4 Guide to the Back Mountain May, 23, 2001 Dallas Rotar y. continued from page 3 Hospital at the invitation of Dr. Alex Smith, Sr. The Dallas Rotary Club paid the bills for these young patients. Dr. Smith continued this work for about 40 years and now, his son, Dr. Alex Smith, Jr., contin- ues this service at the Kirby Health Center. The Back Mountain Memorial Library became a reality after Mrs. Lewis LaGrand spoke to the Rotary in 1944. She declared the establishment of a public library in Dallas was both practical and economically possi- ble. “LeGrand outlined tentative plans for such a community institution before an enthusiastic meet- ing of the Dallas Rotary Club,” the November 17, 1944 Dallas Post published. After the library was established, the Rotary provided $12,000 to pay for the auction barn. Noxen Forest became the club’s undertaking in 1945. After 60 acres of the Schooley estate along the Tunkhannock Highway were placed under the supervision of Dallas Township Supervisors, Rotarians began planting trees at the site. A total of 6,000 trees were planted by club members. The Dallas Rotary became one of the first clubs in District 741 to host exchange students in 1959 through the Youth Exchange Program. The first Dallas area students to experience other cultures around the world thanks to the program include Marilyn Eck, Lynne Jordan, Annabelle Ambrose and George Jacobs. Dr. Les Jordan founded the program during his term as District Governor from 1958 to 1959. The program was accepted by Rotary International and now over 6,000 high school stu- dents a year benefit from studying abroad through this program. The headline of the October 3, 1963 edition of The Dallas Post read, “First Dallas Rotary Fall Fair hopes to be an annual festivity.” After 38 years, the Fall Festival has grown into the Luzerne County Fair and is a favorite with local families. The first Fall Fair took place on October 5, 1963 at the Lehman Horse Show Grounds. Walter Mohr, pro- gram chairman, boasted the Fall Fair to have the biggest parade in the history of the Dallas area. Other events included crowning Dee Dee Pope the first Fall Fair Queen, fireworks, an antique car show and a kiddo greased pig event. Admissions, food booths and some games of chance helped the first Fall Fair gross $5,000 for the Dallas Rotary Club. The fair has helped the Rotary purchase its own o show grounds, contribute to the improvements of the grounds, build a medical center at the fair grounds, build the library auction barn, and aid many in the community with prize money and other activities. cean City " am mm, — — » and OQ L “Masters in the Art of Travel” Master Travel ) Serving All Your Travel Needs Europe : Independent and escorted tours A Full-Service Travel Center that specializes in all destinations, including, but not limited to: Lo yo — T] Et — SE : The Caribbean Bahamas, | onOneymoon : ackages ¢ | 1ncluding Jamaica, Aruba, St. 2 and a]] § on. Including Sands | Dominican | - and all Super (J \ Bui, St. Thomas ad ife wp F To — re L. me a » id | : ublic a, : As, TT ae "1 Repu EY ss mem a Mion, Vacations ol — C J r yr ay 4 mS Ho and Cape 'o1eY Las Vegas \ :or Cruise Lines, including ! to th Golf Packages hs ag.» a" [ Hii Royal Caribbean, : ¢ Car ibbean, Myrtle Beach ET aRI A he -» Princess and Celebrity | including Europe ) 3 — mu mE -« (Toall destinations, . mmm u w— . CALL MASTER TRAVEL TODAY FOR ALL OF YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS DALLAS 570-674-0333 (IN THE DALLAS SHOPPING CENTER) OR WILKES-BARRE 570-829-4101« TOLL FREE AT 1-888-874-7359 (TRIP FLY)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers