EXTRACTS FROM CLUB RECORDS

1913 On April 13, John C. Gass called a preliminary meeting to consider forming a Rotary Club. On May 5, an organizational meeting was held and officers elected.
J.B. Gibson was first delegate to a Rotary International Convention.

1914 January 6, First Annual Meeting.

February 3, First Theatre Night at the Academy of Music to view "The Barrister" played by Sidney Toler who later became the famous "Charlie Chan" of the movies. He joined our Club in 1914 and was a member until he left Halifax in 1917.

Sir Robert Borden addressed our Club on “Citizenship” and was made an Honorary Member at age 60 – Classification Cabinet Maker.

Early enlistments included Pearl Soulis, Herb Maxwell (who died on active service overseas February 17, 1917), Howard Bligh, Henry De Wolf, Eric Miller, Roy Studd, J.L. Ralston, W.G. MacKinnon, Capt. Harvie, A.B. Cohoe and John Rudland.

At the Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, Charles Butcher presented the resolution sponsored by our Club that liquor advertising in the "Rotarian" magazine be refused. Passed unanimously.

1915 John C. Gass, first District Governor of the new District.
Hon. G.H. Murray, Premier of Nova Scotia, addressed our Club and later became a member.

1917 December 6, Explosion in Halifax Harbour destroyed east slope of Halifax, north of Admiralty grounds.Many Rotarians took a leading part during the emergency including Arthur Barnstead, Chairman Mortuary Committee, Charles Bell, Registration and Information, Charles H. Climo, in charge of Emergency Food Distribution and J.H. Winfield, Chairman, Rehabilitation. Later our Major Will Tibbs was head of the Halifax Relief Commission.

Charlie Crane, a 10-year old boy from Vancouver, blind, deaf, and dumb, with Mr. James Feron, Principal of the Halifax School for the Deaf, gave a remarkable demonstration of how he had built up by the touch system a vocabulary of 3,000 words. He was made an Honourary Member of the Club, and later given a watch.

1918 October 1 to November 5, no meetings of the Club were held during this period due to the flu epidemic. Schools, churches and theatres were closed.

Moved to Green Lantern, February 26.
Dues increased from $8 to $12 per year.

1919 January 3, Harry Lauder and supporters entertained Rotarians at Theatre Night and the next night he was entertained by Rotarians at a dinner at the Green Lantern Restaurant.
May 20, members of the 25th Battalion welcomed home at a luncheon.
June 10, Col. J.L. Ralston and members of the 85th Battalion welcomed home at a luncheon.
December 25, Club presented an organ to the North End Mission.

Concern expressed when price of luncheon was increased from 50¢ to 60¢. Membership at that time totalled 159.

1920 First Club Assembly of Presidents and Secretaries of the District was held in Halifax.

1921 October 25, crew members of the schooner "Bluenose", winner of the Fishermen's Races were guests of Rotary, as well as the American delegates - 116 Rotarians and 67 guests.

Ladies Night evening a great success. Dinner $1.00. 100 Rotarians and their wives attended. Much fun, many stunts, good music and singing.

During President Ralston's absence for several months establishing Rotary in Australia and New Zealand, Vice President Will Webster presided.
Substantial donation to the Pueblo Fund.
May 3, with 123 members present, approved Daylight Saving.
Club Choir of 25 members performed with Harry Dean as leader.

1922 April 27, Club assisted the Boy Scouts in presenting a Motor Show at the Armouries.

1923 Started Annual Father and Son Day.
Annual picnic held at Sunnywood.
Donated $300 to Japanese Relief Fund.

1924 Prime Minister Arthur Meighen addressed Club.

1925 Undertook a survey regarding crippled children and arranged for transportation and treatment at the Clinic.
Donated $1,000 to complete the wading pool at the children's playground on the Commons.
April 21, 22, 23 The Minstrel Show
Father and Daughter Day.

1926 March 23, decided the nominating committee shall consist of the President and four Past Presidents.
June 26, practice of facing the flag introduced.
District convention, April 22-23, Admiral Beatty, Saint John, New Brunswick. Registration Fee $4, Spouses $2, rooms with meals – Rotarian $3.50, others $5 to $5.50.

An evening program broadcast over CHNS. The speaker was Rev. Dr. Clarence Nicholson.
Successful Theatre Party.
Annual Picnic at Grand Lake.
Took 160 boys from Industrial School and St. Patrick's Home for a picnic at Cow Bay.
The "Friend X" Group System to ensure that members get better acquainted was commenced.

1927 Attendance stressed - Jan 4. 87.7%, October 14 87.5%. Sixteen complimented on 100% attendance.
Father and Son luncheon very successful.
John Gass provides Gass Trophy for curling and golf contests between Rotary Clubs in the District.

