What should we
learn from our past? Do we study history because we need to
understand what went “right” and what went “wrong”? Do we
examine long-ago people and events to better comprehend our dutiful
dedication to needed change? Or, do we employ the past to better
strengthen our obligations to fellow human beings? Perhaps all of
these lessons can be solidified through a critical inspection of what
occurred long ago … most notably, by taking a deeper look into
local history, an investigation that can help us answer that age-old
conundrum “Why can't we live like they did in the 'good old days'?”
I believe that
direct contact with friends and neighbors builds lasting community.
Any area with active civic and service clubs benefits immensely from
their work. These groups become a vital fabric of the community, and
they establish a critical link between organizations, businesses, and
citizens of all ages.
Direct links among
community leaders, interested volunteers, and youth are very
important components of such civic organizations. The groups serve
not only to pool community resources, but also to mobilize access to
much-needed area improvement. The work/play interaction “pays back”
in civic duty and also “pays forward” to local needs. In this
time, establishing connections that pay strong dividends like this
are sorely lacking. Nothing creates lasting bonds like working
together in active service.
In
the past, two important local organizations worked tirelessly for the
good of the Lucasville community. The Lucasville Civic Service Club
and the Lucasville Kiwanis were vital to the development of a strong
locality. Their efforts helped make a small, rural hamlet a vibrant
community dedicated to promoting and pursuing the improvement
of social and economic conditions. I believe the youth of the
Lucasville area benefited immensely from the actions of these civic
groups. The clubs undoubedly left an indelible, positive mark.
How would it benefit the Lucasville
area to pledge a drive to increase productive interest and membership
in such organizations? I believe both groups still exist; however, in
this entry, I will use several articles about the past activities of
these groups to show you just how influential they once were. As the
town continues through the commemoration of its Bicentennial year,
residents might benefit from a look back … and consider a challenge
to the future?
"July 4th Event Will Raise
Funds For Projects in Community"
An all-day Fourth of July celebration
will be held Thursday at the fairgrounds at Lucasville in the form of
a community picnic which is being sponsored by the Lucasville Civic
Service Club.
The organization boasts a membership of
30.
Members of the committee in charge of
the picnic include: P.L. Bogan, A.S. Moulton, Coy Dodds, Dean
Schuler, and G. Malone.
The club was organized a year ago last
May and this is the second Fourth of July celebration held for the
purpose of raising funds for community projects.
Admission to the grounds will be free
as well as a baseball game in the afternoon between the Portsmouth
Moose nine and a Jackson team.
A concert by the Valley Rural High
School band will be a special attraction at night. The band is
comprised of high school students and other members who have played
with the band in past years. The group will be directed by Esto
Davis.
Midway attractions, square dancing, and
other amusements will help raise money for the club. Families are
invited to take picnic baskets and spend the day. Refreshment stands
will be on the grounds, and it is planned to keep the rides over for
an extra two days, Friday and Saturday.
Last year the club helped purchase new
uniforms for the high school band and gave a Christmas party for
youngsters with funds raised at the 1945 celebration.
Officers of the club include: W.J.
Carver, president; John Collins, vice president; Edward Miller,
treasurer; and Mr. Bogan, secretary.
The club has seven standing committees.
These and their chairmen are: municipal development, C.M. Purdy;
civic improvement, Dr. D.C. Coleman; business, Mr. Carver;
advertising, J.W. McKinley; membership, Mr. Moulton; agriculture,
Walter Malone; recreation, Mr. Miller.
Portsmouth Times, July 3,
1946
* Historical Note – By
1949, the Lucasville Fourth of July celebration attracted thousands
to the fairgounds. It continued for many decades to be the
significant event of the holiday season.
“Civic Club Plans Community Party
For Lucasville”
Children of the Lucasville Community
are invited to be present for a Christmas party tonight in Lucasville
Community Hall as guests of Lucasville Civic Service Club.
The club sponsors this annual Yuletide
program and will distribute treats to all children. The program will
start at 7:30 p.m.
Mrs. Kathryn Plum and Miss Evelyn Locke
will have charge of singing, and a 30-minute Christmas picture will
be shown by C.J. Kent, a member of the club.
Last year the civic club gave
approximately 600 treats to the youngsters, and about the same number
is planned for this year.
L.T. Comer, secretary of the club,
urged parents to bring their children to the community hall at 7:00
p.m.
Portsmouth Times, December
22, 1949
“7 Registered Jersey Calves
Distributed”
Annual presentation of seven registered
Jersey calves to Scioto County youngsters interested in building of
better dairy herds was arranged for this afternoon at Scioto County
fairgrounds under sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club and the Lucasville
Civic Club.
Five of the animals are 'backed' by the
Kiwanis and two by the Lucasville club. Youngsters, their parents,
and delegations of the Kiwanis and Lucasville club were scheduled to
assemble at the fairgrounds for the drawing to determine what boy or
girl receives just what calf.
The clubs participate by seeing that
registered calves are obtained, by payment of interest on the loans
for a year, for insurance, vaccination and extra premiums at the
fair.
The seven to be distributed today will
make a total of 47 for the county sisnce the program was started six
years ago. It will make 37 for the Kiwanis-sponsored youngsters and
10 for Lucasville club boys and girls. The Kiwanis initiated the
project in 1944 and Lucasville Civic Club started in 1946.
According to George Wood, county agent,
the program as resulted in about 125 registered Jersey calves bing
brought into the county. Numerous adults, seeing the results obtained
by the youngsters, became interested and invested in registered
stock.
The seven calves for today were located
by Mr. Wood, Floyd Landrum, Walter Malone, and Raymond Zaler of the
Lucasville club and Howard Dale for Kiwanis. Six were obtained from
two Clermont County farms and one from Walter Malone or north of
Lucasville. Mr. Zaler arranged transportation here.
Portsmouth Times, May 11,
1950
“Club Sponsors Goblin Party”
275 Frolic in Village Community Hall
A Halloween party sponsored by
Lucasville Civic Service Club Inc., kept a crowd of youngsters and
parents busy with fun and frolic Tuesday night in the community hall.
Donuts and cider were served to 275
people and contests and games lasted from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.
Identical prizes of a box of candy and a $1 bill were presented to
all winners.
In a masqueratde contest, judged by
Mrs. Orville Blankenship, Mrs. Lucille Hacquard, and Esto S. Davis,
the following were chosen for best costumes in their classifications:
John Doll, ugliest; Gary Channel, most
original; Latonia Thompson, funniest; and Larry Comer, prettiest.
Mrs. Pauline Borders won a guessing contest.
A free moving picture was shown by C.J.
Kent. The committee in charge of the evening included John Collis,
chairman; W.J. Carver and Raymond Zaler.
Portsmouth Times, November 1,
1950
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