During the later part of 1921, S. S. Bryan called a meeting at the Herald office to form a Titusville Rotary Club. The meeting was attended by Joe Bloss, John Barber, S. S. Bryan, and E. F. McCabe. Emmet Bailey, District Governor at the time, was contacted. Charter members of the club followed Rotary International Guidelines and By-Laws allowing only one representative from each business or profession. They were:

C.C. Cooper John F. Barber

Samuel s. Bryan Joe M. Bloss

George E. Nagel Luke B. Carter

Bennett Davis Eugene F. McCabe

W. Wayne Kemble James Clark Logan

Arthur R. Thompson J. Martin

S. W. Pierce Frank Hesch

Russell J. Hopkins John Dillon, Jr.

Theodore B. Westgate

The charter was obtained from Rotary International and the first meeting was held in the old Mansion House during the first week of 1922. Samuel S. Bryan – President, Luke B. Carter – Vice President, and Frank Hesch – Sec./Treasurer were elected officers. In 1923, membership increased to 39 and fluctuated between 30 and 40 for a long time.

An unwritten club law, although not Rotary rule, was that the vice president usually succeeds the president. After Frank Hesch, Clarence VonTacky, Don Peebles, and Wayne Kemble served as Secretary/Treasurer. In November 1928, Wayne Kemble relocated to Pittsburgh and John Fehrenbach succeeded him. Fehrenbach continued in that office with limited interruption through 1955. Bob Miller and Milton Wege each held the office briefly during that time.

In 1923 – 24, the club moved its meeting place to the Parish House. Later, meetings were held at the YWCA and the YMCA. After the Mansion House was remodeled and became The Colonel Drake Hotel, the club returned to the hotel.

The Titusville Rotary has always taken a keen interest in working with crippled children. Members in 1955 were also vitally interested in community service and most members had held important positions in civic life.

Before the Depression of 1929-32, a children's Christmas program was supported from the regular treasury in the amount of $150. As membership dropped to 27 due to poor economic conditions, the club was forced to suspend the program. A suggestion was made to collect donations of pennies and nickels from members at each meeting. This was the beginning of the Milk Bottle Fund, which was named for the first collection container used in 1934. The Bottle Fund has always been kept separate and the funds used for disadvantaged children as designated by the school nurse.

Once a year, the club held a Farmer's Day when each Rotarian brought a farmer from the surrounding country as his guest. Meetings were listed in the "Vade Mecum".

By 1955, the club had 62 active and 3 honorary members whose distinction was recognition of meritorious service rendered to the community. In addition to those 62, another 162 members had been initiated in the years between 1922 and 1955, who as Fehrenbach stated, "most of whom died or resigned!"

There have been many changes in our club, in membership and in our general philosophy. In keeping with the motto "Service Above Self", we have always had projects to raise necessary funds.

During the depression years, a hard line decision was made that our donations were to be in the field of crippled children. This solved the problem of how funds would be spent and was the excuse for denying some requests. Over the years, we have gradually grown use to the idea of giving to any worthwhile project.

In the fifties, we brought a circus to town and each member was given a number of tickets to sell. Also in the fifties, we held two successful rummage sales selling interesting collections of clothing that the members were about ready to throw out anyway!

The most practical fund-raiser was the biennial Rotary Radio Day where Bob Sauber turned over his radio station to us and then left town, praying that the FCC wasn't monitoring the airways! The first RRD in 1969, was co-chaired by Bruce Smith and Ron Kerr. In 1997, we'll hold our 14^th Rotary Radio Day. Over the years, we have had almost 100% participation.

The annual Spaghetti Dinner held along with Colestock Student Council has provided consistent funds and has been a great way to narrow the generation gap. The students and Rotarians got along very well and it has been joy to work with these fine young people. This project has also appealed to members and close to 100% participates.

Another successful project has been the Adopt a Highway program, a cooperative venture with Penn-DOT for trash removal along the highway between Titusville and Hydetown. Another distinct service to the entertainment needs of the community was our sponsorship of a Blue Grass Concert several years ago chaired by John Dopyera. It was second to Rotary Radio Day in financial success.

Over the years, the Bottle Fund has continued to be a good source of funds for children who needed a snow suit or a pair of mittens and the school nurse is still the person we rely on to tell us who should get them. This fund also pays for the Christmas party for first, second, and third graders whose teachers think they may need a good turkey dinner and some toys. Over the years, Elaine Carlson has knitted hundreds of caps and mittens for the kids. The joy of these youngsters makes for a very successful meeting.

The Bottle Fund was originally a penny for each year due on the member's birthday, but as a number of us became over 39 years old and refused to divulge our true age, a dollar was the accepted amount. Recently, everyone contributes for whatever silly reason he (or she) can think of, but birthdays and anniversaries still get a lot of applause!

There have been 22 Paul Harris Fellows: