Lions Club Ad – April 22, 1957

From Lyons to Lions (sorry, it just worked out that way)…

Here’s a cute ad for the Lorain Lions Club’s 6th Annual White Elephant Sale. The ad ran in the Lorain Journal on April 22, 1957.

Early 1920s version of the logo

The Lorain Lions Club was formed on April 24, 1922, according to an article in the July 18, 1959 Lorain Journal. The article noted that the club “is best known, as are its state and national counterparts, for financial contributions to the blind and sight-saving programs.

“Among its local projects to aid this cause are the annual sale of fruit cakes and a white elephant sale. All proceeds go to eye research in Ohio.

“More than 2,500 tree seedlings planted in Longfellow Park as a club project on March 9, 1945, still are being replanted in parks throughout the city.

“Three men, Louis Carek, Paul Kleefeld and Harry Getrost, were responsible for formation of this club.

“The original charter was granted by Lions International October 12, 1922, and signed by 37 Lorain businessmen."

I wrote about how the club helped to beautify Washington Park after the infamous 1924 Lorain Tornado here.

Lorain’s Lion Club had an office in the Hotel Antlers beginning in the 1920s.

Anyway, I wonder if the term ‘white elephant sale’ is still in use today? If you’re wondering (like me) how that expression came into being, check out this Wiki entry.

And, happily, the Lorain Lions Club is still around! Click here to visit its blog.