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50 YEARS AGO
Rotary comes to Danville
By Robert E. Pearcy
In 1957 downtown Danville was a thriving business community – it was a time
when some 50 retail, service and professional firms filled the buildings in Danville’s
downtown area. It was a time when retailers valued their independence, often to the
exclusion of any relationship with their competition.
It was the year that Rotary came to Danville. It was the time when a group of
energetic business and professional men came together to explore the opportunities of
service to their club, their community, their vocation and international relationships. It
was a time when the business community came together in a new spirit of cooperation for
the common cause of bettering the community in which they worked and lived.
Members of Danville Rotary Club and their guests will gather at the Hendricks
County Conference Center Saturday, October 13 to commemorate the 50 years of Rotary
in Danville.
Fifty years ago county residents enjoyed the convenience of being able to shop for
most of their needs by just “going around the square.” Around and on the square were
Danner’s 5 &10, the House of Hadley, Lawrence Pharmacy, Kroger's, Turner Pharmacy,
Johnston’s Regal Store, Thompson Drug Co., Saunder’s IGA, Lawson’s Market, Head’s
Clothing, Wellman’s, Ralph Norman Agency, Danville Plumbing & Heating, Ed
Stevenson Agency, B.P. Roeder Plumbing, The Ideal Shop and Beecham’s.
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Other business firms included E.J. Robert’s Plymouth & Dodge, Dutch Stuart
Studebaker & Mercury, Zimmerman Insurance, First National Bank, Danville State Bank,
Danville Electric Hatchery, Mandy’s East Side Café, Royal Theatre, Poynter Insurance,
Dinsmore’s Grocery & Baskets, Baker Ace Hardware, D.F. Roberts Furniture, Nay’s
Appliances, J.C. Logan Mobile, Will’s Cleaners, Citizen’s Savings & Loan.
Also in the downtown area were York Jewelers, Taylor & Taylor, Abstract &
Title, B & H Grill, Joe Bennett Liquors, Danville Book Store, Robert’s Pastry, H.C.
Rodney & Son Chevrolet, Meazel Jewelry, Mac’s Implement Sales, Dalton Realty,
Public Service Indiana, Danville Radio & Record Shop, and Community Loan Co. Two
newspapers, The Republican and The Danville Gazette served the community. Yes, there
were a few attorneys on the square, however they didn’t advertise in the local
newspapers.
The year 1957 was a busy time in Hendricks County – and an important time. The
year started with the Hendricks County Hospital Planning Board recommending that an
80-bed hospital be constructed and the first Hospital Board of Trustees was appointed.
Hendricks County Farm Bureau Co-op opened its new farm store on Lincoln Street.
Ground was broken for the new Episcopal Church on North Washington Street and
enrollment in county schools reached 6,000.
Housewives could shop at Orville Johnston’s Regal Store and buy ham for 50
cents a pound and coffee for 86 cents a pound. Men could walk into the House of Hadley
on the north side of the square and purchase an Arrow shirt for $4. Realtor Ralph Norman
was offering a three-year-old three-bedroom ranch home, with carport and fenced-in back
yard for $12,750 asking only $2,750 down.
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Danville’s real estate tax was $5.50 per $100 assessed valuation. Dutch Stuart was
advertising a 1957 Mercury for $2,868 and a four-door 1957 Studebaker for $1,600. For
entertainment, movie-goers went to The Royal Theatre to see The Buster Keaton Story,
and at the Maplecroft Drive-In Theater viewers watched Abbot and Costello in “Dance
With Me Henry.”
In the summer of 1957, Lois J. Arnold was president of The First National Bank,
having moved to Danville from Greencastle where he was a member of the Rotary Club.
The transplanted banker started talking with local businessmen about starting a Rotary
Club in Danville. Rotary, an international organization of business and professional men
and women, has a Classification Principle to make sure that each Rotary Club includes
representatives that are a cross-section of the business and professional life of the
community. At that time, Rotary limited membership to one of each type of business and
profession, with few exceptions... In later years, Rotary expanded its classification list to
accept additional members from the same type of business or profession.
By mid-September, 24 of the 29 charter members had met for an organizational
meeting and elected L.J. Arnold as President of the provisional Danville Rotary Club.
Other officers elected at this meeting were Joe Stevenson, an attorney, vice-president;
Luther Poynter, an insurance agent, secretary; and Bob King, bridge contractor, treasurer.
Lebanon Rotary Club sponsored the Danville club and helped guide the new Rotarians
through the many steps required to be chartered by Rotary International. The chartering
process was delayed because of the reported classification of “Baskets” for Noble
Dinsmore, sometimes known as the Basket Man – RI did not have such a classification.
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However, after it was proven that Dinsmore did sell a lot of baskets, the classification list
for members was approved.
