Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Rotary Club of Parkersburg
Centennial
Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2021
1. Rotary Club of Parkersburg Marker
Inscription.
Rotary Club of Parkersburg. Centennial. At this site, on February 8, 1919, a group of twenty seven leading citizens of Parkersburg met at the Chancellor Hotel to organize the Rotary Club of Parkersburg while petitioning the International Association of Rotary Clubs for a charter. Leading the effort was local attorney at law, John Marshall, who would later become Deputy Attorney General of the United States. The Rotary Club of Parkersburg received its charter on March 1, 1919, only fourteen years after the first club was formed in Chicago, Illinois. At that time, the club chose to meet weekly every Monday at 12:15 pm. in the "parlors of the Chancellor Hotel." As the city and nation grew, the club continued to meet at the hotel until the 1970’s when the Chancellor closed and was eventually demolished on this site. 100 years later, the club, made up of a diverse group of business men and women, continues its Monday luncheon meetings while engaging in various community service projects. They are still guided by Rotary’s Four-Way Test which is recited each week: , “Of the things we think, say or do: , 1. Is it the TRUTH? , 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? , 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? , 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
At this site, on February 8, 1919, a group of twenty seven leading
citizens of Parkersburg met at the Chancellor Hotel to organize the
Rotary Club of Parkersburg while petitioning the International
Association of Rotary Clubs for a charter. Leading the effort was
local attorney at law, John Marshall, who would later become Deputy
Attorney General of the United States. The Rotary Club of
Parkersburg received its charter on March 1, 1919, only fourteen
years after the first club was formed in Chicago, Illinois. At that
time, the club chose to meet weekly every Monday at 12:15 pm. in
the "parlors of the Chancellor Hotel."
As the city and nation grew,
the club continued to meet at the hotel until the 1970’s when the
Chancellor closed and was eventually demolished on this site. 100
years later, the club, made up of a diverse group of business men
and women, continues its Monday luncheon meetings while engaging
in various community service projects. They are still guided by
Rotary’s Four-Way Test which is recited each week:
“Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
Location. 39° 16.008′ N, 81° 33.502′ W. Marker is in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in Wood County. Marker
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is at the intersection of Market Street and 7th Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 7th St, Parkersburg WV 26101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
