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Port Washington Kiwanis Club


The Port Washington Kiwanis Club officially began with its “Charter Night” meeting on March 16th, 1937. That meeting was held at the Masonic Temple with 28 of the 31 official charter members present. The clubs first sponsorship was the Boy Scouts of America Troop 37. This was formally passed on June 17th, 1937. The club still sponsors the same Scout group today, which is now known as Troop 837. On July 28th the club held its first Ladies Night. It was held at the Port Washington Country Club to honor wives and girlfriends. Rural night on October 19th of the same starting year had 26 local farmers in attendance. The first year was a good one.The weekly meetings were held on Tuesday evenings in the old Hoffmann House. Meals started at $.75 and were raised to $.90. When the meals were raised to $1.25 the Club moved to the Congregational Church. Later the Club held meetings at the King’s Restaurant in the Mayer Hotel. From there the Club moved to the Smith Brothers Fish Shanty. The Club then went to the Wilson House for a few years. Buchel’s Colonial House has been the Clubs home for the past several years.Starting in the 1940s the Club sponsored a children’s Halloween party for several years. Also, in the 1940s they started the High School Honors Banquet, and proudly continues this today. Most recently the Club has sponsored Week of the Young Child, a national program, for our area preschoolers through 4th graders. It’s a week of fun activities for our club members as well as the children