OPTIMIST CLUB

There seems to be some confusion regarding the origins of the Optimist Club. From approximately 1947 to 1958, the club met at 4815 Excelsior Blvd. An articles from 1956-1959 tell us that the club conducted drives to test over 1,000 youngsters on bike safety. The club also sponsored a “service station day,” in which they took over the Hamilton Cities Service station at 4300 Excelsior Blvd. Optimists checked tires, washed windshields, pumped gas (no self-serve back then) with all the profits going to the club. Proceeds went to “Boys Work in our area.”

But then, perhaps a subsequent St. Louis Park Optimist Club was chartered on September 30, 1970 with 39 members. Vic Kleweno, first President, stated that one of the mottoes of the organization was “A Friend of the Boy,” although with women’s lib, it may have to change boy to youth. In fact, the club sponsored a “Youth Appreciation Week,” celebrating both boys and girls, in November 1970.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.