Some History

 

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

On Thursday, July 9, 1953, thirteen prospective members met at 7:00 p.m. in St. Cecilia's Hall, to form a Kiwanis Club in Glen Carbon. 

The following were present:

George Barnhart, Robert Eads, W. Harold Helfer, Wilfred Hilla, Harold E. Krohne, Tony Pekar, Aurie Primas, Robert J. A. Renard, Albert Ricker,              Edward Schroeder, Robert Schroeder, Thomas Shashek and George P. Weiler.

 

Officers elected for the newly formed club were:

President ...................  W. Harold Helfer
Vice President ..........    Robert Renard
Secretary ...................  Albert Ricker
Treasurer ...................  Edward Schroeder

CHARTER NIGHT

Charter Night started promptly at 7:00 p.m. on September 10th, 1953, at St. Cecilia's Hall.  By this time the club had 36 members on the roster.  Over 200 people jammed into the small hall for the occasion.  All attending Kiwanians were ecstatic at having International President Donald Forsythe as the featured speaker.  Louis Bouillion, President of the Edwardsville sponsoring club called the meeting to order.  Lesley Marks led the singing, accompanied by Delores Carter.

Seven year old Billy Ricker sang "America the Beautiful", and ten year old Joey Hlavsa scored heavily with accordion solos.  (40 years later, to the day, that young accordion soloist again entertains as Joey James and his Orchestra).

 

CHARTER MEMBERS

John Allaria            George Barnhart           Bernard Birger          Joseph Burgdorf        George Burian          Joseph Burian Jr.         Leonard Buzick           Robert Eads          Bernard Hackethal           Nick Hamilos              Leroy Harris          W. Harold Helfer          Wilfred Hilla              Clayton Hogan
Harold Krohne          Joseph Krotz                  Ray Leach               Lester Motz             Ben Neutzling           William O'Hare               Tony Pekar             Aurie Primas             Frank Primor             William Rasplica          Robert Renard           Albert Ricker          Edward Schroeder       Robert Schroeder
Glen Seaton            Tony Sedlacek              Clyde Shashek         Thomas Shashek       Rudolph Slemer           Russell Treat
George Weiler         Dewey Wilkison
 
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.

1972 saw the club start an annual event, that is still going strong today.  It was the Christmas Party for residents of the Madison County Nursing Home.  Working with the staff at the Home, we were given the names of residents who did not have any immediate family located in the area.  Then their needs or desires.  Several Kiwanians and mates would embark on a shopping spree.  At the night of the event, All Kiwanians assemble at the home, sing carols, provide some entertainment, refreshments, then lo and behold, Santa appears with a big sack of gifts.  It is an inspiring, and sometime saddening sight to behold.

The early 1970's saw an upswing in baseball activities for the younger generation (baby boomers).  At one point, we were sponsoring 3 Little League teams, and built numerous bleachers for the Citizen Park and Glen Crossing diamonds.  At the request of the citizens group that had been managing the ball park and concession stand, the club took over the responsibility and operation of the facilities on an interim basis in 1973.  This meant, operating the stand during all Little League games, preparing the diamond, and general maintenance and security.  It also meant fielding complaints.

Our success in dealing with the political bodies of the Village and Edwardsville Township, as well as the Little League Management, resulted in a request from the Village, and favorable granting of a $10,000 set aside fund for the lighting of the ball field.  The lighting was installed and operating by April 1974.  Many Kiwanian labor hours were expended to backfill power line trenches, tire ruts, etc.

However, the overall ball park project evolved into an effort of such magnitude, that it rewarded us with the Henry J. Elliott Efficiency Trophy as the top club in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District for 1975.  We are the only club in our division to ever have won the award, which dates back to 1922.

We sponsored a fun event in 1975, that was termed a mini-Circus.  It was all set up in the open lot south of the Cottonwood Mall.  Complete with one huge tent, several performers and animals, and an Elephant.  Who among us can forget the elephant?  The animal took sick on the morning of the first performance, and arrangements had to be made with the St.  Louis Zoo to get an "Elephant Doctor" to Glen Carbon, stat!  The elephant recovered, the shows went on, and the proceeds went to the development of the newly formed Oliver C.  Anderson Hospital in the area.

