Harrison Lions Club Celebrates 70 Years of Service
1956–2026
For 70 years, the Harrison Lions Club has been serving Harrison and the surrounding communities—helping neighbors, supporting local organizations, and creating opportunities for young people.
The club was organized in 1956, receiving its Lions International charter on November 12, 1956. According to the Harrison historical book, 38 local men came together at Morrill Hall to form the club. The first officers were led by President Dr. Lawrence M. Newth, with Gardner R. Morrill, Robert Smart, George N. Maxfield, Ervin E. Baker and Robert M. Latham serving in other leadership roles.
From Christmas Trees to Little League
The early Lions quickly established a tradition of hands-on community service. During its first year, the club supported Maine Sight Conservation, collecting used eyeglasses, having them repaired and helping distribute them to people in need. The Lions also helped local residents obtain eyeglasses and hearing aids.
In its second year, the club undertook an ambitious fundraiser—cutting and selling 1,400 Christmas trees. The proceeds helped launch a long tradition of supporting recreation for Harrison's children. One of the club's first major projects was helping build a Little League baseball field at the head of Long Lake near the Narrow Gauge Stables, while providing equipment and sponsoring the first Little League program.
Seven Decades of Giving Back
Over the years, the Harrison Lions have supported countless community causes, including:
- Scholarships and educational opportunities for local students
- Harrison's youth sports and Recreation Department
- Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and the Leo Club
- The Harrison Village Library and Harrison Historical Society
- Deertrees Theater
- Harrison Fire Department equipment and facilities
- Parks, docks, picnic tables and the Long Lake Park gazebo
- Maine Special Olympics and organizations serving people with visual impairments
- Camp Susan Curtis and youth leadership programs
- Blood drives and community health initiatives
The club's 45th anniversary in 2001 brought four of the original charter members back together. George Holden, one of the founding members, was honored with the Melvin Jones Award for his service to Harrison, and nine new members were welcomed into the club.
The tradition continued through the club's 50th anniversary in 2006 and into the present day. Today, Harrison Lions continue to support the community through pancake breakfasts, blood drives, youth programs, fundraising events, vision-related service and assistance to local organizations and families.
70 Years Later…
This year we served over 1200 people at our lakeside pancake breakfasts, provided book awards to 3 Harrison college students, helped 3 Harrison kids go to Summer Rec Camp, provided money to over a dozen local non-profits and hosted 12 Texas Hold'em Saturdays.
The names and faces have changed, but the purpose remains remarkably similar to that of those 38 men who gathered at Morrill Hall in 1956:
Neighbors helping neighbors.
Supporting our community.
Serving where there is a need.
Harrison Lions Club — 70 Years of Service to Harrison and the surrounding communities.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
