Rotary Club celebrates 100 years
Lewistown club chapter honored with presentation
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LEWISTOWN -- Tuesday's meeting of the Rotary Club of Lewistown may have looked different from those held in 1921, but the club's mission to provide service to others and promote goodwill hasn't changed. The club kicked off their 100th year with a presentation from member Cher Harpster.
"I'm not quite sure how I became the historian of the Rotary Club of Lewistown, but I have learned a lot of interesting facts along the way." Harpster said at the start of her presentation. According to Harpster research, in January or February of 1921 there were meetings held about the interest in starting a Rotary Club in the city of Lewistown. In March of that year the club was officially affiliated with the International Association of Rotary Clubs in the social room of the local YMCA. Data from the 1920 census shows the population of Lewistown to be around 31,400 residents at the time.
Reid Dickson was named the club's first president. During her presentation Harpster read an The Sentinel's account of the club's first meeting. "President Dickson in a most excellent address responded to the governor's address and assured the governor and through him the International Association of Rotary Clubs that Lewistown Club will always aspire to keep high the torch of Rotary and all the splendid things it stands for."
Harpster mentioned some other firsts for the Rotary Club during her presentation. Around 1922 the club had made its first big purchase of six swings for the Dickson Field playground. In 1925-26 the club began working with cripple children clinics. The club provided funds for local children's testing, surgeries and rehabilitations. Harpster said over the years the club has sponsored hundreds of children through the program. In 1926 the first clinic was completed with 65 children being examined by a doctor and orthopedic surgeon and specialists from Philadelphia. According to Harpster a new service project was inaugurated in 1928 in the form of Boys' Work which was instrumental in the organization of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Camp council. In 1930-31 the Lewistown club sponsored the organization of the Rotary Club of Mifflintown.
Harpster mentioned some notable events that happened around the time of the Rotary Club's inception. Warren G. Harding had become the 29th president of the United States in March of 1921. Prohibition was already enacted the year before in 1920. Other local events happened around the same time. The new YMCA opened on N. Dorcas Street in Lewistown with a ceremony and banquet taking place in July. Miss Ellis Saxton of Lewistown became the first woman to vote in Mifflin County when she cast her ballot in the 1920 presidential race.
In 1921 the American Viscose plant began operations in Mifflin County and the Malta Home was dedicated in Granville. According to Harpster that same year work began on state highways connecting Lewistown, Reedsville and McVeytown. More information on the Rotary Club of Lewistown's 100th anniversary can be found on the club's facebook page.