Article Originally Appeared in the Norwich Bulletin, Thursday, September 15th, 1921. To view the original page on the Library of Congress’ website, click here.
The weekly meeting and luncheon of the Norwich Rotary club Wednesday at noon at the Wauregan House was one of the best attended in some time and had as its chief speaker Clarence Willard of the state motor vehicle department who interested the members with a talk on Safety First Week, which is to be held in the cities of the state beginning next Monday.
Mr. Willard was introduced by Judge Nelson J. Ayling at the request of President Lucius Briggs. The speaker praised the spirit which he had seen exhibited by the Norwich Rotarians and went on to speak of the need of a Safety First Week which he said was indicated by the fact that motor vehicle accidents were increasing. Last year in the state there were 7,000 motor accidents. In 1,500 of these there were people injured resulting in 233 deaths. About 125 of those who died were pedestrians and of these 66 were children. There are about 125,000 autos registered in the state and the Safety First Week is to be a campaign of education through schools, churches, movie films and the police departments. It will be a movement directly for the benefit of the people and he asked all the cooperation that the Rotarians and other organizations could give.
In his introduction, Judge Ayling said that the Rotary club will try to see that all automobile operators in this city receive one of the booklets which are to be issued on signaling by the motor vehicle department.
Secretary John J. O’Rourke of the Chamber of Commerce called attention to the coming here on next Tuesday of Lawson Purdy of New York, a famous taxation expert, who is to speak at a public meeting on that subject.
Secretary James Hammond of the New London Chamber of Commerce spoke interestingly, commending Mr. Purdy and advising that the Norwich citizens make it a point to hear what he had. to say.
Mr. Hammond also called attention to the presentation of the comedy Happiness in the Davis Theatre here next Monday evening under the auspices of the Norwich college club with Clara Turner In the star-part.
Secretary J. N. Weymouth of the Rotary club called attention to the fall conclave of the New England Rotary clubs at Poland Springs, Maine, beginning Sept. 28, and seven of the members present indicated their intention of attending. Song leader Howard Baker called upon Jim Hammond to be song leader for the meeting, a post that the New London man filled admirably. Dick Tarrant, George Ingalls, Bert Gager, Frank Pullen and Judge Ayling responded when called upon for a selection, there – was a solo by Henry LaFontanie and a selection by Messrs. Baker, Worth, Ingalls, and Park.