From the February 28, 1924, Herald-Patriot:

"A number of local men interested in the organization here of Rotary club met on Tuesday evening at Hotel Charitone to take up the matter of furthering such a project.  Attorney Chas. Miller, president of the Albia Rotary club, and organizer, appeared before the local body and assisted in the forming of an organization to be known as The Rotary Club of Chariton, a member of International Rotary.  To head the charter organization here the following men were chosen:  H. T. Wilson, president; E. P. Smith, vice president; Chas. F. Wennerstrum, secretary; Fred S. Risser, treasurer; and O. J. Isreal, Hugh R. Brown and Arch Jones, members of the board."

From the April 10, 1924, Herald-Patriot:

"This is to be a big night for the Chariton Rotary Club.  At their meeting scheduled for this evening at the new Hotel Charitone dining room the formal charter presentation, included in a general big type program, is to take place.  District governor Carl Weeks, of Des Moines, will be present to present the charter to Iowa's newest Rotary Club while other officials and visitors will come from over the district to help make much of the event.  Visitors will come from Fairfield, Ottumwa, Albia, Indianola, Creston and Des Moines.  Over one hundred will be seated at the banquet.

"The Rotary Club is a new institution in Chariton, the local organization having been in effect but a short time.  No great fuss or ado has been made about the matter as this is said to be the Rotary way of doing things.

"It is explained that primarily a Rotary club is a group of representative business and professional men, who without secret code, dogma or creed, but each in his own way, have accepted the philosophy of service which is "Service above self".  This philosophy is based upon the practical ethical principle that "He profits most who serves best".  It is explained that Rotary is not in politics neither has it any taint of theology.  Its purpose is to form a gathering place of good citizens of any country and all countries, for fellowship and service to the community."

From the May 7, 1925, Herald Patriot:

"Ray Reed now heads the Chariton Rotary Club as a result of the election of officrs held several weeks ago and the formal installation at the noon luncheon at Charitone Hotel today.  Other officers elected for the new year were Victor Swartzendruver, vice president, C. F. Wennerstrum, secretary, and Fred Risser, treasurer.  The new board of directors includes J. R. Cougil, E. P. Smith, Arch Jones, and the officers as above named.  The club membership now numbers 25.

"The Chariton Rotary charter was granted one year ago.  The club which is number 1666 comes in the Rotary succession between a similar organization in New Jersey and one in Florida.  For the year Hunter Wilson has been at the head of its affairs here and has directed the interest and efforts of the membership into a number of worth while avenues.  During the coming year it hoped to expend the energies of the organization in still other channels of community service.

"The membership list now includes the names of Hugh Brown, E. P. Smith, Lloyd L. Hook, A. M. McPherson, Edwin Jarl, Dean Frasher, Dr. W. H. Parry, Dr. A. L. Yocom, Jr., H. B. Stewart, Henry McCullough, Clayton Stewart, J. R. Cougil, Joe Wright, Victor Swartzendruver, Lloyd Penick, Rev. J. A. Riggs, Fred Peterson, Joe L. Piper, Hunter Wilson, C. F. Wennerstrum, Ray Reed, Fred Risser, T. J. Nichols, Arch Jones and Robert Larimer."

From the May 15, 1924, Herald Patriot:

"The Chariton Rotary Club will tonight entertain at Hotel Chariton visiting Rotarians from Albia who will bring and present to the local club the Rotary wheel.  This wheel is being sent from city to city in this tate in the furtherance of the cause of good fellowship between the business men of each community.  The wheel was presented several weeks ago by the Waterloo club to Iowa City.  The Iowa City club presented it to Washington and that city in turn gave it to Fairfield.  Fairfield last week gave it to Ottumwa which organization transferred it to Albia.  Appropriate ceremonies accompany the presentation of this wheel between clubs.

"Chariton Rotarians will on next tuesday make a formal presentation of the symbol to the club at Oskaloosa.  It is expected that several members of the local club will visit the neighboring town on that occasion."

From the May 27, 1927, Herald-Patriot:

"Rev. Joseph A. Riggs returned Thursday morning from Mason City, where he represented the local Rotary organization at the district convention in that city.  The district comprises the greater part of Iowa and some sixty-five chapters were represented there.  Rev. Riggs spoke on "Boy's Work" on the program held for the delegates at Hotel Hanferd."

From the January 10, 1929, Herald Patriot:

"At Hotel Charitone Wednesday night the members of the Rotary club were served with a banquet, with half the members guests and half hosts.  The banquet, a stag affair, was the culmination of an attendance and sociability contest among the members started several weeks ago and closing last Friday.  Points were added and the side losing arranged a banquet and the side winning a program.  The two committees worked out an extremely interesting evening in which practically every member attended and thoroughly enjoyed."