In the fall of 1975, club members started thinking and planning for the club's and Village's participation in the forthcoming National Bi-Centennial.  An old signboard at Citizens' Park was restored and painted Red White and Blue, with a Miner head symbol and the words "Happy Birthday U.S.A.  from GLEN CARBON, ILLINOIS"  A similar sign was built, this one 4' x 16' and displayed at the Kinsey Motors (now Four Flags) area.  We also ordered and sold Flag Kits at cost to anyone wanting to display their patriotism.

Then came the big project for the Bi-Centennial year.  A brainstorm from the Village Clerk's Office.  "We need a covered bridge on Main Street over Judy Creek."  When the planning was completed, design finished, our club was looked upon as an immediate and available source of labor. Early in March of 1976, our members met with the designers and started work on the structure.  Work was limited to week-ends, as most all involved were still in the work force of their various companies.

Thirteen week-ends later, we stood back to admire our work.  With the expert guidance of Bill Kaman and Jim Kovarik, and the toils of our members and several other citizens, Glenda's dream had come true.  But alas, early on the morning of September 1, 1976, the bridge's life came to an abrupt end at the hands of an arsonist.  The bridge was rebuilt with insurance money and hired labor, but is the same as the original structure.  Since we had received the Henry Elliott Award the previous year for our Ball Diamond work, the best this would get us was runner-up.

In 1977, the Park Association was able to obtain, with the aid of a local State Representative, a Railroad Caboose for Miner Park.  But how to move it from the siding on what is now the Nature Trail to the park entrance.  Again a call to the Kiwanis for help.  Arrangements made with a Granite City Kiwanian, owner of a company with a huge hoisting rig was accomplished.  Then, manually pushing the caboose to Collinsville Street, disassembling the box from the railroad trucks, and moving it piece meal to the site.  Several members became adept "Gandy Dancers" in putting a section of track in place for the re-installation of the caboose.  What a versatile club we have.  The comment has been overheard many times that "If it can be done, someone in the Glen Carbon Kiwanis Club will know how to do it."  The following year we assisted in the renovation, sand blasting and painting of the structure.

1978 saw the club celebrate its 25th Anniversary, with a Dinner meeting at the K of C Buffalo Park in Maryville.  It was a combined affair, as that same night the new Land of Goshen, Glen Carbon Club was chartered.  District Governor Don Miller was the key speaker and major dignitary for the evening.  The formation of the new club was a real challenge, as numerous snowstorms and blizzards hampered the efforts early in the year.  But formation was completed by May 10th and chartering held July 8th.

Also in the 70's, the club undertook a unique one time project.  It was a combination fund raiser and Community service project.  The Village had received 200 signs, which a traffics safety study had indicated were needed in various parts of the community.  Installing the 200 signs was a huge task for the small Village work force.  Our club agreed to install the signs for $2.00 per sign, far less than any other bids could be made.  After receiving the go-ahead, some of our members studied the specifications, locations etc.

During the cold part of the year, our first attempt was slow and somewhat futile in setting the sign posts into the somewhat frozen ground.  (Two Kiwanians holding a pole, two sighting for the perpendicular and one on a pick-up bed wielding a sledge.)  Then the brilliant engineering capacities of a few members came to the forefront.  Acquiring an unused power pole, a pulley was attached to the top.  This pole was affixed into the back end of one of the village dump trucks.  A pile driver was fabricated out of a piece of steel pipe of sufficient inside diameter as to slip over the posts.

The end was capped and welded.  A steel loop affixed, and a heavy rope attached.  This rope then was passed through the pulley on the top of the power pole.

Using manual labor, we raised the heavy pile driver, slipped it over the top of the sign post and let go of the rope.  Worked fairly well, however it quickly tired the rope men.  "Must be a better way", said one of the members.  Since all this was being done on week-ends, the Village had made their equipment available to us.  One said, "Let's get the Ford Tractor down here.  We'll use the Power Take Off (PTO)."

Now it only took one rope man at a time.  Jockey the dump truck and Ford tractor into position, lower the pile driver pipe over the pole, put a single wrap of the rope around the PTO shaft, turn it on and the shaft winds up the rope. When the pipe is raised sufficiently, the rope man lets go and, Wham, the sign post goes into the ground a foot or so.  Several more tries and the post is ready for the signs to be affixed.  At the end of each weekend we had to disassemble the rig on the dump truck so it could go back into service.  However, this operation shortened the sign installation job by several weekends.

