Beth Kasper, Central Civitan Club president 2024-25, as part of the essay series “The Road to 250: Community Spirit in Action,” celebrating the history of unity in Clarksville ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
Central Civitan Club of Cunningham, Tennessee, has been serving and connecting residents of southern Montgomery County ever since the original 33 members received a charter from Civitan International on Dec. 1, 1958. The approximately 40 members in the club today continue to uphold the three tenets dear to Civitan International: knowledge, fellowship and service.
To understand Central Civitan Club, one must understand a tradition called the Lone Oak Picnic. Cunningham was once called Lone Oak. Back in 1908, Council #62 of the Junior Order United American Mechanics held a picnic for the Lone Oak community. The council continued to offer the picnic annually with folks coming from miles around by train, wagon or buggy to enjoy barbecue, ice cream and lemonade. The picnic was a fellowship and entertainment highlight for people of the region. After World War II, a store owner of the area hosted the yearly event. When poor health prevented him from continuing, Central Civitan Club picked up the practice and has organized the annual Lone Oak Picnic since 1975. Thus, the club has held together an important piece of community fabric.
| DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter
During each annual Lone Oak Picnic, Central Civitan Club fosters both culture and citizenship. Preparing hundreds of pounds of chicken and pork barbecue by smoking the meat slowly over charcoal continues a traditional foodway. Scheduling local musical performers to entertain the crowd adds another folk-culture dimension. Including a cruise-in for beautifully restored vehicles encourages one more form of artistic expression. Giving attendees a time and place to hear speeches from candidates for elected offices fosters informed citizenship. The picnic has always been scheduled to take place in late July, shortly before county Election Day, in order that it be a helpful political forum.
Money raised from the Lone Oak Picnic and the club’s annual chicken dinner allows the club to serve the needs of the community. Typically, in a year, the club donates to each of the four public schools and two volunteer fire departments situated south of the Cumberland River in Montgomery County. In keeping with Civitan International’s primary mission, club donations also go to charities for persons with developmental or intellectual disabilities. When residents south of the river experience emergencies, such as house fires or serious illnesses, the club is prepared to help them financially with a modest contribution. Each February, the club hosts a Clergy Appreciation Dinner, which brings together club members and local faith leaders.
Central Civitan maintains a clubhouse at 275 Highway 13 on property owned by McAlister Lodge. In addition to being a convenient place for members to plan community events, gain knowledge from invited government and nonprofit leaders, and build fellowship, the building is an asset to the whole community. It has been an Election Commission polling place, a high school Advanced Placement test center, a hunter education location, and more as needed for community and educational purposes. An important use of the building is as meeting place for Scouting America Troop 546. Central Civitan Club has held a charter for Troop 546 for longer than anyone can remember and is honored to provide a base for a program that instills in young people values of service, patriotism and good character.
A relatively new way that Central Civitan Club promotes culture, and brings the community together, is the Annual South of the River Art Tour. Co-hosting with Clarksville Arts and Heritage Council, the club helps to plan, promote and staff a self-guided driving tour to homes and studios of visual artists who reside south of the Cumberland River in Montgomery County. The free tours have given adults and children ways to view art, see how it is made, and learn by talking with creators of paintings, sculptures, photographs, metalworks, textiles and ceramics.
Known best for summertime barbecue and political speeches, for 66 years Central Civitan Club has promoted local culture, enhanced fellowship and citizenship, and served its community.
| ROAD TO 250 SERIES:
- Celebration of nation’s 250th kicked off with visit from John Adams, Mercy Otis Warren
- Sons of American Revolution stands behind creation of strong, unified country
- Daughters of American Revolution keeps spirit of independence alive
- Clarksville’s NAACP voice of conscience in an American community
- The Austin Peay belt: Generations across region part of APSU family
- Churches have shaped civic life in Clarksville for more than two centuries
- Cumberland Winds brings town and gown together for music, culture
- Journalism in Clarksville has merged competition with collaboration
| NEW TO CLARKSVILLE? Check out our Newcomer’s Guide