The first official meeting of the Danville Rotary Club was October 3, for a
luncheon at Mollie’s Colonial Restaurant, located about four miles north of Danville on
Washington Street. Since that first meeting, local Rotarians have met for lunch each
Thursday noon, except on holidays or for special occasions. Rotary International issued
the charter for the new Danville Club October 9, 1957 and in mid-November, more than
200 Rotarians and guests attended a banquet during which the charter was presented to
the Danville Rotary Club. The event was celebrated in the local high school gymnasium
in the building that is now the Hendricks County Government Center on South
Washington Street.
Who were the 29 charter members? Because of Rotary’s classification system, the
membership roll provided a wide variety of business and professional men – only men
because Rotary International had yet to accept women for membership.
Charter members included L.J. Arnold, First National Bank; Joe Stevenson,
Stevenson & Kendall, Attorneys-at-law; Fred Shelton, Danville State Bank; Luther
Poynter, Poynter Insurance Agency; Bob King, King Construction Co.; Fred Shelton,
Danville State Bank; Ed Stevenson, Stevenson Insurance Agency; Norman Comer,
Abstract & Title; Leslie Zimmerman, Zimmerman Insurance; H.O. Crowley, Danville
Plumbing & Heating; Howard Fretz, Public Service Indiana; Dr. Elmer Koch, physician;
and Milton Hamilton, Hamilton Engineering.
Also, Noble Dinsmore, Dinsmore’s Market; Paul Raver, Hendricks County
Extension Agent; David Richardson, Hendricks County Farm Bureau Co-op; Bill Nay,
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Nay’s Appliances; Glen Tharp, Danville Savings & Loan; E.J. Roberts, Roberts
Plymouth & Dodge dealer; Leroy Rutledge, Rutledge D-X Station; Hugh Weaver,
Weaver Funeral Home; Donald York, York Jewelers; Rev. George Smith, Danville
Christian Church; Charles Miles, farmer; Elmer Davisson, Danville Automotive Parts;
Floyd Hadley, House of Hadley; Ralph Norman, Normal Real Estate; Edward “Pug”
Weesner, The Republican; and Robert E. Pearcy, The Danville Gazette.
Of the 29 charter members, only three remain: Elmer Davisson, Leroy Rutledge
and Bob Pearcy. L.J. Arnold, the first club president was the only member to serve as
president for two terms. Eleven other charter members would serve as president of their
club.
During this span of 50 years, the club has met each Thursday at noon, with the
exception of when a holiday falls on Thursday, and when special events were scheduled.
Early meetings were at Mollie’s Colonial Inn, located about four miles north of Danville
on Washington Street. Since that time club meetings have been convened in the Danville
Christian Church, Danville Presbyterian Church, Farm Bureau Insurance on Lincoln
Street, the Waffle House on the square, Hendricks County Community Center, Danville
Conservation Club, Citizens Savings and Loan and currently at the Mayberry Café.
Rotary’s Ideal of Service is expressed by it’s motto of “Service Above Self’, and
functions in four Avenues of Service: Club, Community, Vocation, and International.
Also prominent in the Rotary philosophy is the Four Way Test: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is
it FAIR to All Concerned? Will it Build GOODWILL and Better Friendships? 4. Will it
Be BENEFICIAL to All Concerned?
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Because the club year begins in July, the new Danville Rotary Club got a late start
in exploring the Four Avenues of Service but managed to place 15th in the District
Attendance contest. Danville native Ruth Wean was back home from South Korea and
shared some of her experiences while serving in that country.
Rotary, the world’s first service organization had come to Danville. In the days
and years ahead the 29 charter members would learn more about this organization of
business and professional men, united worldwide to provide humanitarian service. They
would learn to encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill
and peace in the world.
The immediate impact of Rotary in Danville became apparent in a new spirit of
cooperation among the members and the whole business and professional community.
Although the new organization would function as a club, it encouraged individual
Rotarians to reflect their new Ideal of Service as they were involved in other
organizations and life of the community.
Attorney Joe Stevenson was elected club president for the 1959-60 club year,
succeeding L.J. Arnold, the first club president and the only member to ever serve two
terms. Rev. George Smith of The Danville Christian Church was the third president of the
club, followed by Glen Tharp of Citizens Savings & Loan. Other club presidents in the
first 10 years included Luther Poynter of Poynter Insurance Agency, Bob Pearcy of The
Danville Gazette, Harold Miles, U.S. Postal Service; Harold Hiser, Danville State Bank
and Harry Haver, Hendricks County Hospital Administrator.
During the next 10 years, the membership roll increased as more business and
professional men wanted to become a part of the World of Rotary. Admittedly, social
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activities played an important role in developing a close relationship among the members
and their families. Rotary became a family affair.
One of the early social events of the club was a party at the Cataract Yatch Club,
of which Rotarian Edward “Pug” Weesner was a member. To ensure that enough boats
were available, the club invited Attorney John Kendall to join the fun. Bridge contractor
Bob King, one of the oldest members of the club, wowed the observers on the beach with
his water skiing skills – until he caught his toe in a wave and did an ungraceful nose dive
into the lake. Rotarian Floyd Hadley could sell men’s apparel by day but his efforts on
water skies only resulted in a sit-down, which left three wakes across the lake while
jeweler Don York couldn’t figure out how to let go of the tow rope that resulted in a wild
ride at the end of a wide arc.