From the February 20, 1930, Herald-Patriot:

"The Rotary club Friday at their noon luncheon had a number of medical men at their meeting when a moving picture was shown in which the manufacture of serums was made.  There were present six Chariton doctors, one from Russell and three from Corydon.  Besides these several other guests were present and took a keen interest in the exhibition which was held in the private dining room at Hotel Charitone."

From the July 3, 1930, Herald-Patriot:

"To Chicago last week went eight Chariton people to attend the convention of Rotary International.  This was a mammoth gathering of people from the four quarters of the globe, nearly every one of the sixty-eight countries in which Rotary clubs have been organized being represented.  There were perhaps more than twenty thousand visitors and delegates present, and the meetings were held in a roofed over stadium sufficiently large that all could be seated.  The Chariton people attending, all of whom returned the last of the week were:  Mr. and Mrs. Harold Mann, Dr. and Mrs. Albert Yocom, jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Flatt, Charles Rowe and Will D. Allender."

From the September 11, 1930, Herald-Patriot:

"The members of the Chariton Rotary club took steps to provide one year in college for some member of the high school class of 1921 at their regular luncheon meeting Friday noon at the Hotel Charitone.  The action of the club assures a one year scholarship to the boy attaining the highest standing in this year's high school graduating class.

"The motion to provide the scholarship was made by J. R. Cougill, superintendent of the city schools, and was seconded by Jerome Oppenheimer and unanimously adopted by the club.  The motion provided that the money to finance the scholarship be raised in an unique way.  As the birthday of the various Rotary members is reached they are to contribute a sum equal to ten cents for each year of their age.  This goes into the scholarship fund to be used in providing an additional year's education for the ranking boy in the high school senior class.

"Jess Nichol, a member of the local club, was the first to make the contribution, his birthday coming during this month.  Consideration for the feelings of the various Rotary members prohibit making public the amount of the contribution, as many have attained an age when it is 'no fun to talk about it.'

"The Chariton Women's club has for some time maintained a similar fund to provide a scholarship for the ranking girl in the senior class, and local school officials are high in the praise of both organizations for the interest they have manifested in the young people.

"In offering a scholarship to the Chariton high school boy attaining the highest scholastic standing this year has but carried out the mandate of service which is the primary principle of this great service club.  The scholarship, too, has given the boys of the Chariton high school added incentive for an application to their studies and a more thorough adherence to the business for which their parents are making possible the advantages of an education.

"This is an area of specialization, an age when an education is indispensable in the young man's march toward the goal of success.  It is too often said by those who seemingly forget that they were once young themselves that most of the young men of today are equipped with the well known pitchfork emblematic of his satanic majesty and are headed for the infernal regions.  This is all baloney boys are boys, no matter whether they live the gay nineties or in the frank 1930, and they have been cut out of the same pattern since the start of the human family.  The boys of today are just the same as the boy of the earlier days, but success is not so easy to attain as it was before the days of such strenuous competition.

"Scholastic standing among the boys of the Chariton schools has always been on a high plane, and the Chariton Rotary club has taken a step toward raising the standard, if such is possible.  The Rotary movement is a worthwhile institution and in providing a scholarship for the highest ranking student in the high school, the Chariton club is but carrying  out the high ideals of the organization."

From the December 25, 1930, the Herald-Patriot:

"Kiddies to right of you, kiddies to left of you, kiddies in front of you and kiddies all around you.

"That's the story of the free Christmas Show for the kiddies of the community at the Ritz Theatre Wednesday morning, when 750 youngsters were guests of the Ritz, the Community Club and the Chariton Rotary Club.  The annual show, at which each guest was given a Christmas treat through the courtesy of the two clubs, was one of the most successful ever held here.

"Boys and girls from all corners gathered at the theatre yesterday morning at 10 o'clock to enjoy the great Christmas program arranged by Manager Weber and to participate in the treat provided by the clubs.

"Oh, just one glance at the faces of those youngsters would convince the sourest grouch that the party was a big success", Mr. Weber said.

From the April 30, 1931, Herald-Patriot:

"Approximately one hundred fifty fathers and sons are expected to attend the Fathers' and Sons' banquet Thursday evening in the Methodist church basement with the Chariton Rotary Club sponsoring their annual observation of the National week.  Charles E. Miller of Albia, will present the feature address at the banquet.

"Although the banquet is to be sponsored by the Chariton Rotary Club, it is the intention of the committee in charge of the event rather to make the event a community affair with every father and son in Chariton participating.

