Civic League, and Industrial

League. The leagues were organized on the oasis of the skill
of the players who were participating. Four playing fields
were used in carrying out the baseball program: namely,
Sycamore Park, Bancroft Park, Municipal Park, and Marshall
Field.

The heo, besides carrying on its own program within the
factory, entered representative teams in the Junior beseball
league, men's industrial basaetball league, and indoor base-
nall league. In addition the heo Motor Car Company was given
one period per week at the Lansing Central High School
Gymnasium to carry on whatever type of program it should
desire. It also sponsored a girls' basretball team in the
Class A League of the girls' basretball program.

3esides the team games included in Table VII the Lansing

Department of hecreation introduced or enlarged the following

78

activities: namely, playgrounds, tennis, swimming, ice
skating, movies, holiday celebrations, dramatics, marble
tournaments, archery, horseshoes, and social recreation
evenings.

Of the new games promoted by the Department of Recrea-
tion diamond ball was perhaps the most popular. This game
is also Known as playground bail, and kitten ball. It is
similar to the game of baseoall, but is played with a softer
ball, on a smaller area, and with similar rules. This game
has an advantage over baseball in that it requires less
equipment, less play space, less physical saill, and is
better suited to older men and girls. Juring the first season
a seven team league of women players was conducted. To show
that this game was rapidly develOping as a girls' sport, a
quotation is presented from the "First Annual Report of the
Department of Recreation".

"Much time was given to the encouragement of girls to
participate in the game of diamond ball wnich resulted
in seven teams maaing a league. These girls' teams
played every evening to considerable crowds. Early in
July the Department borrowed four flood lights from
Michigan State College and bleachers from the Rec Notor
Car Company, and with the help of the Park Jepartment,
which was very generous in fixing an excellent field,
teams were ready to play their games under flood lights.
The game so played was tremendously pOpular. It was one
of the outstanding projects of the whole season's work.
Fanny Park on East Michigan Avenue was the field chosen
for this purpose. With the continued increase of Spec-
tators and automobiles, it became a.problem to accommo-
date those interested. It was not unusual to have 1,500

people witness a game, with a record attendance of
2,50U at the championship matches.

79

The playing of girls soft ball under floor lights
was the first instance of its kind in this state or
in the states adjoining,and it is predicted that this
will grow into Jne of the manor summer sports.” (1)

The acceptance of diamond ball both from the active
participant and the spectator viewroint can be seen from
statistics gathered from the progran two years later. In
1932 there was a men's league consisting of 6 teams and 75
players, who played 47 games, witnessed by approximately
42,000 specta+ors, and two girls' leagues consisting of 9
teams and 126 players, who played 44 games, witnessed by

\2)
about 57,000 spectators.

The large number of recreational activities promoted by
the Lansing Recreation hepartment made possible some form of
public recreation for every age group in Lansing. The play‘
grounds furnished supervised recreation and education for
children. The city parks, with their large spacious grounds
and variety of equipment, made possible recreational activi-
ties for people of all ages. The Junior and adult baseball,
basketball, volleyball, and diamond ball leagues offered
recreational opportunities for men and women of all ages who
are athletically inclined. The social recreation clubs, Which
were organized throughout the city, furnished a less strenu-
ous type of recreation for those who could no longer take
part in athletic contests. And,in adiition to the oppor-

tunities for active participation in recreational activities,

there were innumerable chances for passiv participation as

(1) First Annual keport, Dept. of Lecreation, Lansing,MiCh.
193C

(3) Third Annual Report. Jept. of Recreation, Lansing, Hich.
1932

60

spectators at the many diamond ball, baseball, volleyball, and
basketball contest, the playground pageants, and the play-
ground circuses.

[f filthough the Lansing Recreation Department had done a
worthy piece of worK during its three years of existence,

its progress was temporarily halted in 1933 when the Board

of Education withdrew its financial support. If public pressure
is not strong enough to influence the Board to favorably recon-
sider its move, it will result in the school playgrounds and
gymnasiums being closed to the people of Lansing as recrea-
tional centers.

2 A still later move in regard to the Lansing Recreation
Frogram was the discharging of the Director of Recreation.
This was due partly to economic reasons and partly to certain
intangible reasons. During the years 1932 and 1953 there
developed an antagonism between certain industrial leaders
and the Director of hecreation; the exact cause or the merits
of the cause<annot be determined, but it was in regard to the
sponsoring of baseball leagues. The Lansing State Journal in
one of its editorials expressed the thought that because the
Director had done a worthy and democratic Job of organizing
and administering a full recreation program for both children
and adults, and had not bowed to the narrow wants of a few
leaders interested primarily in baseball, these few were
selfishly taking advantage of the economic conditions by

(1)

being instrumental in bringing about his discharge.

 

 

(l) Lansin~ State Journal, May is, 1353, page 2

m
'5)

81

After the discharge of the Director, the Lansing
Recreation Jepartment continued to operate under the same
title, but its program was administered through the Parks
Department. H. Lee Bancroft, Director of Tarhs, supervised

the men's program, and Hrs. H. Harvey was retained as a

J

director of women's recreation. They continued to conduct as
broad a recreation program as was possible with the limited
amo nt of funds.

r The summarization of municipal recreation in Lansing
and other cities of the United States shows that the promotion
of a broad program of public recreation by a municipal depart-
ment is a comparatively recent movement. After the organization
of the Playground Association in 1906, the movement developed
rapidly in all part of the United States. Although there is
some doubt as to the best method of administering a recreation
program, the 1931 Year Book shows that tne majority of the
cities arried on their program either through the parks
commission or a playground and recreation commission. The type
of department through which the recreation program is adminis-
tered often determines the amount of success the recreation

director will have in securing a large enough budget to carry
on an adequate recreation program.

\QThe recreational opportunities offered the people of the
Lansing Community previous to 1915 were extremely meagre and

unorganized. The industries of Lansing were the first group to

organize and carry out any type of organized recreation, while

1i

. f 5...! .|.I~ i w»

b2

the local Y-H.C.A. was the first organization to promote
athletic leagues on a citywwide basis. It carried on leagues
in indoor baseball and basketball for interested organisa-
tions. A baseball league was also started by the Y.h.C.A.

in 1919. Each year after this the athletic leagues were
conducted and new sports were added, so that by 1925 leagues
were being conducted in basketball, indoor baseball, baseball,
junior baseball, and volleyball.

City-wide meetings were held each year in which the
officers of the leagues for the ensuing year would be elected.
These meetings were attended by interested business and indus-
trial leaders of Lansing who usually had to pay most of the
cost of conducting the leagues. It was in 1925 that this group
appealed to the City of Lansing for aid in financing amateur
sports. It was this same group who realised the need of a full
time recreation director and were influencial in bringing
Yr. Fischer to Lansing, as well as organizing the Lansing
Recreation Jeoartment.

The Dublic recreation program was administered through
the newly organized decreation Jepartment which had a Joint
aresronsibility to the Park Board and the Board of Education.
Immediately the recreation opportunities of the Lansing
Community were increased and may new actiiities were intro-
duced. The school buildings were opened to the community rs
recreation centers, several new slaygroundswere Opened, more
baseball and basketoall leagues were conducted, diamond ball

was introiuced, new athletic fields were secured, tennis courts

c3

were built, and many other minor activities were deVGlOped.
Although the Recreation Jepartment had promoted a large
number of recreational activities, and had made possible some
tyne of recreation for every age group in Lansing, its work
was greatly hampered in 1935; first, when tne Board of
Tducation withdrew its financial supgort; and seond, when
the Lansing Recreation director was released. After the
discharge of the Director, the Lansing Recreation Jepartment
continued to Operate under the szme title, but its program

was administered thriugh the Parks Department.

