OUR JOURNEY
The Thirty Three Club is a distinguished literary club founded in Muscatine on December 16, 1904, with membership limited to thirty-three prominent community men.
OUR HISTORY
The literary club known as the "Thirty Three" was organized on December 16, 1904 to be composed of prominent men of the Muscatine community with membership limited to thirty-three, thus the name of the organization. The initial purpose was to study literature. Meetings were held monthly with the exception of July and August beginning with an informal social period, then dinner followed by the presentation of a paper by a member.
The Preamble of the constitution adopted at the first regular meeting in January, 1905, states:
"To strengthen the spirit of good fellowship and whet our intellectual acumen and in general to promote the cause of good citizenship, we, whose names are subjoined agree to adopt the following constitution:"
Initially one paper was presented by a member followed by discussion by the members. At the present time two papers are presented, one based on current events and the other a paper of particular interest to the presenter. Discussion by the members follows these presentations which typically is as stimulating as the papers themselves. A stated time for adjournment was first established for 10:00 o'clock p.m., which currently is 9:30 o'clock p.m. The papers are written and delivered to the secretary for filing in the permanent records of the club.
While active membership continues to be limited to thirty three, members may be elected to associate membership after ten years of membership which relieves them of presentation of papers unless the member volunteers to present a paper and after thirty three years of membership, a member may be elected to honorary membership.
Annually, the thirty three members invite their spouses or another guest to join them for dinner and a special presentation, usually a guest speaker of regional or national prominence, although there have been occasions where special musical or dramatic performances have been presented.
Thirty three is not a "service club" and does not participate in local civic fund raising or as a club engage in political activity.
- Harvey G. Allbee, Jr.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Prof. W. F. Chevalier Superintendent - Muscatine Schools
Rodney M. Arey Principal of Muscatine High School
Elmer S. Batterson General Manager - The Batterson Stores
Fred Beach Secretary - Hershey Lumber Co.
Jerome Carskaddan Attorney
John F. Devitt Attorney
Rev. J. N. Elliott Pastor — First Presbyterian Church
Henry F. Giessler 2nd V.P. German American Savings Bank
Arthur Hoffman Attorney
Douglas V. Jackson District Judge
William R. Jayne Attorney
Rev. Judson Kempton Pastor First Baptist Church
Dr. J. L. Klein Sr Physician & Surgeon
W. L. Lane Publisher - The Journal
A. S. Lawrence County Auditor
Rev. F. J. Leonard Pastor - St. Mathias Catholic Church
Rev. J. C. H. Light Pastor — United Brethren Church
Dr. Frederick H. Little Physician & Surgeon
Dr. J. T. Martin Dentist
B. Mackinzie Superintendent — Roach & Musser Co.
Clifton R. Musser V.P — Musser Lumber Co
Frank A. Neidig Book Store
Jacob L. Pentzer Druggist — Proprieter, Muscatine Optical Co
Irving S. Pepper Principal — Washington School
Dr. Arnold A. Peterson Dentist
Rev. John Wesley Potter Paster — First Methodist Episcopal Church
J. Risley Reuling Mgr. Great Western Cereal Co.
Irving B. Richman Attorney
William L. Roach Roach & Musser Co.
C. Ralph Stafford Deputy County Treasurer
Simon G. Stein Sr. President — S. G. & P. Stein Furniture Co.
George M. Titus Attorney and Real Estate
M. Warner Attorney
First Non — Charter Member William E. Downer
Sales Manager — The Batterson Stores
1 — Banker
1 —Druggist
1— Newspaper Publisher
2 — Dentists
2 - Government Officers
2 — Physicians & Surgeons
3 — Retail Merchants
3 — School Officials
5 — Manufacturers
5 — Pastors
8 — Attorneys (1- District Judge)