1928 The Club showed much interest in civic affairs during this year. It approved the extension of Brunswick Street to Spring Garden Road; the beautification of Citadel Hill, which was taken over shortly after by the National Parks Commission; passed a resolution favouring the location of an airport in the City and considered the feasibility of constructing a bridge over Halifax Harbour.

Sponsored a Maritime wide campaign for Endowment Funds for Maritime Foundation for the Blind. Over $200,000 raised.

Sponsored "Alicia", a little 4-year old girl crippled and deformed by rickets, sent her to summer camp all summer, found her a foster home in the country, and supported her for ten years, until she had partially recovered and got a good position.
March 20,1928 moved to Lord Nelson Hotel for our luncheons after more than 10 years at the Green Lantern.

1929 Windsor Club formed largely through the efforts of our John Gass and Fred Sexton.
District convention held in Halifax, with District Governor Wilfred Kierstead of Fredericton presiding and our Alex Drummond as Conference Chairman. Our Club membership at that time 177.

1931 Will Tibbs and Maurice O. Crowell were delegates to the Rotary International Convention in Austria.
Annual dues increased from $20 to $25 and luncheon fees from 75¢ to $1.00.

1932 Halifax still suffering from the Great Depression. Donated $1,000 for breakfasts for school children through Halifax Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.

1933 Another Canadian, John Nelson of Montreal, was elected as Rotary International President.

1934 The Club purchased equipment for the Public Health Clinic at Dalhousie University to aid crippled children and also furnished a ward at the Children's Hospital.
District Convention held by our Club.

1935 Supplied equipment for a Physiotherapy Department at Dalhousie Health Clinic and undertook a survey of crippled children in Halifax, and arranged for their transportation to and from the Clinic (this was later carried on by the Junior League). Clinics were held under the direction of our Dr. Tom Acker throughout the Maritimes and Newfoundland.

1936 Students Loan Fund established.

1937 The Maritime District was merged with that of Eastern Maine, making the District international.
In October moved to the Halifax Hotel for 6 years.

1938 April 21, 22, and 23, a Boys' and Girls' Hobby Show was held at the Y.M.C.A. It was supported by the Rotary Club as their major effort for the year 1937/38.
The Club celebrated its 25th birthday on May 5th.

Eight Charter members were present and each was given a white carnation by Mrs. Hunt, the wife of Past District Governor Charles Hunt, speaker for the event. The banquet was followed by a dance with Jerry Naugler and orchestra calling the tune.

1939 On June 5, King George VI and his Queen Elizabeth were in Halifax. Members of different organizations lined the procession route and Oxford Street, from South Street to Coburg Road was the section assigned to Rotarians.
Air Marshall W.A. Bishop, V.C., D.S.O., addressed our Club.
British naval men were entertained by Rotarians in their homes.
Hugh Mills formed a Concert Party which provided 2,400 entertainments for service personnel in camps in N.S., P.E.I. and on a 5-month tour in Europe. Hugh was given an O.B.E. in recognition of his service.

1940 War clouds gathered within three months after the Royal party sailed from Halifax. Early in 1940 a number of children were being sent from England to Canada. On August 20th, 86 children landed here and Rotarians arranged to give them a drive about the City while they awaited the train for Ontario.

1941 War Service Committee very active. Service personnel entertained in the homes of Rotarians and given motor trips to Chester and the Valley.
Hospitalized service personnel given a Christmas dinner and entertainment.

Rotarian Osborne Crowell was appointed Director of Civil Defence and with assistance of Rotarians and other leading citizens organized the Halifax Civil Emergency Corps with its 5,000 volunteers.

1942 August 11, the Club was addressed by Morley Taylor, then President of Maricaibo, Venezeula Rotary Club, after 1955 a member of our Club.
1943 Women of Rotary organized.
70 servicemen entertained at Christmas.

1943 Celebrated 30th Anniversary on May 4th.
Wives of Rotarians present as well as 30 representatives from the three services.
Edgar Hamilton honoured for 16 years' 100% attendance. He was moving to Wolfville.
9 new members introduced.
May 1, met for last time at Halifax Hotel (it was to be demolished}. Host Rotarian Ned MacDonald was duly thanked and provincial Archivist Prof. A.C. Harvey spoke on the History of the Halifax Hotel, for so long an historic old hostelry.

1944 June 10, Rotary presented a brief on Post War Planning to the Halifax Civic Planning Association.
Gass Trophy brought back to Halifax by victories over 3 separate challengers, Windsor, Kentville and Truro.

Hart House String Quartet a successful project.
Rotary International Secretary Phil Lovejoy entertained.

