A brief history of the Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club

   The Kiwanis Club of Norway-Paris officially began on a coin toss to determine a name. Norway won and the Norway-Paris club began a tradition of weekly luncheon meetings that has survived 75 years.

      Irving Barrows, the last chapter member who lived into his nineties, recalled that the club was originally suggested as a way to bring the rival business and professional factions of the two towns together.  It worked, and after the club was formed, friendships developed and a strong sense of one community grew stronger.

    In 1964 for the 50th anniversary, Earle Clifford penned a history of the club to bring members up to speed on the initial half-century.

    "The first recollection I have of any activity along that line here was sometime in the spring or early summer of 1924," Clifford wrote. "John Seavey came to me in the post office one night just as we were preparing to close and asked me to tell him who he should approach with the thought in mind of forming a new Kiwanis Club locally. I can fix the date as I had been appointed postmaster at South Paris and took office in October, 1923."

    Seavey and Clifford were classmates in the class of 1915. Seavey married a local girl, stayed in the area and joined the Auburn-Lewiston club, which had been sponsored by the Portland club. As its president in 1924, he was looking to carry on the Kiwanis tradition by sponsoring a new club. But this was not the first attempt in our area.  An expedition had been sent out from Lewiston a year earlier. In his report of the first quarter-century, Gordon Stewart, secretary from 1948-50, recalled that in 1923 the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club had sent a four-member delegation to contact business and professional men, hoping to start a Rotary club. This effort yielded no results.

A Club is Born

Our last living charter member was Irving Barrows, left, shown here in the summer of 1987 with Dr. Merrill SF Greene of Lewiston from the Auburn-Lewiston club.

    The organization activities for a Kiwanis club, however, proceeded to the point where 25 charter members were signed up and the club was officially charted on July 24, 1924. The formal presentation took place on August 28.  Before the formal charter meeting, several details had to be worked out, including the name.

    "I believe it was quite apparent from the onset that the names of the two towns should appear in the title of the club, but there was some contest as to which name should appear first," Clifford wrote. "The report given to me was, 'They flipped a coin and Norway won as usual.' " With the name decided, attention turned to hold Thursday luncheon meetings alternately in each town, served by the ladies' aid society of each church.

    "It is not an uncommon sight to see a Kiwanian coming to a meeting at one of the churches on Thursday noon carrying a pie or casserole that is to be served as part of the luncheon." Clifford wrote.

    The August 28, 1924 charter presentation took place at the Norway Grange Hall and was "fully intended to be quite an elaborate affair,"  Clifford wrote. It was a Ladies Night event and delegates from throughout the division as well as the New England District were gathered. The evening entree was chicken pie, which had been prepared in advance. A small preparation problem left a "sour taste" in the gathering's collective mouths, and cold cuts were rounded up at the last minute.

    Singing has always been a part of Kiwanis meetings. In the early days, the club lacked a piano player among its membership. Helen Emily Whitten of the Probate Office attended meetings and accomplished the singing. Later, the club was fortunate to have the likes of Bob Smith and Zeke Trask. Zeke, whose work has brought him in and out of the club over the years, continues as a member in the 75th year.

    "Probably the outstanding accomplishment of our club during the early years, if not all time, was the sponsoring of the Berlin, New Hampshire Club in 1927," wrote Clifford.  Clarence Morton was president and the 40-plus mile trip from South Paris was accomplished by train. Because existing schedules were not adaptable for a night meeting, a special train was charted for the February trip. The special arrangement required that 200 fares be secured.  Many stories have been told of the trip over the years, but Clifford summed it up by writing that "The new club was properly chartered and a good time was had by all."

compiled by Bill Haynes for the 75th Anniversary