"The ticket sale of the banquet has been handled by the Rotary committee.  Tickets went on sale on Monday morning and the committee in charge of the selling report a brisk demand for the tickets.

"The Boys' work committee advises every Chariton man without a son for the evening to adopt a youth and bring him to the banquet.  The worthwhile spirit of the banquet will bring enjoyment and bo of value to everyone.

"Ralph Paton and Clarence Johnson, Chariton high and junior college students, outstanding in state declamatory circles, will present readings on the varied program.  Merrill Anderson will have charge of the musical portion of the program".

From the December 15, 1932, Herald-Patriot:

"Arthur McArthur of Omaha, Nebraska has been selected as the guest speaker for the annual Rotary Ann party, of the Chariton Rotary club, which will be held in the main dining room at the Hotel Charitone tomorrow evening.  Byrl Malone, chairman of the entertainment committee of the club, is in charge of the annual party.

"Mr. McArthur's talk is according to his own words "Not a lecture, but a thirty minute cyclone of laughter".  He is a personal friend of James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, and his program which is entitled "Forty Minutes of Good Fellowship" will include his personal recollections of Riley.

"The Omaha man has spoken before hundreds of civic clubs, colleges, churches and lodges and according to Mr. Malone "We are looking forward to one of the most delightful programs presented before the Chariton Rotary club in many months."

"Wives of the club members will be guests at the party tomorrow evening, which starts with a 7 o'clock dinner.

From the February 2, 1933 Herald-Patriot:

"Chariton Rotarians will serve as hosts to forty farmers of the Norwood community at a meeting to be held in the Norwood community tonight.  Invitations have been mailed to the guests, and a 100 percent attendance is expected.

"A. J. Adams, Harold Mann and Berry F. Halden of the club's Rural-Urban committee are in charge of the program, which will open with a seven o'clock dinner served by the Norwood ladies aid society.

"A program of music, readings and novelty entertainment in numbers will follow a talk by Rev. O. W. Morrow of Chariton.

From the November 16, 1933, Herald-Patriot:

"Chariton Rotarians will go to Williamson Friday for another meeting in the series of rural-urban series sponsored by the club.

"Approximately 25 Williamson businessmen, mine union officers and farmers, and 25 local members are expected to attend.

"The meeting will be held at Williamson Community church, beginning with a banquet at 6:30 p.m.  The Ladies Aid society of the church will serve the banquet, which is to be followed by a program arranged here and at Williamson.

"Noel Cloud, in charge of Chariton's share of the entertainment said today that the Rev. Orville W. Morrow of the Methodist church will be the principal speaker.

"Mr. and Mrs. Guy Williby and their daughters, Bernice and Anita, will also be heard in a varied program of songs and dancing, Cloud said.

"The Williby sisters have been featured each Saturday evening on a radio broadcast from station WHO-WOC, Des Moines.

"Williamson's program has not yet been announced.

"The night session will replace the regular Friday luncheon meeting of the Rotary club at Hotel Charitone.

From the March 1, 1934 Herald-Patriot:

"Chariton's Rotary club will observe its tenth birthday tomorrow evening with a dinner and program at First Presbyterian church.

"Guests of the club members at the annual affair will be their wives.

"The feature of the program will be an address by James A. Roth of Chicago, Illinois.  Mr. Roth is now in charge of the division of the secretariat of Rotary International which provides service to clubs in Latin America.  He was special commissioner for the organization to Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries from 1925 to 1933.  Prior to that time he was in the United States Consular service.

"John Flatt, President of the local club, will serve as toastmaster for the banquet program.  Charles Rowe will act as song leader and Miss Dora Mae Tinder as pianist.  Community singing will open the event.

"The Rotary birthday toast will be given by Robert Larimer and the Rotary Ann toast by Mrs. Mona Stewart.

"Entertainment will consist of vocal selections by the Dillman sisters, a trio, by Wendell Fuller and a piano solo by Miss Tinder.

"The banquet will be served at 6:30 p.m., officials of the organization have announced.

From the August 13, 1935, Herald-Patriot:

"Chariton Rotarians and other interested business and professional ment, with 4-H boys and leaders, will make a tour of Lucas County Wednesday.

"The auto caravan is to leave Hotel Charitone at 1 p.m.  The route goes through Washington, Benton, Whitebreast, Ottercreek, Union and Warren townships to Derby.  The tour will be concluded Wednesday evening with a ball game and picnic at Derby.

"Since Rotarians have expressed interest in 4-H club work, the tour has arranged to bring about a closer relationship between club boys and leaders and Rotary members, and to enable the Chariton men to inspect various 4-H projects.