Chegter V
R?.ATIOK OF IIJUSTRIAL AID IFULI CIPAL HTCXZATlcl E THE

P ‘7‘? "p'Y/fi f‘ VH1 mY
1th..) JJ J v1.4; 1‘1 I A

H

In order to show the relationship 01 industrial and

s.

municigal recreation in the Lansing Community it becomes
necessary to offer a drfinition of the term community.

At the present time sociologists are not in full agreement

(1)

as to the definition of the term community. Jr. humford,
in his course “Principles of Community Jevelopment" states,

"The community may be defined as that interrelationship
and interaction of institutions, voluntary organizations,
and informal associate life, within a particular geo-
graohic area, that constitutes a self-s ufficing local
unit of huyan assoc 1 tion witnin which personality and
the grimary human wants and interests of life are
developed and exeressed. In its more complete and
effective form it is an area with the nurbcr of families
necessary to suoport an accredited twelve grade school
system,to afford the principle seconomic and professional
services and opportunities, to provideo adeouate facili-
ties for religi1ous and recreational activities, to

insure the necessary protection against disease and
illness, and to ::ive expression to the hither forms of
aesthetic life.(2)

Although the City of Lansing, according to the definition
above, may be COWDFiSLd of two or three separate communities,
for purpose of clarity in the presentation f the materials
of this chapter, the term Lansing Community will be used when
referring to those geoples, institutions, organizations, and
informal associate life included within the geograghic area

of the municipality of the City of Lansing. ,

 

 

(ll See also J. F. Steiner, Community or.qanization, page l8;
A. W. Wood, Cornunity‘ucoofC:s, page 26; R. h. Maclver,
gggiety: Its Structure and Chan.2 e, pp 9-12

(2) Jr.‘?ben Yumford, Dept. of Sociology, Michigan State
College, East Lansing, hichigan

 

 

 

‘IP,! . !.‘ld

85

Relationship of Public and ?rivate “ecreation to Community

Organization.

 

Among the fundamental institutions of any community are
the family, school, cnurcn, government, and industry. The
long exberience of the human race has demonstrated the suit-
ability of these institutions to provide the satisfaction of
men's major needs. In the course of their history these insti-
tutions have been modified in various ways, but their essen-
tial nature has been unchanged.

In addition to the institutions of the community there
are certain voluntary organizations and activities growing out
of the institutions or closely related to them, such as the
Chamber of Commerce, the Y.£.C.4., the luncheon clubs,
scouting, women's clubs, private philanthropic organizations,
family case worn, and ooth public and private recreation.

Public recreational agencies are those which provide
recreational activities and facilities for all of the peOple
of the community without direct charged to the participants.
The two largest agencies of this type are the schools and
the municipal paras departments. The funds for promoting
public recreation zre usually raised by taxation, although
gifts of large sums of money or of recreational facilities,
such as playgrounds, are not uncommon.

The movement for providing public recreational facilities
in the comnunities of the United btates is a recent develop-

ment. The years from 1305 to 1912 with sseu an extensive

0.
0')

development of recreational centers in nany of the larger
cities. Then the war, with its emphasis upon communal
activities did much to increase the number of community
centers all over the country. According to the ‘Social werk
Yearboox", ”community centers or social centers are places
where neighoors may gather for civic, social, recreational,
cultural, or other purpose regardless of race, politic l

-\
(L2
WersuasiOn,or religious affiliation”. Although the community

r
center idea still exists the methods of administration have
changed. The present trend in the method of providing community
recreation is through uniting the facilities of the community
centers(if there are any) and schools with thOse of the parks
and playgrounds and placing them under a central d partment
financed by public taxation. The reasons fir values associated
with this procedure are as follows: It (1) eliminates a large
amount of duplication of facilities, (2) makes possible a
larger and fuller program for all the people, (3) distributes
and lowers the cost, (4) provides wholesome recrertional oppor-
tunieies for those who might otherwise be neglected, and (5)
tends to result in better organization and administration of
the recreational facilities of the community.

Private recreational agencies include such institutions
and organizations as have an interest in recreation from the
standpoint of the participation and benefits of their members.

Included in this category are the home, the church, clubs,

 

 

(i) Frel s. Hall, $30191 Year Boon, 1929, page 93

 

fraternal groups, civic associations, busiress or €nlcft10n
and industries.

The imoortsnce of the home es a priVQte recreational

agency is shown by a quotation from the "Ionnnl Course In Play”

"The home has not yet rerlized its possibilities as a
recreation agency nor the value of play as a build er of
family life. The home hes the prinary function of in-
stilling right ideals of recreation W1ich vill iersist
throu3h life gni mrfe for citiz enstip - but further, it
has a defiz1ite resl'3onsibilit J in providing recreation
activitifiaa for rmnnbers 3f the flrnily smni for nei/Wlborhood
grougs which Will help strez then fnnily life. Thro~grh
hone play pnd music, dramrticc, story'tellin; and read-
ing algnil, tEn: love: f fkuxi ani tfi1e love n 1
closer family sends and furnish 2n invrlue. le e uirrent
for lFtGF life.(l)

!
.9 euty draw

The rooi travelled by the churth as a :rivate rccree-

. - -~ r-.~ -- f‘d \ 'rw- r ‘11 ‘ I "
ll'hfil arencx Les 1 CC! lon, .rc rJufn. The C3n uC ii: of

v V

recreations activities by a church or in a church was one
time considered a sin. The change in the attitude of the

geogle toward the churc h :8 a grivatt recreational agency is

briefly and accurately sh wn in the "Social Work Yearbook".

"Church recreation has travelled a long road. Starting
when recreation of any sort was considered ungodly, it
cane ne: t to be look 61 upon with indifference, and then
as "chit" to lure young peogle to the church. Only
recently has it oegun to teke its rightful place in
church programs as a necessary part of every well-
rounded life. Churches are now coming to see Wholesome
recreation as a. pert of tqeir ministry. Church recrea-
tianal activities are me inly :ocial and few directors
of rec rertion are ew11l3yed by individual chuzche‘ '(s)

Of the remaining krivrte recreational agencies, incustry
has the greatest influence on the sociml wlf e of the

c3mmunity. The responsibilities of industrial employers to

 

 

 

(ll Tloy3r3uni and Recrcet13n :ss3c. of R'erica, 1-e J3rvcl
33o” e 1n llry, 3:. l75-ld4.
(3) V"»d . ”:11, Social iorr leer Soon, 132:, page 31

their corir‘ounities is 6- problem vieu‘re-i viifferentl'r oy

sociolo: sts end ecrrption lenders. fiuotetio1s will he
presented showing ooth extreuus in regard to the responsi-
bility of industry to the community in which it exists, for
the grovision of recreation:l f3c ilities vnd opportunities
to its erployees.

