The history of the Logan Square Lions Club has been preserved in a series of vignettes written by founding members of the club and other loyal Logan Square Lions that followed.  Here is our history in which we take great pride.
 

In the Fall of 1923, Vern Galloway, a one-armed piano-player, was sent out from headquarters to organize a Lions Club at the intersection of Western, Armitage, and Milwaukee Avenues.

We had at that time a club of business men, who met once a month and the one who's birth month it happened to be, paid for lunch.

Bert Hamberg and myself contacted these men, and got them interested.  First meeting was held November 13, with Bert Hamberg presiding and Joseph Bernstein acting as secretary.  We received our charter January 21, 1924 at the Norske Club, with 61 members.  It was decided to call the club the Logan Square Lions Club.

In the Spring, I was elected President, and William C. Thorsen, Secretary.  I was elected delegate to the National Convention at Omaha, Nebraska, that year.  Arnold Christiansen was elected President for 1925; a very active, good, live member.  In 1926, J. Leonard Undam, the coffee merchant, was elected President.

Dr. Elberg N. Johnsen

The Logan Square Lions Club was organized on November 14, 1923, and we received our charter on January 21, 1924 from the Lions International at the Norske Club with 61 proud members present.

Aid to the blind and service to the Logan Square community our objective.  In 1928, we co-operated with other service clubs in an effort to establish a Y.M.C.A. branch locally but it was not until much later that the Logan Square Y.M.C.A. was finally organized.

Logan Square Lions Club from it's very beginning has always taken a very active part in the affairs of the community.

During the Depression Years the members furnished several needy families with baskets of food.

As a Civic Organization, Logan Square Lions sponsored a movement to build fences around school playgrounds and helped provide equipment for the Boy's Safety Patrol in the neighborhood.  They worked hard to obtain an inter-connecting bus line for both the Ravenswood and Logan Square "L" terminals.

in 1937 when the new Logan Square Post Office was completed, the Lions Club was the leader in promoting a "New Post Office Dedication Ceremony."  This was held in the new building before any equipment was set in place.  After the dedication service was over, everyone was invited to go to the Logan Square Masonic Temple to partake of a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner.  Post Master Ernest Kruetgen was the honored guest.  There were about 700 dinners served.  All expenses were paid for by the merchants in the area.

In 1933, we took an active interest in the annual Orphans Auto Day Picnic in Lincoln Park and continue that activity to date.  In 1936, we made our first donation to the Hadley Correspondence School for the Blind and thru the years many thousands of dollars were raised for that worthy cause, as also the Leader Dog Training School for the Blind.  In 1944-45 the Logan Square Lions Club was responsible for making it possible for the Hadley School to start their first program at the College level, by providing the first text book in braille which was for a course in basic English.  In 1947 we did the same for a course in psychology.  Also that year we helped organize the Logan Square Boys Club, in cooperation with the Logan Square Kiwanis Club, in the old loft on the top floor of the local police station.

In 1948, just 25 years ago, we created history by assuming the sponsorship of aid to Mentally Retarded Children under the guidance of Vic Neumann, and the following year a program and space at Association House was obtained to establish the first school in the country for Trainable Mentally Retarded Children.  Qualified teachers alone limited the number of schools for these kids, so we established in 1954 the first scholarship at the University of Illinois for college students preparing to teach the Mentally Retarded Children.

In 1956, thru our efforts, and the efforts of many other interested organizations, legislation was passed in Springfield in the public school system.  Political wheels turn slowly and it was not until the last few years that this has come to pass.

In the meantime, we were busy with scrap paper drives, fund raising parties, charity drives and candy day activities.  We never slowed up and most years we raised and gave away to worthy charities as much as $6,000.00.  In 1961, we unveiled the first Lions Club flag in the U.S.  Lion Herb Kraus designed this flag which now is the pattern throughout Liondom.  In 1962, we pledged $100,000.00 to build a school for Retarded Children and invited other Lions Clubs to participate.  In 1967, we broke ground for the school to be known as the Victor C. Neumann School for Retarded Children with the able help of International President Edward M. Lindsey, who officiated.  On a cold day in January, 1969, District Governor Lion Lyle Nelson dedicated the completed building and school for the use of Retarded CHildren.

Other activities are just too numerous to mention and many men, tried and true, had a hand in the making of the history of this club.  Fifty years is not too far to look back but 50 years ahead can be far in the future.  This Lions Club is traditionally made up of doers.  We are proud of our past and are looking forward to great things to come because with great men, how can we do otherwise.

Throughout the 1970's members of the Logan square Lions continued to provide substantial assistance to the community, helping to reduce the debt on the Victor C. Neumann School, while continuing to support activities to help the blind.  Bernie Hoffmann was elected President for the second time, in 1975, the only member in the history of the club to serve two terms, ten years apart.

In 1961, member Herb Krause designed the flag used today by all Lions Clubs in the International organization.  As the Logan Square Lions entered and progressed through the 1980's membership recognized and adapted to the many neighborhood changes.  In 1987, Lions International opened its membership to women, and soon after, Celeste Pena became the club's first woman member, followed by LaVerne Skender and others.  In 1993, the club elected it's first woman President, Violet Hoffmann.  Linda Kosiba was elected the second woman president in 1998, followed by Roslyn O'Toole in 1999.

The Logan Square Lions Club is traditionally made up of doers.  They are proud of their past, and are looking forward to great things to come, because with great members, how can they do otherwise?