A Century of Service Springville Kiwanis Club celebrating 100 years In 1922, a group of local residents gathered together and organized a service club. Now, 100 years later, the Springville Kiwanis Club is the oldest service club in Springville, and its efforts to support the city and its residents have influenced every facet of the community. “I think our Springville community is very service-oriented,” said John Jacobson, current president of the Springville Kiwanis Club, “so I think that speaks for why The Springville club has continued through the years.” The Springville Kiwanis Club was chartered on Feb. 2, 1922, with John Franklin Smith as its first president. The group has met in a wide variety of locations over the years, including the Domestic Science room at the old Springville High School, the upper floor of the old Mendenhall Bank building, the cultural hall of a local church building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Veterans Room and main hall of the Memorial Building on 200 South (now the Senior Center), as well as various local restaurants. Of course, during the warmer months, the club meets at
The officers of the Springville Kiwanis Club sign advertising club meetings in 1934. The sign is located at 600 S. Main, Springville. the Kiwanis Pavilion in Kelly’s Grove up Hobble Creek Canyon. Major projects undertaken by the Springville club over the years have included assisting with the funding of the
Members of the Springville Kiwanis Club pose in front of their newly completed fireplace at the Kiwanis area in Kelly’s Grove in 1954. 54
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old high school’s swimming pool; putting in lawns, a sprinkling system and restrooms at Kelly’s Grove; participating in several city beautification projects; purchasing 225 chairs for the Springville Museum of Art; and procuring a speaker system and piano for the Senior Center. One of its biggest projects was installing the large fireplace at the Kiwanis Pavilion in Kelly’s Grove in 1953-54. In 1970, the club returned and built the cover for the fireplace and picnic area at the site. The Springville Kiwanis Club is part of Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization focused on service, particularly when it comes to improving the lives of children and youth. The projects that the club supports are meant to further this goal of helping children in the community. One of the projects and activities the club currently conducts is the annual Kiwanis Sub-4-Santa and community-wide Food Drive. In 2021, eight Church of Jesus Christ stakes as well as Art City Church and the Presbyterian Community Church helped distribute thousands of plastic bags for donated food throughout the community, then brought the filled bags to the old high school gym near the Springville Muse-