The following quotation (<51 ves the point of Viezrr of
those Who oeliev e that industries do owe 9 great responsi-
bility to the coxmunity in the orovision of recreational
fecilities end activities for its cm loye es

"Whether it pays or not, recreation for workers is an
ooiigrtion Cfl1iJnh18try as one of'tflreinstitut11ns of
society dealing with individual men and women who are
not only workers but constituent members of every other
basic institution. I-acchi1 es are to us used oy industry
eni scragged oy it, nen have ooligetions to home, church,
state and community, 1113-11 these institutions the1 selves
are screnred to the degree their memoers ere. Industry
is one of many imgortant functions, it is true, but not
important enough to sacrifice unnecessarily the best
things in life for it. it is an obligation on industry to
send men and women out from factory walls fit to perform
other tests. If democracy means yerticiyetion by all in
the extensive t851s of religion, governwent, child~bearing,
and the handing on of the rerit e: of lecrning, then the
first requisite is a possibility of individual participa*
tion. That possioility is removed when hen contletely
fatigued in oouy, mind, and Spirit stumble home to stupid
existence until work again dcmmos their utmost energies.
Industry to ;lo 3 its part and to avoid the charge of
being sycoyhsntic must provide that recreation wnich is
esentiel to a human existence." (1)

In co11tre41ction to the noove goint of View Wl t‘11
'fere LC to the responsibility of iniustry, to the community

in which it exists, for orcvioing recreatio;nl fecilities to

__

 

 

 

\ m1 -" "V ‘O 'P'f‘+. ‘ n "‘"‘v " OY‘I\ \ IN“ 1 vr‘
“w of? 3'8W hdfl 30121110n.finwra. “re.1'fN€;-1 F'ia te

A “‘ " 'W ‘ m?“ h ‘ V \ -. r ‘ fl ‘1. r ‘ " "1 '11 . "I f‘ 1 “‘.‘/"
,:;1.I.(_,1€F‘-2 L119. ULCV’EL “1101!,” 4:101, Jr}! ..ltttt‘, LLJVC’

\J'IO E'l:- 67.

¢&

its employees, are those listed by Joel, in his attempt to

S U!

nmerize the various obgections that hwve been set forth

by various writers in this field.

i.

r‘

t, .

J3
0

()1

There is some douot rs to the conclusion that we
rust look to industry itself, rather than to otr r
egencies, for leads rshio in the provision for
leisure. There is another view of the rstter nhich
would maintain that emgloyers' obli5-tloxs end with
the geyment of 5301 wn5es and the -1ovision of con-

.L
.,

tinuoos em5lcynent eno of healthful conoitions of
worn. Accoroin5 to this theory, the recreation
grogram should be develo; eo by other private
z5enc ties or by the community itself.

man's eseociates during his leisure hours ere 115
riends, ano1nsy or nm1r1iot be his fellAM'fflFL lolees.
en are freer anu lezs constroineu in their leisure
than in their worl. It could be ur5ei effectively,
tr erefore, tnnt tris very fundamental uifference
be t veen tne ole.y 5roup ano the indust rinl 5rou5 es
re5erd both their constituents aid their function,
would involve a necc- ry civision of l bor betw een
the a5encies res o: tle for reel eeti01, on the one
hand, enl worh, on the other.

The motives of industrial concerns in meintaining
eleoo1 te rovisions for re reetion may in some
instrnces e o5en to question. It is often done in
oruer to hold the workers at 9 time wnen they ere
cvored in the process of va5e- bar5einin5. Jhen the
ables are turned, tnd the en1loyers have the adven-
, welfere work ray oe red; ced.

|
J
l
I)

wlso recreation facilities can be yroviied only by
- ‘ r5er t.oliehments, which can afforo to name
such inxcstrents. This means an unequel distribution
of og,ortunities ior wholesome leisure among the
people of the cmnnnunity, for the runnoer of people
worcirg for the smaller or n2r5inal concerns is very
.LQILSC-

A final er5uzrsent whi oh is iJerhers more co5ent then
any we have rentioned is that the worsin5 people
themselves, So far as their oginions becore articu-
late tnrou5h their t121e unions, the often declared
their opposition to the benevolent efforts of en.-
plOyers on behalf of recreation and other forms of
welfare.” (1)

 

 

- V—vr’

*1

. . " 1 ‘1‘. f,_ , A ',‘/r
rtlnné n. .1oo.g {o'11u1-1tv E‘PQLCEV-J Ere. :55n-.1;z

-.-. --—.—.—.~——-

JL

The first quotation, inferrin5 that irdustries do
have a great responsibility to their community for the gro-
vision of rpcreetionel facilities, would be true in a mining
town or any similar type of locality in which the whole
community is organized around this one industry. However, in
9 community consistin5 of diversified industries, institu-
tions, end organizations, this responsibility would be
lessened to the extent of cooperation with the other insti-
tutions end or5cnizations of the community in the promotion
of a unified puolic recreation pro5ram.

The second quotation, which lists the limitations of
industries in providing recreational og5ortunities for their
employees, consists, to a considerable extent, of unproven
theories. Of the five points or limitations stated, the
fourth which states that recreation facilities can only be
provided by the lar5er establishments, is the only one that
can be considered as hevin5 sufficient evidence to be
accepted. Although some of the other limitations mi5ht be
true in s,eciel cases, they rre subjective in nature and are
often used we a means of 5r05a5erde by both recreational
agencies and lrbor unions.

The present tendency or relatiOnship of industries and
the communities in Which they exist, in the provision of
recreational facilities for the emgloyees, as shown by other
studies of recreation in iniustry, indicates a decregse in

the number and ty5e of activities offered within the industry

:31

(1)

and more participation in city-wide activities. Either
the industries unite into a federa_tion for promoting
recreational activities, or they participate in too program
promoted by the public recreation agency. If the federation
type of organization is used, the activities usually cons is t
of athletic leagues in baseoall, basketoall, indoor beseoall,
oowlirg, and industrial trecg and field meets. If the public
recreation department tjle of organization is used a more
extensive community recreation program is promoted. In
addition to the conducting of the above nentioned league,
playgrounds, circuses, Jaceants, water carnivals, sociel
recreation classes, movies, and gymnasium ole see are often

included in the frogram.

_.- \-- _

Relationship of the_§rivate Lecreation Program of the Eco

. .- -..-n—...

 

 

3nd Other deustrlgs to the Fuolic fiecrgftion Egggrem of
the Lansing_§3&gunitz.
The {revious prges have shown th1.t there is a la

number of organizations in every community promoting some
type of recreational activity. It is evident thrt sore type
of relationshig arises between these organizations and the
public recreation departnent when they ere both promoting
recreg_tional nativities in the 82 e community, and 1hr 13MB
s ne g rou: of people. The problem, then, is not to discover

Whether there is a relationship, but rather to determine the

(1) Fred 3. Hrl , op.cit. 39g 223
ArtJNJr W. iVood, f“orrnuiity lirob1€m<s,pngxe 296
ch 7’ V? CFSLIIE'2titulz-IHJ $.J 111 strntitui of Elewn'rourds

tlnh, gages lI-su

 

 

~—*~._“~

extent of reciprocation taking place, and to reconmend
certain changes in the existing order to frcilitate future
interactions.

The chapters dealing with the private recrertional
programs of the industries and the public recreational
program of the municipal department stated, in chronological
order, the recreational developments of these two institu-
tions in the Lansing Connunity. It showed that the industries
of lensing, especially the Rec, promoted many types of
recreation in the Lansing Community before any attempt was
made to organize and proeote public recreation. Although
these early activities were Sponsored, primarily, for the
industrial employees and their families, they sometimes were
opened to the entire Lansing Community. Industrial recreation
activities which were not confined to the industrial workers
and their families included such items as band concerts,
broadcasting programs, fair, and clubhouse activities.

