The West Side Nut Club is an organization that aims to promote civic welfare in the city of Evansville, Indiana. The slogan of the organization is “From small acorns large oaks grow.”
The club began early in the 20th century as a noontime gathering of west side businessmen who lunched at West Franklin Street to discuss the topics of the day. The original name of the informal association was "West Side Epicures." In March 1914, feeling that the name "did not express anything to the layman," the men changed the name to "The Nut Club." In the same month, they proposed to the West Side Business Association that a fall festival be held in October. As a result of this proposal, the West Side's "First Annual Fall Festival" was staged on West Franklin Street. However, it was until 1921, when the Nut Club was formally organized with a much larger membership, that the festival began its tradition as a truly annual event. This festival is one of the larger festivals in the Midwestern United States.
Membership in the club is limited to 300 members. While the organization still acts as a civic organization, it also supports scholarships and sponsors local festivals, including the annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival.
Famous quotes containing the words west, side, nut and/or club:
“For some reason a nation feels as shy about admitting that it ever went forth to war for the sake of more wealth as a man would about admitting that he had accepted an invitation just for the sake of the food. This is one of humanity’s most profound imbecilities, as perhaps the only justification for asking one’s fellowmen to endure the horrors of war would be the knowledge that if they did not fight they would starve.”
—Rebecca West (1892–1983)
“I went to the circus, and loafed around the back side till the watchman went by, and then dived in under the tent. I had my twenty-dollar gold piece and some other money, but I reckoned I better save it.... I ain’t opposed to spending money on circuses, when there ain’t no other way, but there ain’t no use in wasting it on them.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)
“Evaluation is creation: hear it, you creators! Evaluating is itself the most valuable treasure of all that we value. It is only through evaluation that value exists: and without evaluation the nut of existence would be hollow. Hear it, you creators!”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“At first, it must be remembered, that [women] can never accomplish anything until they put womanhood ahead of wifehood, and make motherhood the highest office on the social scale.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, pp. 24-5 (January 1870)