HISTORY
Towns County Lions Club
 

In late 1939, a group of men saw the need for a working service organization. The possibility of organizing a Lions Club materialized. Hugh Inglish was District Governor and on February 27, 1940 the Towns County Lions Club was chartered at Hiawassee, Georgia with (19) nineteen members. The first President was Cline Puett and Secretary-Treasurer was Clinton E. Logan.

The first meal was served by 4-H members under the direction of Home Demonstration Agent, Mrs. Maggie Berrong. Tables were placed in the hallway of the Towns County High School.

The first project of the club was to purchase Blue Willow dishes for the Home Economics room of the new school.

Membership did not increase during World War II, but in 1948-49 it began to increase both in membership and activities and by 1950 it was very active and was moving forward.

In early 1950, the members began to discuss the need for economic growth within the North Georgia Mountain area. To promote this area, it was thought that the mountain area heritage should be shown to the outside world. A rustic agricultural fair displaying mountain products was planned and would be non-profit and non-commercial. Thus, in August, 1950 the Georgia Mountain Fair was born on the property of the Towns County High School. It was attended by over 7,000 people from all around the mountain area making it a tremendous success. The Blairsville, Enota and Hiawassee Garden Clubs held their first annual Flower Show. This popular event has been continued by the Hiawassee Garden Club.

In 1952, the Georgia Mountain Fair was incorporated and country music was added as a part of the fair.

By 1960, agriculture was fading and arts and crafts were added to the annual fair. These new exhibits were native gemstones, blacksmith shop, pottery, woodcarving, soap making, board splitting and a whiskey still. Also, the interest in  country music was so great that the school auditorium could not accommodate the crowds and it became necessary to rent one of the largest tents in the Southeast and purchase chairs to seat over 4,000 people.

By the 1960’s the club realized the Fair had outgrown the school’s facilities. They began negotiations with the Tennessee Valley Authority to obtain 160 acres on Lake Chatuge just west of Hiawassee. Governmental red tape made the property release seem farfetched so they purchased 59 acres east of Hiawassee.
 

Then in 1973, the Tennessee Valley Authority leased to Towns County the total 160 acres and the Probate Judge of Towns County, in turn, leased the property to the Georgia Mountain Fair.

The Lions Club then sold the 59 acres to the Towns County Board of Education as a building site for a County Comprehensive School.

The Club then hired a young engineer, a Towns County native, and began to move forward with a recreation park and a new fairground. By fair time, August 1978, the existing buildings had been relocated from the school site to the new fair location.

The next year, the Georgia Mountain Fair had obtained a deed to 40 acres of this property and constructed a new $600,000 Music Hall. To date, the cost of this total project is over two million dollars, excluding the land.

Since its beginning, the Club has multiplied many times in size. With over 100 members it is now the largest club in District 18-I. This is some accomplishment due to the small population of the area.

The Georgia Mountain Fair has been a stimulating factor to the area’s growth. Well over 100,000 visitors stream into town annually to enjoy the Fair and mountain scenery. Hundreds of volunteer man-hours are provided by the Lions and Lionesses. For several years the Fair has been named as one of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast.

While the Fair, naturally, has drawn more attention as the Club’s accomplishment, the increased membership has provided opportunities for more contributions to the community. Project funding is set up on a per member basis and, as a result, the club has become a larger and stronger unit of Lions International. Our motto “We Serve” has been proven by the dedication of our Past Presidents, officers and general membership.

Charter Members
February 27, 1940
Towns County Lions Club
 

Past Presidents
Towns County Lions Club

Melvin Jones Fellow
Membership Roster
Towns County Lions Club