The industries while not being ecle to fulfill the social
and recreational needs of the entire Lansing Community served
as pioneers in promoting many of these activities. The indus-
tries served as pioneers for the public recreation department
of Lansing in the promotion of the following social and
recreational activities; the organizing and administering of
baseball, basketball, volleyball, softball, and bowling
leagues; the directing of a large fair; and the erecting of

a large recreation building.

In addition to serving as pioneers, the industrial
leaders coonereted with the leaders of other private
recreational agencies in their attempt to promote and en-
large the recreational opportunities of the Lansing Community.
This cooperation was manifested when the Y.I.C.L. organized
athletic leagues in baseball, basketball, and indoor baseball.
This step by the Y.H.C.A. and the work of the group of citizens
promoting the public playgrounds exemplified the recent social
trend of promoting recreation on a community-wide basis. The
cooneretion and leadership of the industrial organizations was
further shown when the Lansing Recreation Council met and
formed a constitution organizing the Lansing Athletic federa-
tion. This federation wzs composed almost entirely of indus-
triel leaders interested in enlarging the recreational Oppor-
tunities of the Lansing Community. They realized that Lansing
posnessed zrlermindance f physical 23ml geogrephicrl.ifleatures
which could be made useful for recreational purposes. They
also realized that a trained, full-time recreation director
was needed to develop these features and to administer a
unifiei year-around recreation program. After the hecreotion
Director was secured and the Lansing Lecreetion Department was
0 genized, the Lansing Athletic Fede'etion ceased to tzhe the

=roject

.(4

initiative in program planning. The entire recreational
of the City of Lansing was plecei in the hands of the new
Director, and the organizations represented in the LGsing
Athletic Federation took the same part in the progrfm ;s any

of the other private agencies of the Lansing Community

9A

farticipnting in the actidities offered by the Recreation
Jefertment.

freviaus to the orgenizetion of the Yunicital Recreation
Deghrtment the gublic recreetiousl activities were limited
to certain term gzucs znd playgrouni activities. The people
emrlojei by the larger private agencies, sucn .s the Leo,
were the only groups hrvihg recreational cogortunities
promJtei for them. Aftur the inceetion of the Recreation
Department, innumerable social and recreational activities
were pr07ide1 for every Age grout and agency, irresoective
of size, position, or finrncial status.

The Lansing Recreation cesartrent was able to promote a
Varienlsocial end recreation yrogrcm because they had cortrol
of a large number of well equipped facilities. Included in
this group were:

1. Seventeen sch3ol 9nd perk playgrounds situated at
strategic positions over the city. These were eoui},ed with
the rypzrntus desced essential to modern ploy erees.

d. Five athletic fielus whiCh have little equipment, out
serve as areas for tennis courts, basebell diemonis, end

diamond ocll fields.

('9'

3. Twelve cunis courts besides those constructed and
located in the city parxs.
4. Eight school gymn;siums which were used esgecially in

conducting the winter program.

- ' nl 13!, .I

 

‘-

5. A nunicioal out— of-uoors SWiMLi

loores Terk.
There can be little doubt that the

had a greet opportunity and respons

Re

ib

“6

i

and controlling all these facilities.

The mere mentioning of these recr

pool located at

creation Jeoartment

lit/ in 0"”"nl ing

eetionnl equipments

and areas conJures in the res der's mind numerous services

thet might be rendered to the public.

The Recreation Depart-

ment was cuicr in eKing advantage of its opoortunities end

the result was an extended rnd diversif

They continued to conduct orgenized

eu

ied recreation orosrer.

A s.

iletic leagues, but

they increased both the number of terms participrting and the

ty3es of activity offered. The department organized these

leagues by issuing 9 all to the L’.Sinn Comrnuri y inforni 55

any grougs wishing to organize one

representative to a meeting to dis

011:3

:5

sconsor a teen, to send a

all phases of operzting

the prrticulzr league. In this matter leagues were organized

1

and conducted in baseball, diamond bell, indoor baseball,

oessetoell, and soccer. The response

tions and grou
rn:i the nu ber of lerjues vhich wer
Besides these lergues the dep:

tourrcmerts of vsriwu: types for be

*i

1

orseuhoe tournsrents, while the on

I
5...

for tennis, morbles, and Kites. The
ments were press m;te .1 with ribbons

rewszds for their effort en”: skill.

8

"S

q
A.

of the private orgrniz:-

w

tw

he pdults were ixter sted, prir's fits,

'ld

.
"J l

-s of the city determined the nunber of teens

l.ronoted in e'ch Sport.

en cozAuctcd city-side
children 2nd aiults.

in golf, tennis, "nd
ren tmre Host entousiesti

nrers of these tourne-

on

Sore of these tournaments were condo ted on the school

' ‘ ' ‘ V i. I V‘ '1 ‘ “‘ W r 7F" c x " f‘ ' , \ ,- .‘N y". " '"'..‘ .
E- I i I) 11.:- I‘LL i.- 15.j5- I DUI-1'1 t) O lELeS 8 LI; 'f :V ,: [ (lul‘d \, an E I 6, \vi.€ I} 11:1 \.16 r
V w ‘ ' ' v, ". "'f‘: ‘ "' F ’ “’ r ‘11 I v- u + '.
leadership for e ge-1uu oi tau mesis e~LH surne , end they
‘ ‘ ‘ \" f ‘0‘". . ‘ i“ . vv: ' n r. -‘ /1 . (p
epomiuce.gnd cmnuneed Sicnzufinwities eslznmucr it,

drrmaties, athletic tests, teem genes, rhvthhs, quiet gores,
{rd folK drncing. The scrool playgrounds promoted olpy
primarily for the children, while tne park playgrounds
provided recreational activity for both children and adults.
Certain of hese para playgrounds put on motion picture
shows, twice each ween, for the entertainment of the people
residing in that section of the city. And some of the play-
grounds also had charge of the summer activities of the
women's social recreation clubs which were orgrnized originally
es mother's recreation groups but which now heve many of the
business and working girls. These groups included in their
programs social and active g m s, hendcraft, music, and
dramatiCs. In addition to the dramatics carried on by these
_sociel grougs, the Lansing L€creation Jegartment soonsors a
cityéwide contest of one-act plays. These one-act play contests
are promoted in such the some manner as the gems tournaments.
The Lansing Recreation Jeoartmen t, realizing the need
and value of trained leaders, conducted on eiyht week institute
in social recreation leadership. The obJective of this close.
wrs to train the leaders of the trivote organizations of the
Lansing Community in the art and technique of directing socipl

recreetion evenings, so tlet they might be better able to

Q
\2

orgnnize and lirect social recreation activities in their
respective groups. In addition to lending their own groups
these trained leaders were more qualified to cooperate and
aid the Lansing Department in promoting its program. When
requests came to the desertment for lenders of sociel genes,
these private lesders could be sent on the mission whenever
it wee impossible for either of the directors to go themselves.
The Recreation Jegartment also rendered service to any
individual or group seeking information on any recreational
problens confronting tnem,such as equipment and genes for
picnic groups, organization of field day grograms, gromoting

of private tournaments, end the settling of any disputes

These services of the Lansing Recreation Jegartmcnt were
taken advantage of in many ways by the industries and other
,rivste orgrnizations of the Lansing Community. The writer
reelizes thrt a large amount of duglicetion vould take place
if an attemgt were made to show how each industry or ,rivate
organization used the recreational services offered by the
Recreation Department. Therefore, in presenting the relction-
ships that took place between certain of the industries of
the Lensing Contdnity and the Recreation Jegartment, it will
be assumed that these ssme relationships were either possible
or toon place with the other grivete organizations.

