Scattergood Hostel

The Scattergood Hostel was opened in 1939 to house refugees from Hitler's Europe. The Scattergood Quaker boarding school had closed in 1931 due to financial difficulties brought on by the Great Depression. When World War II broke out the American Friends Serivce Committee (AFSC) needed places where refugees could go for a short time until they were able to find a permanent place in American society. The Iowa Society of Friends offered their Scattergood facilities to this relief effort. By 1942 the flow of refugees slowed considerably and in 1943 the government's War Relocation Authority contacted the AFSC about assisting with their efforts to funnel Japanese-Americans from internment camps back into the labor force. The AFSC turned to the Scattergood Hostel for possible assistance but strong opposition from the West Branch community caused the plan to be abandoned.