Rotary Club of Havre de Grace
The Havre de Grace Rotary
Club has a rich history, worthy of emulation and admiration.
Organization - The Havre de
Grace Rotary Club, sponsored by the Baltimore Club, was organized on April 5th,
1922. This was accomplished largely through the efforts of Frederick L.
Cobourn, an attorney and first Club President, and J. Frank Marshall, an
insurance agent. It was the first civic or service club of any type in Harford
and Cecil Counties. Through the years the Club has grown and ebbed from its
charter level of twenty-eight members. At the time of its fiftieth anniversary,
the Club had grown to sixty members. Some say it has reached even higher
levels. At other times in the Club's history its membership became dangerously
low, and was once threatened with loss of its charter.
Meetings - During the early
years, the club met at the Bayou Hotel, a beautiful hotel, located near Point
Concord, adjoining the city Park. This continued to be the headquarters of the
Club for a number of years until the hotel burned. Other meeting places during
the ensuing years were: Lafayette Hotel, The Methodist Church House, Chesapeake
Hotel, Havre de Grace High School, Colonial Hotel, Bayou Restaurant and
presently Tidewater Restaurant. Many special meetings and events have taken
place throughout the years. Among the most notable are the joint meetings of
the four Harford County Clubs held annually, usually at the Maryland Golf and
Country Club. Members so desiring, participate in golf matches in the
afternoon, with dinner following. Also joint meetings have been held with the
Lions Club.
Outstanding Accomplishments -
One of the most outstanding accomplishments of the Club during the past years
has been the sponsorship of two other rotary Clubs, The Elkton Club (1924) and
The Aberdeen Rotary Club (May 1950). The Havre de Grace Club became a proud
"grandparent" in 1990, when the North East Club received its charter
under the sponsorship of the Elkton Club. The Bel Air Club received its charter
under the sponsorship of the Baltimore Club in 1928, making it the true
"sister club" of Havre de Grace. The Southern Harford County Club
received its charter in 2009.
The Wheel Club, an
organization for outstanding boys (scholarship, personality and integrity) of
Havre de Grace High School, was sponsored by the Rotary Club on March 18, 1959,
with 15 members. Later, this club became the Interact Club, which is an
official part of Rotary International.
Celebrations - One of the
highlights of our history was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the
founding of the Havre de Grace Rotary Club. This was held at the colonial Hotel
in February 1947. In February, 1972, we celebrated Havre de Grace Rotary's
Golden Anniversary, again in the main dining room of the Colonial Hotel. On
November 14, 1997 our Club celebrated its 75th anniversary.