When the Lansing Recreation Jepsrtment issued a cell to
the Lansing Community inviting the different grougs to send
representatives to a meeting held for the purpose of organising

a citvaide league in baseball, the Motor Wheel Corporetion

sent a regresentative. Class A and B beseoall leagues were
orgrnized and the Hotor Wheel had a representative team in
each lengue.

When the call was issued for the organizing of the
diamond bell leagues the Clds rotor Corporation sent a
representative. The Olds entered a retresentntive men‘s team
in the men's league, and a representative girls' team in the
girls' league. They also coniucted an inter-plant league on
their own grounds.

During the winter months a group of middle-aged men
working for the Rec Motor Car Company decided they would like
to indulge in some physical recreational activity. They called
the Eec'eation Jepartment and reserved a school gymnasium for
one class period a week.

A group of girls working in the State ijitol decided
they would like to play tennis after getting out of work. They
realized, however, that all the tennis courts would be in use
at that time of the day if they went to the park. However, the
Recreation Department makes provisions for this type of e
situation, and so all the girls had to do wrs to call the
office and reserve 9 tennis court for the hour they wished
to play.

Juring the hot summer months the men and women working
in the different industries desired to take a refresning swim
after getting out of work. The Lansing Recreation Jepartment
conducted a Special session for these grougs at its out-of-

door swimming pool located 9t Hoores Earn.

H. in}. 1.11:: 1‘

99

1f the Lansing hairy desired to hold a baseball
practice or a game they would call the Recreation
Department and an available field would be assigned to
them for that purpose. If they decided to organize and
conduct an intra-murel league within the plant the Depart—
ment would cooperate with them in organizaing the league
and in providing a play area.

Whenever any of the philanthropic organizations of
Lansing promoted field days or picnics for the children of
the Lansing Community the Recreation hepartment would always
be asked to plan the recreational features of the program and
to furnish equipment an” leadership.

In showing that the relationships existing between the
private amd public recreation organizations in the Lansing
Community are in keeping with the aims and objective of
Public Reoreetion in general, a quotation will be presented
from Bowen and Kitchell.

dThe community besides promoting the public type of play
18 a big help in the promotion of semi-public ect1v1t1es.
This help is evidenced in granting the use of public
facilities to organized groups. Thus we find the indus-
trial and other teams receiving permits to use the athletic
fields in the playgrounds and pares, and certain groups
receiving consent to use the gymnasiums or rooms of the
social service building for meetings. Often the play staff
volunteers to furnish officials, give advice, and to aid
in orgrnization." (l)

is to the first recommendation to the recreational

situation in Lansing, the writer wishes to point out that

upon the organization of the Lensing Lecreation Department

 

 

(l) N. P. Bowen d h. D. litchell, Theory of Org nixed

PL/
1’ '1- e ‘1', p age 4“

wost of the private orgtnizotions cersed to cerry on any
type of intra—mural recreation. According to many of the
studies dealing with public and private recreation, the
ideal set-up would result in each private organization
participating in the leagues and tournaments promoted on
e comr‘unity-widc oasis, and at the some time carrying on
recreational ectivities in its respective plant, using ootb
its own facilities zr-nd the ftcilities of the public depart-
ment. Lithough thrt type of set-up would be more adeptrble
to a larger community it does seem plausible thnt the larger
industries such as the Leo, the Olds, and the Rotor Wheel
could have participated in the city-wide program as well as
coniucted intra-mural programs in their plants. J. 3. Nash
has the following comments to nine on the relation of the
industrinl Efli the public recreation departments:

“The industrial recreation progrom should not be set

up as P thing apart in any community. It should be

considered as one of the edrainistretion arms of a city

recreation department.'qhenever pOScible tne industrial

recreation leaders should use city athletic fields,

city swimming pools, city golf courses and summer

Camps as a part of their regular facilities. EVcn the

use of the city facilities Should not deter industries
from proviiing some fccilities ne:r the plant.” (1)

Second, the fret that the Lansing hecreetion uepartnent
was orguniaed so that it wrs depex’ident on the Board of
Educntion and the City Council for funds resulte; in the

curteilment thet too: piece. If the leaders who brought

about the orgenibation of the department could have secured

 

 

CL).T.'%.LE:sh, The Organizatiorlerni:Ehninistrrtion of
Tleygrounds end hecreation, Tags 494

 

 

 

101

a mill tax from the taxpayers of the Lansing Dommunity,
the Lansing Recreation department would have been sure of
a workable budget each year, at least as long as it was in
the favor of tne voters of the com unity.

This idea of being in favor with the voters brings up
the third and last recommendation. A recreation departnent
is a puolic agency and it must keep the community inforned
of the work it is performing. There is little doubt but
that the Director of the Lansing hecreation Jegartment did
a very commendable Job during his tenure of office, but
observations and discussions with peoyle closely connected
with recreation work in Lansing would lead one to believe
that his public relations prOgram was not very bnoad nor
diplomatic. There were innumerable opportunities in the
Lansing Community for a man holding public office to address
clubs and societies. He could also have used the daily paper
to greater advantage, not neceSSarily by telling what he and
his department were doing out rather by discussing the work
of the playgrounds, the social recreation clubs, and the
assistant and part-time leaders.

i summary of the relation of industrial and Municipal
recreation in the Lansing Community shows that there are a
large number of definite relationships eyisting. ! co ~unity
consists of several fundamental institutions and many volun-
tary organiZations and groups. Included in tmise minor organi-

zations are both buolic and private recreational agencies.

While public recreation agencies provided recreational
activities and facilities for all the peOple of the
community, the private recreational agencies confined their
activities to members of their own group. Industries were
included in the category of private recreational agencies.
Although there is a lack of agreement as to what extent
industries should promote recreational activities, studies
of recreation in industry indicate that there is a trend to
decrease the number and type of activities offered within
the industry and to participate more in the city-wide
activities. The pronoting of a large number of recreational
activities in the same cinnunity and among the same people
b both public and private recreational agencies make it
evident that relationships exist between these tw agencies
of the Lansing Community. This relation was more definitely
manifested when the industries served as pioneers in the
promotion of several recreational activities, when they
cooperated with the e forts of the Y.E.C.A., when they aided
in organizing the Lansing Recreation Department, and when
they participated in the activities promoted by that new
department. After a careful analysis of the recreational
conditions in the United States and in the city of Lansing,
the writer offers three recommendations to the existing
recreational situation of the Lansing Community, nanely:
(l) The leaders of private organizations should be encouraged
to organize and administer intra-mural recreation programs

as well as participate in the recreational activities promote;

l C“ 3

by the Lansing Recreation separtnent. (e) The public
department should case use of a City Recreation Wnabling
'ct, and attempt to secure a hill tax to support public
recreation. (3) The Director and employees of the Lansing
Recreatijn Department should carry out a continuous prOgram
of puclic relations, similar to other institutions and

organizations.

Chapter VI

G”KCLUSIOR

The enormous amount of leisure time, ooth voluntary
end enforced, which the people of the nrtion have today is
creating a proolem of the greatest importance. Leaders in
education, industry, governrent, Fri other fields agree thpt
this new leisure, if wisely spent, presents a rich Oppor-
tunity for individual happiness and develOpment. 3 great
rrsgoneibility, therefore, rests upon the community and the
orgzniy tions of the community to provide both suitable
training for the wise use of leisure and adequate Oppor-
tunities for engoyment and participation in wholesone
recreational activities.

