THE ROTARY CLUB OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY
GEORGE B. HARRIS, JR.
THE Rotary Club of Nutley was organized at Nutley, New Jersey, in July of 1922 with Dr. Horace Tantum, Clyde Heberling, Johnson Foy and Dr. Edward H. Crystell as the individuals most interested and the Rotary Club of Belleville, New Jersey, the sponsor club. The Nutley Club, No. 1290, was chartered by Rotary International, December 22, 1922, with the following as charter members: Frank P. Barr, Henry B. Bennett, George Blake, Harry Corb, Dr. Edward H. Crystell, Dwight C. Decker, Willard H. Elliott, Andrew Flemming, Johnson B. Foy, Secretary; Clyde W. Heberling, Treasurer; William J. Housby, Albert E. Howe, Arno L. Huntley, Dr. Albert F. Jackson, Charles E. Johns, Fred A. Kurz, Edgar Leete, Henry Louden, Paul R. Radcliffe, Vice President; Chester H. Ryan, Charles A. Sherwood, Allan B. Stirratt, Dr. Horace Tantum, President; Rev. Charles P. Tinker.
Thursday, at 12: 15 p.m. is the weekly meeting day of the Club. The old Nutley Field Club at Tennis Place and Nutley Avenue, was the first meeting place of the club. The next site was the Gorham’s boarding house on Franklin Avenue (now the home of Nutley Post No. 70, American Legion); then to the Yountakah Country Club, now owned by the Federal Telephone and Telegraph Company, on River Road. In 1943, while the negotiations for the sale of the Country Club to the Federal Telephone and Telegraph Company were in process, the Club met at the Woman’s Club on Chestnut Street.
The aims and objects of the Rotary Club are based on the four objects of Rotary International, namely: fellowship, community service, vocational service, and international relations.
The fulfilling of these objects is best related by the recital of what has been done by the club over the period of years past.
An annual Christmas party for the boys and girls of the community was sponsored by the club. Each year as guests of the club the children fill to capacity the local motion picture theatre on the Saturday before Christmas. Discarded toys are reconditioned by the boys of the High School and the men of the Fire Department and are distributed to the needy children of the town. This project is now under the supervision of the Civic Celebrations Committee.
An Easter Egg Hunt was held for a good many years, prizes being awarded the youngsters securing the greatest number of eggs. This project was discarded at the start of World War II and is now conducted by the Civic Celebrations Committee.
Financial and physical aid is given the local Boy Scout Council. The club has a Youth Project Committee, which receives requests for aid from the various youth organizations, such as Boy Scouts, etc. The committee has a fund to meet the necessities of these requests. The Reinheimer Boys’ Club, named in honor of the late Walter Reinheimer, Mayor of the Town and a Rotarian, was sponsored and is supported by the Rotary Club.
Services to the community and nation were rendered in many capacities by the club members during World War II. Each year Nutley’s United Drive, the same as a community chest in other communities, has been under the leadership of a Rotarian. The collection of funds for this drive has been fully participated in by members of the club. Ninety-five per cent of the membership were connected directly with the Defense Council, a Rotarian being the chairman. Rotarians participated under the supervision of the Council in the capacity of Air Raid Wardens, Police and Fire Reservemen, Red Cross Blood Donors, Members of the Ration Panels, and the other many duties which went with the prosecution of the War.
To become a member of the Rotary Club one must be an adult male engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, or manager of any worthy and recognized business; or one holding a position in an executive capacity; or an adult male person of good character engaged in any worthy and recognized profession.
The active membership consists of but one man from each classification of business or profession.
The sum of $1,200 was given to the Tamarack Council, Boy Scouts, of which the Nutley Troops are members. The money was raised from the proceeds of a Wrestling night, and was intended for the erection of a new Medical House at the Oakland Camp. The need for such a project was cancelled and so the proceeds were given to the Council for capital improvements.
In 1958 a new project was started. All new teachers in the Public School System are taken on a tour of the town after which supper is served, with some prominent speaker addressing the meeting.
In 1951 a drawing for a television set was held and the proceeds were used for the purchase of a station wagon for the Nutley Family Service Bureau.
The Student Loan Fund which operated for a good many years was replaced with the Rotary Scholarship. Four students of the High School Senior Class are chosen for the awards. One of these students is picked by the committee for the scholarship which consists of $1,600 over the four year period while in college. The other three receive medals for their part in the project.
The Nutley Club had its first election of a Governor of the Rotary District. J. Wesley Tillou was elected in the year of 1953-54 for this honor.
A donation was made in the approximate amount of $500 to the Clara Maass Hospital Fund, for which a room was equipped. The money was raised by various means, one being the charge of 25 cents for each meal at every meeting.
In 1955 the meeting place of the Club was changed from IT&T to Kal’s Restaurant (Now Nutley Manor).
The late Dr. Albert Jackson had a perfect attendance meeting since joining the club at its beginning in 1922. Chester H. Ryan and Wayne K. Johnson are the members now holding a 20 year record for attendance.
There are as of July 1, 1960, 10,681 Rotary Clubs with a membership of 495,500 members represented in 116 countries of the world. The Nutley Club’s membership as of this date is 57. The present officers are President George B. Harris, Jr.; Vice President Lyle Olsen; Treasurer Raymond Smith; Secretary Warren Cooper Pattison.