In the spring of 1918, with World War I calling the young men
of Maryland, he enlisted in the army. Because of his hospital training
and experience he was assigned to the medical corps, and, because of
his supervisory abilities, he was placed in charge of the psychiatric
ward at Fort McHenry, working directly under Colonel Arthur P.
Herring, the doctor who later was named Commissioner of Mental
Hygiene for Maryland. Many cases of mental illness had developed
in the service and there had not been time to establish veterans
facilities. However, the State had built the Foster Building at Spring
Grove but the funds had not been provided to furnish and equip it.
So arrangements to do this were made with federal authorities with
the purpose of using the building for mentally-disabled service men
until Veterans Administration hospitals could be established.

Again, because of Mr. Dayhoff's knowledge and ability, he was
placed in charge of this Veterans Administration unit and continued
with its supervision until regular Veterans Administration facilities
were made available. The Foster Clinic was then turned back to
the State system and Mr. Dayhoff was appointed "Supervisor-in-
Charge. " Mr. Dayhoff's duties and responsibilities grew as the hospital
expanded. In addition to his primary administrative duties as head
of all non-professional nursing activities, he handled practically every
type of administrative responsibility in the hospital: admission of
patients, personnel, laundry supervision, maintenance of statistical rec-
ords and employee housing. Always determined to bring happiness
into the lives of patients, Mr. Dayhoff turned his five-day week into
a seven-day week by taking on additional duties. He opened and
operated two miniature canteens where patients could buy small pack-
aged candy, cakes, and other treats, and used the income for many
types of patient entertainment. He re-activated the Spring Grove
baseball team which played in the Weltmer Bowl, a baseball diamond
made possible by Doctor Weltmer, Superintendent. Both men believed
in wholesome outdoor amusement as good therapy for mental patients.
Mr. Dayhoff played first base and also acted as manager of the team.
When winter and cold weather terminated the games and picnics in
the Bowl, Mr. Dayhoff began showing movies twice a week to large
groups of patients in the Rice Auditorium, built in 1935.

Since retiring on September 30, 1958, Mr. Dayhoff has continued
working daily at Spring Grove as a volunteer. He has continued to
function in the same capacity, in several areas, as he did before retire-
ment. Spring Grove's 1, 000 employees and 2, 400 patients know Mr.
Dayhoff for what he is—a competent, dedicated, hard-working man

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