Mflwn Commerciel recreation enterprises, always seeding big
dividends, really anticipated this leisure problem and gave
opportunity for recreation before the communities were
stirred into making appropriatiors for this purpose. Commer-
cial recreation had a great opportunity, but largely failed
because it considered profits first of all.

firivate and puclic recreationa agencies having demon-
strated their value and their function are gradually being
accepted by the communities of the United States.

Of the private recreationel agencies, this study is
primarily interested in the industrial recreation tyge. A

study carried out by the U. 3. Bureau of Lebor, dealing with

 

 

105

shows that three—fourths of the

industrial recreation,
430 establishments included in the survey conducted both
for their

nd outioor recreational activities
that proved successful for the

indoor a
employees; and the sports
fornation of leagues within the factory were baseball,

volleyball, and bowling.

playground ball, basxetball,
ast experience of industrial concerns has demonstrated
a

the fact that in organizing a program of Sports Within
egainst developing a few good
This is es-

1
factory it is well to guard a
player.

Ilayers at the expense of the average ,
peci'lly true where professional and semi-professional teams
a number of good joos in the plant are

L,

J

are emphasized. If
irofessional and semi-professional athletes,
for ambitious and

oc.upied by
the rnorale,

dPDE
es. There-

. :er of weakening
conscientious employees sometimes feel that their Oppor-

there is
are leSaened because they are not athlet“
cit-wide partici—

tunities
it is important that the ideal of pie:

fore,

pation is not Lost.
In many cases where the industries have maintained play-
the original

C.

grounds through their public welfare department,
aim of catering to their employees has been enlarged into a
”110 II] this

neighbor_ood proyect, with directed play for
philanthropic capacity the industry allies itself with the

nmunity when some of the recreation

l
mun101pal recreation prograni This alliance is exactly what
_l
happened in the Lansing Co
and facilities of the (so Hotor Car Company and

activities

other industries of Lansing were opened to the Lansing
Cormuni ty.

The Lansing Community, in adiit i on to having: a
strategic location in regard to agriculture, industry, and
commerce, also has advantageous location in regard t) the
promotion of recreation. First, the te.perature of Lansing
is such as to stimulate a diversified recreational program
both in summer and in winter. Second, the Grand River,
originating near Jscnson, and meeting the Tedar River in
Lansing, enhances the beauty of the city in many places and
serves as a playground for those interested in water sports.
And third, the topography is of such a nature as to more
possible easy develOpment of a large nurber of parks and
playgrounds along these rivers.

Lansing has been an industrial center ever since the
first saw mill Was established by Hon. James Seymore in
1843. During the last twenty years Lansing has risen to a
point where, industrially, it is one of the leading cities
of the state. In l929 approximately one hundred and eighty
manufacturing concerns were doing business and they were
employing on the average of ld,COt men and women. Labor
conditions up to 1929 were quite Satisfactoryl There has been
a feeling of respect and cooperation between the employer
and the employee. The industries realizing that the training
of new worxers is an expensive process, have encouraged long
tenure by giving awards to their employees. This feeling of

good will has been fostered through the employer taling a

107

real intere t in the employees, and giving such coopera-
tion es was necessary for the best welfare of all concerned.
This cooperation is best exemplified by the work being done
by the welfare and recreation departments of many of the
larger industries.

Of the industrial concerns in Lansing p casting recrea-
tion, the Eco T'fiotor Car inorgany sponsorei the largest and

FDSt extensive recreat' The Eco Xotor Car Company

...;
a
:5
d
1
L I
(7 J
*3
p1

was organized in 19(4, and production was started under the
roof of one smnll building with 504 Ken employed. ioday the
shops of the company have a total floor space of more thln
52 acres, and during normal economic conditions more than
5,CCL men and women are on the payroll.

The directors of the Beo rotor Car Company were aware
from the very first that a recreation program was a valuable
asset to the company because of its influence on labor turn-
over, social relationships, and happiness rnd contentment of
the employees. Therefore, in addition to paying average wrges
the Eco has always offered a large number of social and
recreational opportunities to its employees and their
families.

Although the Rec recreation program is aiministered
through a special department established for this purpose,
the employees are given almost the entire responsibility in
the organization and administration of the leagues in such

orts as bowling, baseoail, volleyball, and basketball. The

C:
N)

FCJ’

v

director of Reo's recreation program has charge of the

1C8

activities of the clubhouse end acts as a leader and
advisor in the orgpnization of athletic comyetition within
the factory.

The study carried out by the U. S. Labor Bureau showed
that of the 430 establishments included in their survey, a

nrge majority of the industries financed their recrestion
program through employee associvtions or other types of
orgenizetion in which the employees raid nearly the entire
cost. The heo's method of finzncing its recreation program is
quite contradictory to the policies and proceiures of these
concerns, in that by means of a special yearly epprOpriation
it pays nesrly the entire cost.

The first issue of tee "Reo Spiritfl as well as interviews
with some of the ”old timers" cf Lensing, hes Shown that Reo
conducted recreational activities in baseball, besketball,
indoor baseball, bend, picnics, and noon—hJur meetings, during
1915 or previous to this uete. It also showed that of the six
activities mentioned above, the only One to continue until
1934 was baskethnll.

Jurihg the years from 1915 to 1927 severrl new recrea-
tionel ectivities were introduced into the Eco recreetion
program, and mphy of those xlremdy established were enlergcd.
The new recreationrl activities introluceu during this gerici
were, namely: "Leo Sgirit", Reo Rif'e club, Rec Clubhause, Rco

fl 1 . I " ' " ‘ .' T "’ . ’ ‘ . r . ‘ " 1 . Q )4. i v ‘\ ,« u .‘
m~1r, rcn o Olelhg, notion gictuies, volleyocll, soft csll,

lyceum courses, Pnu n oroeuc:sting strtiOh..The Leo conducted

10274

athletic leagues of beseooll, basketoell, softooll, bowling,
end volleyball within the fpctory, and sponsored a repre-
sentative team in each of the sports. This representntive
team played in the city industrial leagues and egpinst inde-
pendent teams of Lsnsing end nearby towns. The other activi-

ties such es motion pictures, lyceum courses, cards and

I1}

nd rendin”, and the orosdcasting station

v
,v-K
'd

billiards, lounging
were located in the Rec Cluohouse, end administered from
this point.

The year 1927 witnessed the first curteilment of tne
recreation program of the Eco. The activities that were dis-
continued tnst year were as follows: the Rec Bend, noon-hour
meetings, men's boseoell, Rec Fair, and the Rec oroodcssting
Station. The exect reason for the abondonment of the recres-
tionol activities could not be determined, Out it might be
construed as the first indicstions of the coming of the
present economic conditions. Although severnl sctivities were
discontinued, this period also represents the introduction of
several new activities into the heo recreation program, and a
shift from the conductirg of an independent athletic league
program within the plent to participation in a community
athletic teem program. The new tear genes thet were introduced
include-"l girls' cesretbsll, girls' bowling, Junior bese‘oell,
golf, and girls' diamond bell. The years lQSC, 1931 and 1932
show a continuetion of the seme trend. Rrpresentetive teams
participeted in the city leagues, and the only lepgues con-

ducted within the factory were softball and bowling. The

Ill-III I."
. . . l‘s

‘1

activities which were being conducted in 1931 include

movies, bOWlinq, bcsketcell, clubhouse activities, "heo
Spirit”, softbrll, diamond bell, volleyosli, brseb ll, 2nd

golf tournements.