From the December 24, 1935, Herald Patriot:

"Hundreds of Lucas County boys and girls were guests this morning at a free Christmas show presented at the Ritz Theater.

"Last minute arrangements made it possible for the children to receive sacks of candy in keeping with a long established custom.

"The candy was distributed by the Chariton Rotary Club.

From the July 6, 1937, Herald Patriot:

"The Chariton Rotary Club Friday voted to contribute funds to finance trips for three Boy Scouts to Camp Mitigwa, near Boone.

"The money will be used for boys who otherwise would be unable to visit the summer camp.

"As a result of the club's assistance and the money-raising campaign being conducted by the Scouts themselves, it is probable that the entire troop of 29 will go to Camp Mitigwa August 10 and will remain until August 17, Scoutmaster Tom Nutt said.

From March 1, 1938, Herald-Patriot:

"The Chariton Rotary Club has announced an essay contest for which seniors of Lucas county's six high schools may compete for cash prizes totaling $8.50.

"Recently the club purchased subscriptions to "The Rotarian", official magazine of Rotary International, for the high schools of Chariton, Williamson, Russell, Lucas, Derby and Norwood.  Seniors are to write a paper of from 500-750 words discussing the merits of the magazine as shown by the February issue.  The five best papers from each school will be forwarded by superintendents to club officials here for final judging.

"Entries may be submitted until March 19.

"A club committee will select the best essay from each school, and their authors will read them at Rotary meetings March 25 or April 1.  From these six the club will select three final winners.

"First prize will be $5; second $2.50; and third, $1."

From the July 18, 1939 Herald-Patriot:

"Entertainment and baseball will be furnished at East Park Thursday night when the business and professional men's softball champion will be determined.  It will be the Lions against the Rotarians in a benefit game for the financing of summer supervised play activities.  All the contest receipts will go for this purpose.

"The entertainment will be furnished by the sight of well-known local men shagging flies and hot grounders as another equally well-known man legs it around the bases-at probably not too breath-taking a speed.  And some of the boys play soft ball regularly so that there will be baseball as well.

"The game will be played at East Park following the municipal band concert and action is scheduled to get under way about 9 p.m.

"Leo A Hoegh is manager of the Rotary team, while at the helm of the Lions outfit will be Bud Malone.  Both are lining up strong aggregations and you'll probably se members of the clubs slipping in practice licks in their backyards between now and the battle date.  Hoegh is a member of the Welfare Office of the City Softball League.  Malone is well known in local softball circles, having managed the All-Stars a few seasons back when they were known as the Chariton Blues.

"There will be no admission charge for the game, but a collection will be taken.  The money will provide play and crafts equipment for the hundreds of boys and girls who gather each day at the city's three supervised playgrounds.  Consequently, the club contest will serve two purposes-furnish interesting entertainment and money for a worthwhile project."

From the July 20, 1939 Herald-Patriot:

"A camp for underprivileged boys 8 to 11 years old will be sponsored by the Chariton Rotary club the first week in August, it was announced today by Charles Dunlap, club president.

"Those who will be selected to attend the camp will be taken from families on relief rolls and will be named by a committee for this purpose.  The camp will be held at the Boy Scout cabin at the west end of Crystal Lake.

"Boys will be in charge of the Boy's work committee of the Rotary club, assisted by other members and boy scouts who are leaders in various handicrafts.  Dunlap states that it is planned to have a staff of 10 persons supervising the camp.

"Sixty boys will attend, 30 the first three days of the week and 30 the final three days.  There will be no expense whatever for the youngsters or their families.

"Devotionals, swimming, camp fires, handicraft work, patriotic assemblies, reveille and taps will be features of each period.

"The camp marks the first time such an event has been attempted in Lucas County.  It is a part of the work of Rotary International to attempt to give boys of these circumstances the opportunities that otherwise they might miss.

"Extensive plans have been made for several weeks in order to make the camp a success.  The boys selected to attend will be announced later this week."

From the October 12, 1939 Chariton Herald-Patriot:

"Members and wives of seven Rotary clubs in this part of the state have been invited to attend the regular meeting of the Chariton club next Friday at 6:30 p.m. to be held at the Methodist church.

"Miss Martha Bonnett, survivor of the Athenia sinking will be the principal speaker of the evening.  She will tell of her experiences during the sinking of the boat which British officials assert was torpedoed.  Miss Bonnett received statewide publicity following the disaster as she was the only Iowan on board.

"Rotary clubs to which invitations have been sent are those at Osceola, Indianola, Leon, Corydon, Albia and Ottumwa."