The Rotary Club of Roswell, Georgia, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Atlanta, was presented its Charter on April 18, 1951 at the Banquet Hall of the High School in Alpharetta, with 84 Rotarians and guests present. William D. Ellis of the Rotary Club of Atlanta and owner of Southern Mills, Inc., was Master of Ceremonies, presiding over the evening’s activities. Our charter was presented by the Honorable Governor Gus Murray

Gifts Presented From Other Clubs:

• Rotary Club of Atlanta – Rotary Bell and lapel pins presented by Malon Courts
• Rotary Club of Decatur – Rotary Banner presented by Alton Costely
• Rotary Club of Warm Springs – the President’s Gavel of wood from a tree owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt, William D. Ellis made this presentation
• Rotary Club of Austell – a stand and trim
• Rotary Club of Marietta – American Flag presented by Charlie Clotfelter
• Rotary Club of Canton – a speaker’s stand

Roswell In 1951

The 1950 census indicated Roswell’s population 2123 and the city limits contained approximately 1000 acres. Telephone numbers were four digits and a call from Roswell to Alpharetta was long distance and a minimum charge of $.10. The minimum wage was $.75 per hour, the cost of a new Ford was $1,480, gasoline was $.27/gallon (including windshield cleaning and checking of oil, tires & coolant by an attendant), a loaf of bread was $.10, milk was $.96/gallon and a three bedroom house was $9,000.

Roswell High School graduated 22 seniors and was located with the Roswell Elementary School on Mimosa Boulevard. Prior to that time, Milton High School was the only high school north of the Chattahoochee River as there was still considerable farming in the area.