Kiwanis Club has long history in Gadsden

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Gadsen, AL

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20090802/NEWS/907309987/1034/LIFETIMES?Title=Kiwanis-Club-has-long-history-in-Gadsden

Recently, a local civic organization celebrated a milestone anniversary. Two dates actually are important to the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden: June 13, 1919, and July 2, 1919.

T. Jeff Bailey and District Gov. Andrew Arrant made the first move in organizing a Kiwanis Club in Gadsden. At that time, there were only two other Kiwanis Clubs in Alabama, in Birmingham and Mobile. It was quite an honor for Gadsden to be chosen for the third club in the state. June 13, 1919, 15 men gathered in Judge William J. Boykins office in the Stocks Building to officially accept the invitation from Kiwanis International to organize the third Kiwanis Club in Alabama.

On July 2, 1919, the first regular meeting of the organization took place Gadsdens Printup Hotel.

The following week, the group once again met with the required 50 members in attendance. Regular meetings were each Wednesday evening, with the Gadsden organization receiving its charter Dec. 10, 1919.

Boykin was the organizations first president.

The Kiwanis Club of Gadsden has had regular weekly meetings since that date.

The Kiwanis Club met for a time at the Printup Hotel before moving to local churches. The club began alternating meetings at the Methodist and Presbyterian churches before moving to the new Reich Hotel in the late 1920s. The club met there until 1978, when the hotel became an apartment complex.

The organization now meets in the Hardin Center.

The list of charter members reads like a whos who of the early builders of Gadsden. E.T. Schuler, along with his brother, George, was instrumental in bringing one of Etowah Countys largest industries to the area, the Southern Steel Co. of Ensley.

Another name prominent on the list of charter members is C.L. Guice.

The first public hospital to open in Gadsden was known as the Gadsden Infirmary or the Guice and Faucett Infirmary. The hospital was opened by Dr. C.L. Guice, Dr. J.L. Gunter and Dr. George W. Faucett in the old Denson home on Forrest Avenue. It opened April 1, 1906, with 20 well-equipped patient rooms arranged to provide all comforts that might be desired. More than $10,000 was spent turning the house into the infirmary.

One other name that is well known is that of Judge John H. Disque.

Disque was quite active during the early days of the 20th century, serving Gadsden in many capacities, including mayor on more than one occasion. Of the many titles Disque held in his lifetime, being president of the Gadsden Board of Education was his favorite. During the remaining years of his life, he constantly searched for ways to improve the public school system in Gadsden.

Those are just a few of the names of the charter members of Gadsdens Kiwanis Club, a group of individuals prominent in the early growth of Gadsden.

Todays Kiwanis Club is known for its annual Pancake Day fundraiser, for sponsoring the annual Gadsden Christmas Parade and for supporting many charitable causes.