Jackson County Kiwanis Club Successfully Supports Another Little League Season

Every year as Spring approaches, the Jackson County Kiwanis Club conducts their Annual Auction. The purpose of the event is to provide funds for maintenance of the Kiwanis Club Bond Memorial Park and to ensure all children can have the opportunity to be part of the Jackson County Little League Program. The goal is to get $10,000 this year. The Kiwanis Club is an international service organization that began in Detroit, Michigan in 1915. It was initially a men's club which opened to women in 1987. The Kiwanis came from American Indian language of Detroit meaning "we trade", or "we share our talents". 

The story of the Jackson County Kiwanis Club and Jackson County Little League dates all the way back to 1913. A man by the name of N. U. Bond from New York came to our area of Jackson County with the Foley Bond Furniture Company and broadened his business to become the Bond Foley Lumber Company. The Lumber Company purchased over 25,000 acres of timber and mineral rights expanding through the years with another 40,000 acres during the time that the mill was in full operation. They employed over two hundred men and was one of the largest mills in the U.S. producing 20 million board feet of finished lumber per year. They purchased white oak, pine, poplar, chestnut, black oak, and hickory. This was also the beginning of the Rockcastle River Railway from East Bernstadt to Bond and later to McKee. The rail land was later donated to the state of Kentucky for purposes of roads for Highway 30. The tree cutting stopped in 1930 and the railway closed in 1932. N.U. Bond served as a Kentucky State Senator. 

In 1938 the Jackson County Kiwanis Club was formed. The recruitment of the 25 men from six communities was led by Rev. Fred H. DeJong. The Jackson County Kiwanis first president was Coleman Reynolds with Tom Dunigan serving as vice president and Edward Hays as secretary/treasurer. 

Later in the 1940's, N.U. Bond donated the land of the McKee Ball Park to the Jackson County Kiwanis Club to be used as a community park. Over the years, the Jackson County Kiwanis Club developed the park into a baseball field, children's playground and two community shelters. This was the only park in the county for many years. The organization has remained dedicated to the upkeep and improvement of the Bond Memorial Park as well as providing Jackson County Youth all the benefits of being able to participate in a well-organized Little League. 

Many business leaders in the community have served as president of the Kiwanis Club which includes Luther Farmer, LeeRoy Cole, Jack Gabbard, Doug Leary, Fletcher Gabbard, Keith Gabbard, Doug Rader and several others.