HOLLIS LIONS CLUB
DISTRICT 41-L MAINE USA
SERVING HOLLIS MAINE SINCE 1951
 
 

BUXTON & HOLLIS LIONS CLUB
SPONSORED BY: BIDDEFORD & SACO LIONS CLUB .APRIL 11, 1950

HOLLIS LIONS CLUB
SPONSORED BY: BUXTON & HOLLIS LIONS CLUB
MAY 17,1951

    Fifty years ago tonight, May 17, 1951, 28 Civic minded men met at Hollis Grange Hall, which used to be located across the street. The occasion for this event was the formation of the Hollis Lions Club. The sponsoring club was the Buxton & Hollis Lions Club which would soon disband. The charter was presented to Lloyd Leighton, the first King Lion of the new Hollis Lions Club.
    Of these 28 charter members, some soon dropped out. 7 of them, however, went on to become themselves King Lions. Others like Frank Earle and John MacDonald were life members. After the club was formed fund raising projects were needed. The main industry was lumbering; in fact there were 4 sawmills in the Town ofHollis alone. At this time horses were used to haul logs from the woods. The Hollis Lions Fair was created featuring the competition of horse pulling among the working teams.
As tractors replace the horses in the woods the driving card for the fair is lost and the fair fails.
    A new project is needed and an Auction is tried having great success, in fact the Auction was still an annual affair until the nineties. When we started having Yard Sales at Norman Palmer's.
    During the early years the club had it's meeting at the The Pythian Hall, which used to be located right across the comer. The building was in much need of repair. Much time was spent in the building and this takes a toll on membership. The active membership gets so small that to save from starting a fire in the hall, they met in a car .But through the faith of Norm Palmer, Frank Earle, John MacDonald and Jack Verrill, the club is allowed to keep its charter .
    In the early 60's new members: Larry Dimitri, Swede Sjulander, Bill Williamson, Sandy Atkinson and Bob Hoffman puts new life into the club. In the late 60"s the state does the club a big favor and takes the hall through Emit Domain. No more time needed for repairing the building.
    A new meeting place was needed. Through Lions members, that were also Legionnaires, the club begins to meet at the American Legion Hall. Early 70's see membership growth as fathers bring in sons and sons bring in friends.
1972 is Buxton Bi-Centennial; The Hollis Lions projects for this event were directed by the King Lion Sandy Atkinson. These events would later lead to the formation of Buxton-Hollis Olde Home Days. Which is still going on.
    In the middle of the 70's membership continues to grow to over 50 members. This large membership creates a problem. You see the waiting out in the cold for the use of the "Facility" was at times hard to withstand. The club decides to spend money received from the state when the old hall was taken. The club then put an addition on the American Legion Hall and featured indoor plumbing. Also, during this time the club takes on projects to raise $5000.00 to help buy a new ambulance. Later funds are also donated to the rescue to purchase different items of need.
    1976 was the 200th birthday of the US. It was also, the 25th anniversary of the Hollis Lions Club. Under of the direction of then King Lion Wally Bennett, the club celebrated at Salmon Fall Country Club with over 200 members and guests.
From the middle 70's -middle 80's King Lions Bob Bickford, Joe Palmer, Reggie Parker, and Carlton Berry keep the club moving.
    In the later 80's a call goes out for a hall of our own. A Building committee is formed and projects are done to raise building funds. Many ideas are discussed, but Norm Palmer has ideas ofhis own. Since the new church was built in town and the old church was no longer being used the deed given to the church by the Palmer Family was on longer valid. This leaves a building just right for the Hollis Lions Club. Through Norm's time and efforts the Old Church is given to the Hollis Lions by the Palmer Heirs. In recognition of the Palmer Family's great gift the Hollis Lions rename the building "Palmer Hall".
    We are still very busy with the up keep of the hall. The hall has had many improvements thanks to: Dick Gammon, Frank Johnson, Jerry Johnson, Kirk Swenson, Stan Davis and many, many others. I dare to say there is not one Lion that has not at one time or other worked to keep this hall up and in good repair .
Our club now consists of both men and women who work together for the community and our club.
    We have a Bake Bean supper the first Saturday of every month at the hall. This year we are raising money to send a family to Camp Sunshine for an entire week. We are also, helping Hollis Fire Department to purchase a Thermo Image Camera. Again we are helping the senior citizens by supplying new batteries for their smoke detectors. We also, automatically give $500 to fire victims, pay for eye exams and glasses to patients who are not able to pay. There are many other donations that we make during the year, these are just a few.
    All in all I would say that the Hollis Lions Club, is a club to be very proud to belong to.
    At this time we have 37 members and looking for more.
    List of King Lions now referred to as Presidents attached.

Respectfully submitted
Lion Helen Johnson