History

Walter Summersett, W.C. Maupin and C.I. Jones are given the principal credit for organizing the Kiwanis Club of Salisbury in November of 1920.  They met with a group of Kiwanians from Charlotte to find out about requirements for chartering a club.  They made a list of potential members to invite to join.  After “considerable effort” the club reached a threshold of sixty persons on November 29,1920 and began meeting weekly on Fridays at the Hennessee Cafe        in the Salisbury Train Depot.  C.I. Jones was elected the first President and Walter Summersett as the first Secretary.

 

By the time the Club held its Charter Night on April 1,1921 at the Empire Hotel, 65 members were on the roster.  Familiar charter names include Dr. Charles W. Armstrong; William T. Busby; Dr. J. Delaney Carlton; Samuel T. Carter; Ernest L. Foil; James F. Hurley, Jr; J. Giles Hudson, Sr; Samuel W. Harry; Dr. B. Whitehead McKenzie; Frank N. McCubbins; Walter (Pete) Murphy; R. Lee Mahaley; T.J. Maupin; R.W. Norman; Senator Lee S. Overman; Henry E. Rufty; Louis A. Swicegood; T. Walter Summersett, Sr; and Dr. R.M. West.    

 

At some point, the Club moved its meetings to the Yadkin Hotel, and then in 1974 to the old Holiday Inn.  Moving to the new Holiday Inn on Jake Alexander Blvd followed, before moving to our club's current home at the Country Club of Salisbury.  Records indicate weekly luncheon meetings have always been held on Friday and continue to this day.