In 1981 we undertook the task of putting lighted decorations on Main Street for the Christmas season.  It was an arduous task, as Timers had to be installed at the covered bridge, then wiring all long the Main Street south side, pole to pole, to the top of the hill on Main.  Brackets and outlets installed on the poles for the decorations.

Over 3,000 feet of wire was strung.  Christmas of 1981 saw the first lighted decorations in Glen Carbon in many years.  Then in 1983, with the arrival of Cable Television, we had to restring another 3,000 feet of wiring to replace that which had been disrupted by the Cable installations.  Then in 1978, working with the Village, a HAPPY HOLIDAYS sign was purchased, and installation was performed on the walkway of the Cottonwood water tower.  The Sign hangs 80 feet in the air.  Additional lighted decorations have been purchased by a group of businesses along 159, and are the responsibility of the club to install these as well.  Last year, (1992) the Village and the club shared in the cost of 40 Christmas Banners which we now put up at the locations where Centennial Banners flew last year.

1988 again saw our club looking for a place to meet.  Fire struck the Country House Restaurant in early October, resulting in the permanent closure of the business.  After several meetings held in the Village Hall board room, we settled on the new meeting place, Walton's Restaurant in the upper level of the Cottonwood Mall structure.  Finding storage for our many items which were kept at the Country House was a real problem.  Since we had met there for over 25 years, one can appreciate how much can accumulate in that period of time. Fortunately none of our material was damaged in the fire.

During the past decade, we have continued our on going programs that include:

• Support of Glen-Ed Pantry

• Sponsor all Scout groups in the community

• Provide assistance at Scouting events Build and maintain school bus shelters (project no longer maintained)

• Maintained Spiritual Aims/Welcome signs until 2012

• Conduct a free wheelchair/walker loaner program (project no longer maintained)

• Provide camperships to Kiwanis Camp Wyman

• Maintain and install Christmas decorations (village has taken over this project)

• Provide Christmas basket funds for the needy (project no longer maintained)

• Christmas program for nursing home residents (project no longer maintained)

• Financial support for various Kids Parties

• Participate in Parades

• Food Booth for past Glenfest & current homecomings and other events

• Financial and physical support of Camp Wyman (project no longer maintained)

• Sponsor annual Municipal Band concert (project no longer maintained)

 

One of our first projects during this time period was to replace the old Church sign we had on Illinois 159.  We decided to have a professional painter do the work, using our design.  We also changed the wording to "Attend the Church of your choice", replacing the Church listings and hours of service, which always seemed to be changing.  We also made it a Welcome to Glen Carbon Sign.

Having received the first sign, we opted for a second, to be installed on the Water plant property on Illinois 162.  Landscaping was accomplished after the installation.  Five years later, we can look at those signs as money well spent. (Village removed this sign in 2014 with the water main replacement project)

Early in this period, our club undertook a project of sponsoring a Kiwanis Kids Day for French Exchange students visiting the Edwardsville School District.  This required coordination with the Edwardsville club and requesting additional funding from the Old Newsboy fund, of which we assisted.  In a short period of time, all systems were go.  The day of transporting the students to St. Louis for a ride on the Tom Sawyer, lunch at McDonald's on the river and a Cardinal Ball game, complete with hot dogs and soda arrived.  It turned out to be a very exciting and All American Day for the students.  Our Kiwanis chaperone reported that it was a great day, except for the student-generated bus noise.

The Glen Carbon Historical Society, in conjunction with our sponsored Scout troop, resurrected an old cemetery in the Village limits.  A dedication ceremony was planned and the society asked our club to provide some major assistance.  Honor guards, Benedictory and parking services were required.  Before the ceremony our parking services crew assisted visitors in parking their vehicles, further assisted them onto a shuttle bus, rode with them to the site, and helped in disembarking, then returned to the lot for the next group.

Early in 1990, we were approached by the Glen Carbon Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to provide labor to install new equipment at the school playground.  Since we were looking for a project to celebrate the Kiwanis International 75th Anniversary, we needed something that would involve at least 75 hours.  This looked like it fit the bill.  (We did in fact expend 218 labor hours on this phase of the project).  We would be required to paint, mix and pour concrete, dig holes and perform general mechanical assembly.   The installation started on 28 February and culminated on 9 March with a dedication ceremony.  Prior to school resuming in the fall, we cleaned and repainted the older equipment on the playground.