1945 Rotary voted the sum of $2,000 for workers to deal with juvenile delinquency.
Rotarian Osborne Crowell was commended on the part he played as Director of Civil Defence during the Naval Arsenal Conflagration. Pat Wyman and other Rotarians gave outstanding service whilst the whole North End of Halifax was evacuated.

A novel feature of our Ladies Night was a floor show staged by our own charming and graceful “Annettes”, under the efficient guidance of Abbie Lane, and Will Bird told some of his best stories of Romance in Nova Scotia.

Supported the Concert Party, which went overseas under the direction of Rotarian Hugh Mills, with favours and prizes for the troops entertained.

1946 April 26, $2,000 voted for a Recreation Room for the older guests at the City Home.

Rotary Office opened in the Nova Scotian Hotel on April 26th.
Successful New Year's Dance at Dal Gym, tickets $2 with floor show and door prizes.
Penny Auction in the ballroom and lounge of Lord Nelson Hotel a huge success. Crowds attended, bidding keen, a large net profit.

Tours to Annapolis Valley and Hubbards arranged for Veterans at Camp Hill and Cogswell Street Hospitals.

1947 When joined with part of Maine in 1937 our District No. 38 became No. 192. This was changed to District 284 in June 1947.

March 1st, first sponsorship by our Club of "Ice Cycles" suggested by President Bob Rankin and directed by John McCurdy and Tom Courtney. Net proceeds, $6,942.91. Children from the City Orphanages were present as guests of the Club, extended later to include boys and girls from the School for the Blind and School for the Deaf.
The Music Committee raised $3,050 for scholarships for the New Halifax Musical Festival.
Paul Harris, founder of Rotary died January 27.
The Rotary International Convention in San Francisco was the largest in Rotary's history.
District Convention held in Halifax - 518 registered.

1948 Continued the valuable services of Miss Eileen Phinney at the Psychiatric Clinic and Family Court until December 31 when these were taken over by Provincial and City authorities.

1949 Essay contest held for local High School students.
Rotary Boys Club membership increased to 90 of whom 30 attended Y.M.C.A. Camp at Big Cove.
Bicycle Tape Reflectors supplied to school children in co-operation with the City Police.
The Rotary Dalhousie Child Behaviour Clinic was inaugurated by the Club, and proved so important it was soon taken over by the Provincial Government.

Supplies of canned goods and toys, and quantities of used clothing collected by Women of Rotary were shipped on the new trawler M/V Doux Frimaire to France.

Halifax celebrated its Bicentennial year.
Osborne Crowell helped organize and preside at the Mass Service of Thanksgiving held at the Forum. Fred Guildford and other Rotarians helped stage Opera Under the Stars on Citadel Hill. This led to the formation of the Opera Association and later to the Halifax Symphonette, in which Charlie Jones and Albert Chappel were leaders.
Municipal Affairs Committee formed.
Assisted in the formation of the John Howard Society, supplying the Vice President and several directors and $500 grant.

1950 The Boys Club of 91 members met regularly Wednesday and Saturday evenings and on Saturday mornings went to the Forum for hockey. Gordon Coles, the efficient leader, was successfully sponsored for our first Rotary Foundation Scholarship. He was succeeded by Don McMahon.
Ed Ford was elected District Governor.
Our expenditures for Community Service $7,981.64.
Harold Hamer, organist and Jerry Naugler, pianist, combined for delightful music at our Club luncheons.
July 31, Rotary International President Arthur Lageaux and his wife Christine were welcomed in a memorable event.

At the 1950 Rotary International Convention, the resolution introduced by the clubs from India to delete the word "male" from Article III of the constitution was "loudly" rejected.

1951 Rotary provided a special electric refrigerator for storing blood plasma at the Children's Hospital. Also gave $2,000 for a speech therapist to check pre-school children.
The District Convention was held at our Club, 407 registered. with Marsh Wilson as Chairman and Art Fordham as Secretary of the Arrangements Committee and our own Ed Ford as District Governor, it proved a great success.

1952 The Nova Scotia Society for the Care of Crippled Children re-organized by our Club and the first Easter Seals Campaign held.
August 4, "Elsie the Cow" and her son "Beauregard" appeared on the Garrison grounds to assist in raising funds for Rotary's Crippled Children's Fund. The cow was selected from 150 Jerseys to aid groups in getting money for sick or needy children. Her first appearance was at the New York World's Fair in 1939. She came to Canada in 1941 and by her appearances helped to raise over $120,000 for charitable purposes.

1953 Special classroom set up at Sir Charles Tupper School for Crippled Children.
Our Club 100% Club in Rotary Foundation.
Support given to newly formed Cerebral Palsy Association.

1957 "Whipper" Billy Watson was here to launch the Easter Seal Campaign.

