Rotary Office

Replica Building
Built 2017
Representative of a 1915 Rotary Office

In March 1915, newspaper headlines were full of reports from the Great War—the rout at the Dardenelles, temporary victories in France, and lists of Canadian casualties. Closer to home, two local newspapers also reported in their Saturday, March 20th editions on the inaugural meeting of the Rotary Club of London.

Mr. Billy Martin and Mr. John Watt, along with sixteen leading businessmen in the city, had founded the Rotary Club of London (club number 179 in the world) with the blessing of the Vice-President of Rotary International for Canada:

Hand painted sign that has the word Rotary written below a gear wheel.

“An organization to be known as ‘Rotary Club’ was formed at the meeting of London businessmen in the Tecumseh House last night. The object of the association is cooperation among businessmen for wider and more progressive enterprises and the upbuilding of the city.

Only one member of each business represented in the city is eligible to be a member. Meetings will be held regularly throughout the year, during which time business campaigns of importance to the city will be launched.

W.A. Peace, president of the organization in Toronto inaugurated the society here. Already the new association boasts of sixteen charter members.”

- London Advertiser, March 20, 1915

By May of the same year, membership had grown to fifty-seven and further increased to sixty-one when the club’s Charter was officially granted on September 1, 1915. Wallace Laut of the London Advertiser, who spoke to the club on May 10, 195 marked the occasion by providing a special “Rotary Edition” of the newspaper.

The Rotary Club of London has continued to grow over the years, and in 2015, their centennial year, club membership averaged one hundred individuals.

What is Rotary?

Founded by Paul P. Harris in Chicago, Illinois, Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders, united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build peace and goodwill in the world. Rotary is made up of three parts: Rotary clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation.

Rotary Clubs bring together dedicated individuals to exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action. Clubs operate under the direction of, and in cooperation with, Rotary International. Each Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International.

Rotary International supports Rotary Clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs, campaigns, and initiatives. The Rotary Foundation uses generous donations to fund projects by Rotarians and community partners around the world. As a non-profit organization, all of the Foundation’s funding comes from voluntary contributions made by Rotarians and friends who share a vision for a better world.

Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, from over 34 000 clubs in more than 200 countries, work to implement service projects that address contemporary global challenges. These include: illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water and environmental issues.

Supported by the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, the Sifton Family Foundation, the Good Foundation Inc. and the Rotary Club of London.

The completion of the Rotary Office was support by local Rotary Clubs.

The hand painted sign for the Rotary office includes the organization's name and an early version of the now iconic gear wheel logo. Originally designed as a simple wagon wheel, a standardized number of spokes (6), cogs (24), and a keyway were adopted in the 1920s. The Rotary wheel has been unchanged since 1924.