In the Fall of 1990, in a far off desert, a dictator, Saddam Hussein is talking tough.  Our president orders an alert called "DESERT SHIELD".  Troops are being moved and our Navy is enforcing an embargo against Iraq.  The Iraqi army has taken over the oil rich country of Kuwait.  Diplomatic efforts failing, on January 15, 1991, the UN initiates "DESERT STORM".  Live reports of the bombing and desert warfare reach us through our TV.  Our troops are there, but what can we do here?  At our January 16th meeting we discussed ways to show community support for our troops.  We had already lined main street with flags.  We then decided to purchase 200 Troop Support placards, which would be mounted to the power poles on Main.  The remaining metal placards were turned over to the Village for free distribution to any citizens desiring to show their support.  After the cessation of hostilities, we participated with members and float in the Desert Storm Appreciation Parade.

Our Township Park is a beautiful place, but it lacked a major children's  play area.  In May of 1991, the concerted efforts of all township organizations and citizens were consolidated into a labor intensive 5 day period to erect playground equipment.  Since we were not strangers to playground equipment installations, 15 club members put in and excess of 10 hours each.  At 5:00 p.m. on the fifth day, the Children's Castle Playground was dedicated and turned over to the hundreds of youngsters ready to try it out.

The Village of Glen Carbon acquired an abandoned railroad right-of-way; a 4 mile tract cutting through hills, valleys and some beautiful scenery.  The trail bed is well kept, oiled and chipped, but the trail has seven bridges crossing over creek branches.  These bridges were inadequately protected, and needed childproofing.  Another railing had to be added to the approaches and the sides.  Three by eight treated timbers were attached to each side of the bridge to enhance its appearance while preventing a falling cyclist from slipping through to the creek.  Work began on the first bridge (prototype) in September of 1991.  All bridges had been completed in early 1992.  The club has also taken on the responsibility for upkeep of the trail.  Many club members have worked with school children in planting wildflowers along the Prairie Grass restoration site of the trail.

The restoration of the Yanda Log Cabin on Main Street also consumed some of the club's time during this past five years.  One of our members, Bob Williams, was totally consumed by the project.

With better than 2 years of work facing restoration crews, it didn't look like the project would be completed by the target date for the Centennial.  Through Bob's persistence, the help of dedicated citizens, other organizations, and our small part, the Cabin was ready for dedication at the kick-off of the Centennial Celebration.  The club has made a long range commitment to participate in all activities and fund raising events at the Cabin, to keep this show piece alive.

Our most labor intensive involvement during this time period involved the Glen Carbon Centennial Celebration.  Planning involvement started in November of 1990.  Initial involvement started with 2 members.  By mid 1991, with an operating organization in place, 6 members were involved in executive positions.  By the time the Celebration reached its climax on June 20th, 1992, every member of the club had been involved in one or more activities; store clerks, stage construction, actors/actresses,
promenaders, planners, entertainers, hawkers and the like.  It was a period of time that left the club members exhausted but happy, and provided memories that can never be forgotten.  An excess of 2200 labor hours were expended by club members, and many more by spouses and children.

With the exhausting efforts of the Centennial behind us, our thoughts turned to a new administrative year, and an eager anticipation of things to come.  One of the first major decisions we had to face was finding a new place to meet.  We were advised by the management of the Cornucopia Buffet at Cottonwood, that they were closing.

 With Village Officials approval, we temporarily met in the Village Hall Community Room.  We tried a Dessert type meeting, with members taking turns on providing the dessert.  This was a difficult venue, as it was near impossible to have a program, and Mates Nite just wouldn't work.  After several months, we settled on meeting at the Yum-Yum Shoppe in Ginger Creek.  Finding a Restaurant in Glen Carbon is difficult.  We hope it will be rectified in the near future.

 Additional Playground Equipment had arrived during the Summer of 1992, but with the hubbub of the Centennial we were forced to delay the installation until early fall.  Once again the hardy souls were out in force to put the final touches on the playground area.  Before School was out in May of 1993, 11 club members worked with about 30 school children to plant 1100 wildflower shoots in an area along the Nature Trail.  And our Barbecue Chefs continued their expertise during the School Carnival in late April as well as during the Old Settlers' Days in late June and the Glenfest in August.  The Old Settlers' Days is a rejuvenation of the Old Settlers' Picnics that were held during the early days of our club's existence.  The old Settlers' Picnics ended in 1957, with no organized community picnics until the Glenfest started in 1973.