My Father — Dana W. Bartlett

By Esther Dana Bartlett
Молоканское Обозрение : The Molokan Review [Dukhizhiznik journal], August 1945, pages 9, 37.

My father was a kindly man, a man of simple tastes, a man loving all mankind, calling all his brothers. He had one of the saintliest faces, and I use the word saintly in its truest and best sense. It was a face which served as a lens through which one looked into a heart whose beat was strong and tender and true. Knowing father, one felt nearer to God, for he was in such close communion with his Lord. A friend once wrote of my father: "Because he is a good citizen of Los Angeles; because he is a clean-hearted man who in devotion to humanity has consecrated his life to his fellowman; because he battles against poverty and disease with a dauntless persistency, charity and patience, unselfishness that is nothing short of heroic; because of these things — it delights Los Angeles to pay honor to Dana W. Bartlett."

Father was minister and director of Bethlehem Institutional Church. It was not just a church, but a community center, with clubs for young people, sewing circles for women, a hotel for men, and night school for those wishing to learn English. Best of all was the plunge for boys, and showers and tubs with hot water for men and women.

One day [in    ] father and mother, looking out of a window in our home, saw standing on the corner, a strange group of men, women and children, about thirty in all. Father immediately ran to meet them, for they seemed to need some help and advice. This was the first group of [Spiritual Chrstians] Molokans to arrive in Los Angeles. Through an interpreter father was told that they had come to Los Angeles to live. Father helped them find living quarters. [Russian religious] Church services were first held at Bethlehem. Then later, as more families arrived, the [Stimson-Lafayette Industrial School main] building on Hewitt [between Turner] and Jackson streets became the [Spiritual Christian meeting hall] Molokan church, and the large room and kitchen served adequately for a number of years. Many tim es father and mother, with their five daughters, were invited to attend a wedding or special service.

The streets were a colorful sight in those early years, for the women and girls wore lovely pastel-colored dresses with white aprons edged with handmade lace. The men added to the scene, for they wore the Russian shirts and woolen hats. They were a wholesome, healthy group of people, unspoiled by city life.

Philip M. Shubin arrived a year after the first group. With his Christ-like face, his love and understanding of his own people, and his deep religious convictions, he was the real spiritual and moral leader of his people. Like my father, he was closer to his God than most men. Father often said his life had been enriched by having known and associated with Philip Shubin.

In looking over father's papers, I have come across articles, letters, notes, and newspaper clippings which bring to mind activities and programs that many of the older and younger people remember. The plunge was the first in the city. For a nickel one could have a swim in the pool or a hot bath. To quote: "The plunge was dotted thickly with boys from ten to fourteen, clad in bathing suits enjoying to the full the delights of the big bathing place." And another: "Yesterday a party of about twenty Russian women who have just arrived in Los Angeles, found the bathhouse and hastened to avail themselves of its privileges."

Christmas programs were always the highlight of the year, with Santa Claus giving away toys for the boys and dolls for the girls. Hundreds of candy bags were packed and distributed at the Christmas programs. Then there were the community evenings, the programs consisting of music and stereopticon  or still pictures and community singing.

During the winter the plunge was closed and boarded over, becoming the Bathhouse Hall. Programs, lectures, boys' activities, and many varieties of programs were held there by all ages of people and people from many parts of the world. Many of the young [Spiritual Chrstian] Molokan women [page 37] remember Miss Black who devoted herself to helping them understand this new world Another woman loved by many was Miss Anna Green. Both have long since gone to the Great Beyond. Mr. Eberle organized the Bethlehem's Young American Club. The boys in the Club earned money for their camping trips by making articles in sloyd and hammered-copper classes.  

Through the Bethlehem Employment Bureau many of the men found work in the shipyards and the women in laundries and factories. The free dispensary was open to all. One of the most important services of Bethlehem was the night school where the [Spiritual Chrstians] Molokans learned to read and write — their first step towards becoming Americans

Problems of many sorts were brought to father to help solve — problems of exploitation, wage adjustment, unemployment, schooling, employer-employee difficulties and many more. He helped to interpret America and her strange customs and ways to the [Spiritual Chrstians] Molokans and also helped the Americans to have an understanding of the [Spiritual Chrstians] Molokans.

After father had left Bethlehem [in October 1913], he continued his friendship with his [Russian] Molokan friends. Father had services of worship at our home in Coldwater Canyon. Our friends shared their songs and prayers with us in the out-of-doors. There, too, in later years daughters of some of the first arrival spent enjoyable weekend-ends, and had long talks with father. Those were memorable days.

Father loved his [Russian] Molokan friends and was happy to be called "their American" father. When he was called to his Eternal Home, many of them gathered at the Memory Service to pay tribute in word and song. He lives in the hearts of his friends.