Our Club History
The Greencastle Lions Club began with meetings in the homes of prospective members when an apparent need for such an organization in Greencastle and the surrounding community was realized. The time was early 1944, and the suggestion came from members of the Chambersburg Lions Club and representatives of the International organization. Local businessmen were contacted and the suggestion was well received.
Hoping to enlist the efforts of at least 25 of the area's men, a meeting was scheduled for March 9, 1944 in the McLaughlin Hotel. The session proved successful with 26 men in atendance. Allen Gaddis was elected as the first President of the club. On April 13 of that year, the State and International charter was presented to the Club during a special "Ladies Night" banquet held in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Guests from neighboring clubs of Waynesboro and Chambersburg attended bringing with them gifts of a gong, a gavel, and a set of flags for use at each meeting. Since 1944, over 47 individuals have served as President of the club, only four men have served more than once as President. The Club has met at several places since its beginning; members homes, the Family Restaurant, Potter's Restaurant, the Lions/Lioness Den and the Antrim House Restaurant, which is the same building in which it began. With the Motto: We Serve", the Greencastle Lions Club has held a variety of fund raising activities over the 65 years it existed. These activities include: Pancake Day , White Cane Day, Christmas Tree sales, broom sales, bingo games, calendar sales, Ice Cream making and selling. In the past, cars were raffled, beef cattle were auctioned, white elephant auctions were held. The Greencasle Lions Club hosts the annual Easter Egg Hunt, donated the lighting system to the Jerome R. King Playground, drilled a well and placed a pump at the Enoch Brown Park, helped raise subscriptions for the Chambersburg Hospital. The Club purchased the former McLaughlin Hotel in 1975. Members donated time, labor, and effort in renovating the building and restaurant facility. Members of the Club were involved in a combined community fund-raising drive for benifit of the Antrim House and the John L. Grove Medical Center, generating aproximately $260,000,. The money which was raised through volunteer effort was divided equally between the two facilities. We endeavor to be busy and productive.
The Club also renovated the old Walck Hatchery and operated it as the "Lions/Lioness Den" where meetings and bingo games were conducted.
The Club participates, or has participated in, Highway Cleanup, Student of the Month program, photographic eye-screening of pre-school youth.
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