Of the other industries of Lensing conducting recreation
progress the oils and the liotor Wrecl were tne foremost. The
Olds coniuctei leagues within their factory in softb ll,
indoor oaseosll, and bowling, and sponsored representative
teams in the city and industriel leagues. Although Lotor
wheel did not conduct 9 program within the plant, it WES very
active and progressive in the recrestion movenent in the City
of Lonsing, 2nd sponsored representative teens in nearly
every league that was orgznized. The other industries of
Lpnsing confined their recreational activities to Sponsoring
representative terms in the city end industrial leagues, in
holding plant picnics, and conducting tournenents for the
office workers in such Sports as golf ani tennis.

Puolic recreational agencies di fer from priVPte
recreational orgenizetions in that their purpose is to invite
universnl perticipntion without direct charge to the plryers.
[lthough the movement of providing conrunity recreation is a
recent innovation in the United States, it has developed
repidly, especiolly since the oruenisrtion of the Intionel
Lecrestion Associetion of finerica. This es ocietion is
interested in furthering the recreational o;portinitics of
e'ery community in the United States. Its Year Eook summarizes

the public recreation situstion of the entire United Strtes,

111

and includes topics dealing with recreational expenditures,
recreational facilities, recreational leadership, rnd
recreational aiminist ation. hec re; tion leaders do not agree
as to the best method of administering a municipal recreation
urogram and this variation is shown by tne number of differ-
ent tyges of municipal departments and the combination of
municipal degartments reported in the 1950 Year Book. The
emphasis mol cel on th e tyne of municipal department t? “roigh
which the recreation program is administered is partly caused
by the yearly fight for a budget. Although the budgets of
many nunic ipal recreation departments are still subject to
political manipulation, the tendency in many cities is to
yrovide a mill-tax sugyorted recreation department.
Though only a small amount of data are ave ila ble de: l n;

with the early yuolic recreation movement of the City of
ansing, it has been definitely rscertained that the Lansing
VJY.3.A. organized an industrial league in indoor baseball
ard " asset)ill in 1918 And that during the years from 1918

*ublic recreational activitie es of the Lansing

*4

to 1928 the
community were confined to industrial athletic lefirueo and

playground activities fin; JUCCd by grivate olbaniz~t1ons. Then
in the year 1925 a group of men interested in the advancement

of amateur athletics in Lansing o ganised the LGsing Athletic

Federation anti secured fina ial aid from the Tity Council.
As the 13ublic rec ation program expanded the Lvr ns in:

athletic Feieration realiatd tnrt a full time director we

necessary, who with his training and experience could take

 

llJlnIPI‘ r23 3...“.

14d)"; . .
u . .

 

the worn already done and build solidly u,on it. This step
was taken in 1929 when st 8 Joint meeting of the Board of
Tducstion, the Isrk Board, 3 -epresentative of he Intionel
Recreation As oc ation, and the Kayor, the Lansing De.;rtme nt
of Lecreption became 9 feet and Fr. August F;scher was hired
as the Director. Trie orga nizetion of the new department was a
‘FO”FoohlVP step in tne furthering of recreational opporuni~
ties for the Lansing Comwunity. During the years from 1915
to 1326 the recreation ongortunities of the worner end his
fanily were limited to 2 few team games, and the greater pert
of the Lansing pepuletion could tece port in the activity
only as passive participants.

During the first year the Director Vss emiloyedr neny
new activities were introduced into the public recreation

rogrem The department promoted athletic leagues in 7

I
to

different sports. Included in these leagues were lEfi teams

nts. Baseball Wrs by for

31)

consisting of 1,557d active particip
the most exte :sive of the indivi lutl sorts. The ‘onseosll
program consisted of 5 leagues, or 40 teams who played 279
games witnessed by r orolim,tely 191, LLO spectators. Besiles
the teem games mentioned above, the Lensing Recreation
De ertment intriducei or enler5ed tne following ecti ities,
ncmely: playgrounds, tennis, swimming, ice ska otinT, movies,
holiisy celebrations, drsmstics, marble tournaments, archery,
horseshoe, and social recreation evenings

during the yeers l93l end 1963 tne Recreation Depertment

continuel to increase its pr grem. However, in 1933 its

113

progress was tenporerily holted when pert of its finenciel
eid was withdrawn, end the directorship wrs discontinued.
Having traced the development of industrial and munici-
pal recreation in the Lansing Community, the newt proceiure
is to deterrine their relationships, and to recoymend certsin
chsnges in the existing order. k comnunity consists of
several fundnmentel instutitions and many voluntary orgenize-
tions and groups, such es the Chsmber of Commerce, scoutin5,
luncheon clubs, and both public and private recrertionel
agencies. The Rec Motor Car Company end the other industries
of Lansing Community ere included in the private recreetion
group. The industries of Lensing promoted several types of
recreation in this community before any attempt was made to
organize and promote public recreation. The industries
served as pioneers for the public recreation.department of
Lansing in the promotion of basketball, volleyball, softball,
:nd bowlin5 leagues; the directing of a lsr5e fair; and tne
erecting of a large recreation building. In sddition to
serving es pioneers the industrial leaders of Lansing
coopera‘ed with the Lansing Y.H.C.A. when it organized
athletic leagues on s community—wide basis. And finally, the
industrisl leaders were influenciel in securing a recreation
director for the City of Lansing, end in orgrnizing a munici-
prl recreation department. Upon the inception of the Lansing

Recreation nepsrtment 9 large number of social and recree-

tionel opportunities were mile available for every age group

114

and agency of the Lansing Community irrespective of size
or financial status. This new degartment was able to
promote a varied recreation program because it had control
of a large number of facilities which included school and
park playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts, school
gymnasiuns, and out-of-door swim ing facilities.

By having control of the many recreational facilities
in the city, the Lansing Recreation oepartment was aOle to
render a large number of services to the people in the
Community. These services were provided for the people in
Lansing in the following manner: (1) 3y organizing and
administering city wide athletic leagues in baseball,basket-
ball, diamond ball, indoor baseball and soccer; (2) By
developing and administering supervised playgrounds during
the summer months; (5} B, conducting tourmaments in golf,
tennis, horseshoes, marbles, and kite flying; (4) 3y organ-
izing and supervising social recreation clubs; (5) By pro-
viding training in social recreation leadership; and (a)

By serving individuals or groups secxing information on
recreational problems.

The above mentionei services were talen advantcge of in
many ways by the industrial and other private organizations of
the LGsing Community. Jhen an industrial concern desired to
Sponsor a team in any of the city-wide athletic leagues, they

from their concern to the general

fleeting held for this pur.oee. when a group of men Wished

to secure : gymnesiun for recreetionsl purposes, they celled
ecreation oepertnent end male a reservztion.

Then any orgsniyecion desired to hold 3 gsne practice or tO'

conduct run entre-riirel lergnxzinithin ttmxir giant, iflxey

(+-

nis z&?nrer e

\v

secured a pier area from the Depsrtment. In
continuous relationship was uenife”ted between the industries

V

end the Municipal recreetion de‘

J

ertment of the Lansing
Community.

uding three recommendations ere offered to toe

O
5"

II; CO}
existing recreztionrl situation in the Lansing Conmunity.
Virst, tne leeders of private orgrnizptions should be
encouraged to sdrinisto intra-ndrel recreation programs rs
well as perticioete in the recreetiorel activities promoted
by tne Lfinsing hecreation Jepsrtment. Second, the ,ublic
deysrtment could make use of on Tngbling Pct rnd gttempt to
secure a mill tox to sujgort puolic recreation. find lest,
the Director and employees of the Lensing Recreation oepert-
nent should eerry out 2 continuous procrem of guolio relrtions.
These recommendations, if cerried throtzn, would incrspse the
relat'onsnips of industries with the municioel defsrtment,
insure a diversified recreation frogrnm, and estoolish the

Lansimj Recreation Deosrtment es 9 permenent orgnnirption.

