Detroit
Rotary was born at a fire; which fact possibly explains why
it has always been such a “hot” club.
One night in the summer of 1910 there was a
neighborhood blaze.
Jim Gregg went to see it.
At the fire he ran across the writer.
In his characteristic manner he held the first Rotary
meeting in Detroit – although the minutes do not record it.
“Say, Frank,” said Jim, “there’s going to be a
meeting tomorrow noon to organize a club.
Come over!”
“What’s the name of it?” I asked.
“They call it a Rotary Club.
A good scout by the name of Batt from St. Louis was in
the store today and told me all about it.
He’s coming over too.
Bring along any friends – business men who will make good
boosters. And don’t
forget to be there, it’s a good thing,” added Gregg.
Which all resulted in a luncheon at the
Griswold House Café, July 25, 1910, attended by six men, James
H. Gregg, Frank J. Campbell, A.R. Cunningham, L.W. Goodenough,
J.W. Wright all of Detroit, and Bruno Batt of St. Louis, who
told of the Rotary scheme and how the Rotary Club of that city
recently had been organized.
Constitution Adopted
Every Thursday these few men met for lunch for
the next few months.
One by one, others were invited, until on September 14 a
constitution and by-laws was adopted with 16 members present.
They were W.F. Cornell, F.D. Forbush, L.W. Goodenough,
Ralph Hendy, L.C. Katz, W.J. Kennedy, Wm. Malow, Alfred A. Mann,
Frederick Paquette, Horace Paterson, Edwin A. Sevald, Robert C.
Traub, J.W. Wright, J.H. Gregg, D.H. Bower and Frank J.
Campbell.
The weekly luncheon feature has been continued
summer and winter without interruption.
March 1, 1917, the Detroit Rotary Club had an
active membership of 258.
It might have been twice this number but for the fact
that during the past few years it has been the policy to make it
very hard to get in, but easy to get out.
The average attendance at the Wednesday noon
luncheons for 1916 was 159 or 621/2 per
cent.
Many
Hotels Outgrown
One hotel after another was outgrown, the
Griswold, the Cadillac, the Tuller, until the new Hotel Statler
was completed, and that was then made the Rotary headquarters.
The big ball room was just our size and has been used
Wednesdays for the luncheons since.
The Rotary emblem, along with the Stars and Stripes, is
displayed across the balcony in the lobby each meeting day.
Members of other Rotary Clubs are always welcomed at the
Detroit meetings and notice of their attendance is sent to the
secretary of their home club, thus keeping their record good.
Detroit Rotary has always kept out of politics
absolutely. Business
betterment, social welfare and inspirational helpfulness have
been its specialty.
Our Welfare committee has always been the
pride of our club.
From helping a few “kiddies” have a week’s vacation at a
fresh-air camp on a lake in the country, the work has grown
until we erected a cottage of our own in connection with the
camp, and now keep it full of the little fellows all thru the
summer season.
Another cottage will be added by the club. Five dollars will
keep a boy at this camp for two weeks.
To date we have given over 100 boys a two weeks’
vacation.
All of the good work is not reserved for the
summer, however. The
youngsters at a public school in a very poor district are given
fresh milk daily during the school season.
At Christmas time, the crippled children of another home
are given a theatre party and presents.
Members of the club furnish automobiles to take them to
and from the theatre on the occasion.
Once each year the club gives a theatre party
to the ladies at our Rotary theatre, the Garrick.
After this, a supper, with entertainment, is enjoyed at
the Statler.
Annual
Outings
In the summer comes an annual picnic – another
occasion when the ladies and children are present.
This picnic is in the form of an automobile ride to the
shores of some of our inland lakes, where a base ball game, and
other sports for both the ladies and the men are enjoyed.
It may take the form of a steamer ride up the lake to
some of our favorite spots.
A big picnic dinner, which our Rotary caterer has
prepared, is always an important part of the day.
Detroit has a very active Board of Commerce
which owns a handsome building, built by itself for itself.
Most of our Rotarians are members.
Luncheons are served here daily.
One corner of the dining room is occupied by a big round
table some twelve feet in diameter.
It is filled daily to overflowing by Rotarians.
This table has promoted the close acquaintance
wonderfully. Someone
is grilled daily.
One never knows who will be roasted or what turn the
conversation will take.
Every problem, from the war down, is settled several
times weekly. And
the members hate to stay away even for a single day.
Detroit presidents have been the following, in
the order named: W.F. Cornell, C.E. Knight, Ed.P. Andrew, Alonzo
P. Ewing, Ed.N. Hines, Henry M. Zimmerman and Howard A. Coffin.
The present officers are Howard A. Coffin,
president, Wm. D. Biggers, first vice-president, Chas. A.
Chidsey, Sr. second vice-president, Ben G. Vernor, treasurer,
Elton F. Hascall, secretary.
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