Some History
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FIRST 35 YEARS
At the very onset of the club, the members agreed to take on the responsibility of sponsoring Boy Scouts, Cubs and Explorers. Girls Scout sponsorship followed with the formation of a Girl Scout Troop in 1958. Also, the club got involved in the Old Settlers' Picnic. These efforts still stand as major contributions of the club today. Also in the first year, the club purchased a wheel chair, which started the wheel chair/walker loaner program. A basketball court was built and toys were collected, repaired and distributed to children of needy families at Christmas.
The early club was also involved in Christmas street lighting and decorations, and a Community Bulletin board was built and erected in a centrally located spot. The club sponsored numerous tours for school children to areas of interest such as the Granite City Locks, Granite City Steel, Scott AFB and Union Station. Teenagers were assisted in the formation of an organization called Teen Town, providing teens with activities for their spare time. Money and labor was donated to build a doctor's office in the Village Hall building.
Little League baseball team sponsorship began in 1959, and included work on the diamond, setting up a backstop and fencing. 1962 saw the club move its meeting place from the Methodist Church to the Country House Restaurant on Route 159 where Hardees is today. For you inflation buffs, cost for the meal was $1.35 per member.
Also that year saw the club involved in the Madison County Sesqui-centennial pageant. Kiwanis Kids' Days were major events in the young club's itinerary. What with providing magic shows, competitive races, movies, parades and the likes, it was something the school kids looked forward to at the start of each school year.
The history of the directory of churches signs started in 1956 with the creation of two large signs. The signs were repainted in 1961, replaced with 4x6' steel signs in 1963, were repainted and moved numerous times during the next 20 years until the current combination Spiritual Aims/Welcome signs were erected in 1988. In 1962, with the move to the Country House Restaurant, the club purchased a used piano and Annie Brockmeier became the pianist for the club until 1977. (Annie passed away just recently).
Numerous projects at the local Grade School involved the club. Such things as planting evergreens, building the "Away from Traffic" walkway from Main Street to the school, and erecting basketball equipment on the playground, as well as television and other equipment for the school. The school has always been one of the key targets for Kiwanis efforts in the community. In 1964 through 1966, working with other groups in the community, the club took and active part in securing crossing signals for some of the railroad crossings in town. This was also the year that the club changed its meeting night from Thursday to Wednesday, where it has remained ever since. It was also the year that club member George Barnhart served as Lt. Governor for the division.
It was in 1965 that the club expended efforts to revive the local Explorer post, and a local Eagle Scout, Ronald Foster was selected as the Explorer leader. Career counseling was another program provided by the Kiwanians during this era. When no new major project faced the club in its early years, members could be seen planting trees, planting flowers, displaying flags, working with Scouts and Little League, and in general providing guidance and activities for youngsters around the community.
1968 the club sponsored a Municipal Band concert in Glen Carbon, and five years later it became an annual event. The concert had gone through a number of changes in venue, moved to the Eden Care Center in 1979 and has remained an annual event. One of the major fund raising events held by the club, and enjoyed by any residents and visitors was the Annual Turkey Shoot held in October. These shoots continued into the 1970's, until a lack of location forced the club to cease, and fall to other means of fund raising. Fortunately, the Glenfest started its climb.