E3 7‘1» for. wa 1‘11}?

[2.1.4 UJ...n.‘

 

.4 . . to T _ 1
4.9;“.5, :0 L.- J

i
Wnykoop, Eel

. A V‘ ‘ ' ”V, 1
Bower, u. r. end ritcnei
.' ‘ I ‘ a“. 4 a
.1. L. .karres gill no.

Bowen, W. E. end Mitchell, K. D. - Practice of OCL_U1¢9 Elev
A- S. Barnes 2nd Co., I.Y. 1933

Jewey, John - Jemoerocv and Zdzcetion

 

1 x

no r;iir n Co., i.y. 19;;

._ ,. ' , n2 ,r.
«dJiM3 meat and ooc1rl onen.e
‘I

Ix'vv 1.011;? end Liens-id h. unitn, 11.0., 4.. L. -Lflxl:

r r'r 7* W + 4 -n . -.
r, r. - iLC :urrn 'se.or in Iruustry

 

‘ I
7'. 'u ' , 3 ‘1" r_ ’ .
:x30son, (T. A. - .:or: -rti; F lt‘x
"r‘ '1'1 - A ‘ V‘O J -
J :‘v‘ J. LL'I I '0 0 0 1L. 4.6

Kooer and Hayhurst - Industrie l Het-ltn
E. fileliston's sons and Co., Pnilelelpnie, l9e4

 

1.

sensing State Journal - L'I MIL“ and Its Yesterday
Lensirég;3tete dOU1WMCL,LEHuiI€” ljicn. .huu. l, 1936

May, H. L. and Petgen, D. - Leisure end Its Use

 

 

 

.. x. ' T 1 ‘» . - A,- 4- I r r~ . » I - . i . : ‘ ‘ h " f“
Lean, d. J3. - Tne Lkgfjllxctlflrlflul admiruxatrgtiewi of ii V'
Grounds znl .ecreetion
a \ ‘ . A ». . . r! , ‘ " ' "\
A". o (J- . )'" l- "L, I") - . i ‘1 J O ’ - O O l -4 -2 '7

 

Fettern, 3. N. - N6' 1 L15 f3 nivil14at;on
ICU: ILLF‘T' 3.2-, :vo‘ir- 19;:

 

'Y ‘ 1 -~. - i . . . ' ’. - -~ P '» . - ' - 7V. v 1 f"
iiéo-31n;i rni njfirefithLAfoQTJ- o; nneric;,- ..on.cl course
-lrx E . ’n '.I [J ‘ r, 1" . r: l" ‘C‘ V 1 l ‘ C
If: _; if \f 4;. U. Heinz...) 8-1L; uDo, i". I. l9.ou
M

Rainwater, C. T. — The ?l;y Hovement in the United Strtes
Universitj of Gnioego lress, Chicago, lag;

\J

 

“Ipieiercy in Buslne s

 

 

L

C
r?

f.

..
r-4 L,
I

'1 H
P?

0

IT:

‘J-

1-“

:V

('51?

’1‘.

.1

...-J

L-«J .

- 1

...,

(2 '
I

I'

F1 o

rn

(

(.J

o

v

y

o

O

I, J

r

FJ

k;

 

Steiner J. ;. — Community Organizetion
" “ ” T V 1970
L J _,o g. . n,.‘.‘

‘Jillizntg .I. F. - TYA:T‘rin;iflee of lrgddcv].13iioetion
.‘J. 43. .jpunders an}. ’39-, 13;_112‘-l€l:)hl?, 131:3

 

‘l‘l‘l

117

PericdicalsL_

” A Baseball Game To Increase Production" -
Industrial management. Vol. 77, Jan. 1929, page 63.

 

" wrigley Dosen't Apoligize For Welfare Work" -
Industrial management. Vol. 27, March,l929, pp.501-502.

” Promoting Employee Teamwork And Welfare Without Paternalism",
Industrial management. Vol. 71, march, 1926, pp.146-l50.

"Outdoor Recreation For Industrial Employees”. -
Monthly labor Review. Vol. 24, may, 1927, pp. 867-882.

 

” Indoor Recreation For Industrial Employees”. -
Mbnthly Labor ReviewL Vol. 25, Sept.,1925, PP.465-478.

' Responsibility Of Industry For Recreation.” -
The Recreation magazine. V01. 22, 1928, page 8.

” Industrial Recreation In Los Angeles". -
The Recreation magazineL Vol. 20, July, 1927, page 216.

' Industrial Recreation In Canada.” -
The Recreation magazine. V01. 25, Jan., 1952, page 554.

 

" Recreation In Relation To ibrk". - -
The Recreation magazine. V01. 25, August, 1929, p.356.

" Industrial Recreation Program In Waukeganz".
The Recreation magazine. Vol. 23, April, 1929, page 46.

" 75th. Anniversary Edition". -
Lansing State Journgl. Lansing, Michigan, Jan 1, 1930.

" Tie Self Organized flroup". -

Ilaygrownd. Vol. III, Nov. 1927, page 413.
" Leisure And Its Use". -

Ploqynvmuri. Vol. LCiI, June IEUT7, page 191,

 

" Reesonsibility Cf Industry For Recreation"..
"‘1 ~ .:-.un.:‘:. Vol. Z‘Z‘IIII, April 19:85, 135%; 50

m

o -- a-

>- "I .
.L 5. -‘J . .1-

118
Bulletins and Pamphlets.

Annual Report. - Department of Playgrounds And Recreation,
City of Los Angeles, June 30, 1928.

Fifteenth Annual Repprt. - Department of Recreation, City
of Detroit, December 31, 1950.

First Annual Report. - Department of Recreation,
City of Lansing, l3ch., 1930.

Goldmark, G. L. ” Fatigue And Effeciency“, '
Russell Sage Foundation Publication. N.Y. 1912.

Health And Recreational Activities In Industrial Establishments,
1926. - U;S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 458,1928.

Lansinngity Directory. - Volume XXXII. 1931,
Hallenbeck Printing Co., Lansing, Michigan. 1931.

Outdoor Recreation For Employees. - Policyholders Service
Bureau, Metropolitian Life Insurance 0., N.Y.

Park Recreation Areas In The United States,1950. -
U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 565, lay 1932.

Second Annual Report. -Public Recreation Commission,
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1928.

Second Annual Report. - Department of Recreation,
City of Lansing, Mich., 1951.

 

The Program Of Health And Recreation In Industrial FieldsL_ -
Industrial Dept. of the Y.M.C.A. 347, Radison Ave., N.Y.

Third Annual Report. - Department of Recreation,
City of Lansing, Michigan. 1932.

 

World Almanac 1952. - World Telegram, N.Y. 1932.

 

 

J! W '54

“3)“ ‘1
M02u54/

 

 

' '1'?"

v N
0 V
.- ‘.—— -
v
w—V‘v ' W
v" w ——
a

 

“11111111114119"! till! I