Early in 1959 the Rotary Club pledged its support to help the local Optimist Club
in its project to build a swimming pool in the park. A minor crisis was averted when the
club tried to install Howard Fretz of PSI as treasurer of the club. Some “friends” arranged
for the Hendricks County Sheriff and Hendricks County Clerk to be present and serve a
restraining order to prevent the installation.
Club members were privileged to tour the new high school building under
construction as the west edge of town. As part of the tour, members learned that the new
facility would cost taxpayers $695,000. This price tag was not as disturbing as the fact
that club members were being asked to pay $1.50 for their weekly lunch. Rotarian Bob
King, an avid hunter, provided wild elk meat for one of the club’s luncheon, however, the
type of meat remained a mystery until some members started questioning its origin. Some
members insisted it had to come from an old male cow.
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One of the biggest events of 1960 was the Flapjack Follies, a joint effort of the
Optimist and Rotary clubs to raise funds for a swimming pool in the local park. Club
members cooked and served more than 6,300 pancake, netting $1,100 for construction of
a bathhouse. It was the days of Rotary Dan, a mannequin who resided in a pine box
casket. Dan was kidnapped and showed up at various locations around the square. Some
of Danville’s finest businessmen even broke into a local restaurant to retrieve Dan from
his earlier kidnappers. Their efforts would qualify for a breaking and entering charge had
the owner filed criminal action. In an after-dark operation, the business posse raced
through the alleys to deposit Dan in the safe confines of a church, claiming sanctuary.
Entertainment for the Follies included a basketball game between Rotarians and
Optimists, with the older and more experienced Rotarians defeating the younger
Optimists. The halftime feature was a style show with members of both clubs attired in
the latest female fashions, struggling to do a runway walk in unfamiliar high heels.
The Flapjack Follies returned for an encore in 1961 and again the “oldsters”
bested the “youngsters” outselling them in ticket sales - $331 to $317. Attendance, which
is mandatory for Rotarians, was emphasized in the early days of the Danville Club. In
1961, the club posted two consecutive 100% attendance meetings. Race driver Pete
DePaula was guest speaker at one of the meetings, telling Rotarians about the early days
of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. At another meeting, an exchange student from
England told local Rotarians about her home country. Club members continued their
involvement in community programs and provided financial assistance to the Association
for Retarded Children.
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In an effort to foster a closer relationship with the Plainfield Rotary Club,
Danville club president Luther Poynter accepted a challenge from the Plainfield club for
an attendance contest. Plainfield posted a 100% meeting the first week and it was all
downhill from there. The winners would eat steak, while the losers would have to be
satisfied with beans. Efforts to set a date for the pay-off were not successful until early in
1963.
Mollie’s Colonial Restaurant closed in 1963 and the club had to find another
home for its weekly luncheon meetings. They ended up in the Farm Bureau Insurance
building, and the price of meals jumped to $2. In an effort to raise funds for the Rotary
Foundation, the club started a weekly football contest, with half of the pot going to the
foundation and the other half to the winner. Contrary to what some members charged, the
contest was not “fixed” but it did seem that committee members were frequent winners.
One of the programs that year was provided by a visiting student from Austria and a letter
was received from the Saigon Rotary Club asking for a contribution to its refugee fund.
The first of many attendance contests started in 1964, with two consecutive 100%
meetings the first two weeks. The club purchased name badges and members were
warned they would be fined if they didn’t wear their badges at each meeting. A heftier
fine of $5.00 was levied if the badge was taken home.
Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis 500 facility, was speaker at one of the
noon meetings, and once again, the club joined with the Optimists, this time for a Roast
Banquet to raise funds to purchase raincoats from the school safety patrol.
During 1965 Rotarians had an opportunity to hear from Jake Frey, an exchange
student from Germany who had stayed with the L.J. Arnold family during the 1960-61
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school year. Jake was the first exchange student for our local schools and his return visit
to Danville in 1965 was a welcomed event.
More international visitors spoke to local Rotarians during 1966, with guests from
Sweden and Italy. This was the year of the club’s first golf outing, which teed off at the
Ulen Country Club in Lebanon. Rotarian Charlie Jones, a Ulen resident, hosted a cookout
following the golf, despite a mix-up at the club. Rotarian and country club member E.J.
Roberts had made last-minute reservations for the post-golf meal, having misunderstood
dining arrangements. The low light of the day was the trip back to Danville. Club
member Hugh Weaver, who was leading a caravan of five or more cars full of Rotarians,
hit a skunk that crossed the path of his car. Of course, Hugh passed over the odor, leaving
its full impact on the cars that followed.
Next week, events and activities of 40 years ago will be remembered as club
members became more involved in the World of Rotary. Information and reservations for
the club’s 50th anniversary party may call Amy Broderick, 745-4300.