81 / 150
A
dvancing
T
he
K
ingdom
: K
ingdom
H
ouse
78
the reservations because of over-population,’
Mr. Ecker explained.
In some other cities relocation started as
early as 1952 – which gave it a head start
before the slight recession of the 1958-1959
period.
‘You can always employ skilled people,
but here, with unskilled people, you are
competing with the unskilled whites who
come up from the Ozarks and African
Americans who come up from the South,’
points out Ecker.
‘The ease with which you find jobs is
a big factor in success of the relocation
program,’ he adds.”
34
By the fall of 1961, the financial
situation of Kingdom House was
desperate. Koeppe’s report to the
Women’s Board related unpaid bills
and borrowed money. Again a call was
issued for $10,000 in order to close the
year solvent.
Despite the severe
financial straits, study
halls and tutoring
services were started
at Kingdom House. In
addition, a group for
retarded children (the
P.F.A.s) as well as a
Senior citizens group
in the Webbe Housing
were activated. But
in February of 1961,
the Building Fund
Drive was postponed
for another year. The
bright spots of the
year included the
anticipation of a full
A
B
P
hotos
:
A:
Story time
B:
After school tutoring
T
he
beehive
represents
many working
together
,
each
in his
own
specialization
or
capacity
for
the
benefit of
the
entire
group
.