Published: October 17, 2009 10:31 pm      

League celebrates 75th anniversary

Willowbrook Road office site of recent open house

CUMBERLAND — The League for Crippled Children celebrated 75 years of serving thousands of children by hosting an open house at its office on Willowbrook Road in recognition of the organizations, businesses and individuals who have consistently demonstrated their compassion and love for children through their donations.

The League for Crippled Children is a nonprofit organization that serves children from birth to age 21 in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania with free services in orthopedic, cerebral palsy, speech and physical therapy. The league offers 12 orthopedic and two orofacial clinics throughout the year. For more information or to have a child seen, call (301) 759-5200 or stop by the office at 12501 Willowbrook Road.

The first clinic was held in 1926 at the Lonaconing home of Anne Sloan, who realized the great need to treat children in Allegany County with orthopedic problems. She invited Dr. George Bennett, orthopedic surgeon, from Baltimore to conduct the clinic. This grew into a regular program that became known as The Maryland League for Crippled Children, with periodic clinics being offered throughout the year.

The number of children needing care steadily grew and ultimately won the support of Henrietta Schwarzenbach. She organized a group of individuals to form an agency that led to a charter being granted and The Allegany County, Maryland, League for Crippled Children Inc. was formed May 31, 1934.

The first headquarters was at 59 Pershing St. In 1940, the Old City Jail, which currently is home to Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, was allocated to the league and underwent remodeling and renovating for its office and clinics. In 1971, the League moved to the Regional Health Center for Allegany County on Willowbrook Road and is currently housed in the Willowbrook Office Complex.

In June 1997, the league and the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry formed the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic, which is under the management of the league.

In 2003, the name became The League for Crippled Children Inc. The next year, through the leadership of Dr. Robert Carpenter, plastic surgeon, the Cumberland Cleft Clinic was formed. These clinics are held twice a year by a team of professionals organized to provide free services relating to cleft lip and palate patients.