1958 Our Rotary District had grown to 53 clubs by this time; extending from St. John's, Newfoundland to Machias, Maine and Campbellton, New Brunswick. Since this was so unwieldly to administer, it was split in two that year. Our Club thus formed a part of the new District 782, comprising 27 clubs in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

1959 July, the Rotary Day Camp for Handicapped Children was opened at Flynn Park.

1960 March 29, lunch hour set back from 1 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. A move in 1963 to restore the 1 p.m. lunch hour failed.

1961 The Club sponsored a display of paintings by Nova Scotia Artists in Toronto.

1963 Our Golden Anniversary Year. Combined banquet with Northwest and Dartmouth Clubs held at Nova Scotian.
Successful model United Nations Council sponsored for local university students.

1965 June 21, Charles Pettengil of Conn., U.S.A. President of Rotary International visited Halifax and the three local Clubs joined to honour him at a banquet at the Nova Scotian.

1966 First Antique Car Show held at the Forum.
A new loose-leaf Roster appeared.

1967 The Centennial School at Mulgrave Park opened in September.

1969 Inhalators donated to the Children's Hospital for Cystic Fibrosis patients.
District Convention held by our Club.

1970 Support given to housing project for young drug users.

1972 Support given to water project in Ghana.
Rotary International President Ernst Breitholtz of Sweden visited our club.

1973 Our Diamond Jubilee Year. Rotary International President William Carter of England visited our club.
The first Group Study Exchange of District 782 was conducted to England under the leadership of Ron Storey of our Club.

Support given to building of Old People's Home in Ghana.
First Vacation Draw conducted.

1974 Support given to building of Agricultural College in Ghana.
Members of Group Study Exchange from England were entertained by the three Clubs in the area.

1975 Donation made to Children's Hospital for summer Speech Therapy Clinic.
Our Club 300% in Rotary Foundation.

1976 Judge Robert E. Inglis completed and presented to the Club his 1913-1975 history.
The Club donated a microscope for eye operations to the Children's Hospital.

1977 The Club Assembly met with District Governor Rupert McNeill at the Children's Hospital and inspected the Remedial Wheelchair Workshop, one of our projects.
Fred Guildford, our last living Charter member celebrated his 93rd birthday (Fred died October 3, 1980).

1978 A. Murray MacKay presented with 50-year Pin.
Rotary International President, Glen Renouf from Australia visited our Club.
Discontinued a paid office secretary and honoured Mrs. Joan Hart after 27 years' service. The Rotary office in the Nova Scotian Hotel was continued.
Spokesman issued monthly instead of weekly.
The Directors met regularly monthly in the evenings at the homes of various directors.

1979 Sponsored a public meeting addressed by Premier Lougheed from Alberta.
Presented a 60-year Pin to Osborne Crowell.
Presented a Rotary Medal of Merit to Dr. Alvin Buhr for outstanding contribution to International Services

Peter Yurkiw, Harald Norve, Franco Medioli, Osborne Crowell with their spouses attended the Rotary International Convention in Rome.

1980 Visit to Canada of four surgeons from China.
Sundry contributions to worthy causes 1979/80 $30,500; I.W.K. Hospital $12,000, Centennial School $7,000, Remedial Seating Project at Children's Hospital $1,500, Camp Tidnish $1,000, Handicapped Children $4,000, Bombay Project $5,000.

1981 Container of medical equipment and supplies assembled for Jamaica.
"Howie's Auction" again successful in raising money and promoting fellowship.

1982 District Convention held in Halifax, with our Bill McCurdy as District Governor.
Paul Fleming initiated the practice of presenting to Rotary Guests from outside Nova Scotia a Nova Scotia pin and the status of "Honourary Bluenosers".

1983 The 70th Anniversary Dinner was held at the Saraguay Club with a Fun Fashion Show, in which the various fashions of seventy years were modeled by some of the Rotarians and their wives, climaxed by a wedding with Chairman Harold Clowater as the bride. Corsages for the ladies, door prizes, and the hearty singing of old favourites brought the successful evening to a close.

Rotarian Osborne Crowell completed the 1913-83 history of the club in recognition of its 70th anniversary.

Our Club 1200% in Rotary Foundation.

Presented a 50-year Pin to Fletcher Smith.

June 7, eleven members from Rotary Clubs in Halifax's "twin city" of Hakodate, Japan, took time off from the Rotary International Convention in Toronto to attend our regular luncheon meeting that day. Interpreters provided courtesy of Rotarian Andy MacKay, President of Dalhousie University. Wives of several of the Hakodate Rotarians were entertained by our Women of Rotary. All of our visitors were presented with membership in the Order of Good Cheer, the first social club in North America.

August 16 Rotary International President Bill Skelton and his wife Peggy visited the club.