Catholic Club
The mission of Catholic Club Is to serve the youth of our community and their families.
History:
This year begins the sixth decade of community service, social gatherings, good sportsmanship, and youth ministry all wonderfully packaged together in what we have identified…and enjoyed as the Toledo Catholic Club! Sixty-years!
In 1928, the Knights of Columbus purchased the land at 131-39 Sixteenth Street, adjacent to their Jefferson Avenue headquarters (a Victorian period large former private mansion). In 1929, a five-story handsome brick building along with an adjoining single story 8-lane bowling alley was completed at a cost of $236,000 by the Knights. But times were tough and money was very tight and in 1933 the K of C lost these facilities to the bank. And things simmered for these former headquarters nearly a decade!
Then in December, 1941, at the very beginning of World War II, Most Rt. Rev. Karl J. Alter, then Bishop of Toledo, instructed his Director of Catholic Charities, Msgr. Michael J. Doyle to bid on this property in an end-of-the-year liquidation auction. And the Diocese was high bidder at the auction and acquired the nearly quarter of a million-dollar building for $12,500. $12,500! And the Catholic Club of Toledo was born.
On February 15, 1942 the building was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. And a larger then life dedicatory painting of Mary, as the Immaculate Conception hung in the Club’s main floor lobby for decades. And all the activities of the Catholic Community Center (at Central Catholic High School) on Cherry Street were transferred to the new Sixteenth Street building.
Rev. William T. Sullivan, Diocesan Director of Social Action, was also given charge of the new Club in May 1942, and at the Club’s formal dedication Boys’ Town famous founder, Father Edward Flanigan, was the featured speaker.
The Club remained the hub of activity, as an early slogan noted “School, workshop, playground, for the entire family” largely unchanged physically. The bowling alley was sold off in the mid 40’s and the Toledo Automobile Association built their single story brick headquarters on the vacant corner (Jefferson & 16th), with a property easement from the Club in the Fall, 1949. However the AAA remained there less than seven years and the Diocese bought the new building in 1956 for $75,000. It was adjoined to the 16th Street facility, lobby. It became the new executive offices and became the new entrance, which it still remains today
You can’t mention the Catholic Club long without mentioning Msgr. Jerome Schmit – the two are inseparable. For Monsignor, Diocesan Youth Director, took over management of the club in mid-1942 and served as its Executive Director for 38 years retiring at 70 in December, 1980. When he retired nearly 1,100 attended his Farewell Dinner hosted at the Club itself.
Under Monsignor’s guidance the Club went from eight employees and $33,000 budget to 60 employees and $475,000 budget (but as Bill Sanford, Executive Director (1986-94) points out “There were really 800 employees when you count the CYO coaches, referees and groundsmen under Monsignor’s direction.” Today the Club employs 36 with a $750,000 budget, even though the CYO/Youth Services were long ago transferred to the Diocesan School Services at the Diocesan Catholic Center (Spielbusch & Cherry).
When one thinks of Monsignor, who obtained his Masters at Catholic University in Social Work, you must think of “a gentleman with an iron fist,” one of the most influential men both politically and religiously and a civil servant for over 40 years (even after retirement) on too many civic committees to name.
Frank Tuttle, longtime Catholic Club Personnel and Executive Director noted, “The Club, with Monsignor at the helm, was a pacesetter nationally both in the areas for Youth Programming and Development. The Catholic Club was headquarters for anything youth oriented from the 1940’s through the mid-80’s. As part of the diocesan reorganization and stream-lining in 1986/87 the CYO and Youth & Young Adult Ministries moved from the Catholic Club into the School Services Secretariat.
Monsignor earned great loyalty from Club staff and fellow executives, “In spite of the low salaries,” quipped Tuttle. But also city leaders showed a great allegiance, too. Monsignor, it seems, was infamous for his “little black hit list book,” where he hit up civic leaders for services for the financially strapped Club. And his “kitchen cabinet” of business advisors read like Toledo’s “Who’s Who.”
Many a time from behind the scenes, without any notice or notoriety, Monsignor would help a struggling family with tuitions and/or food donations. Oft-times this was with the monies again given quietly, anonymously by Monsignor’s business advisors and friends.
People who knew him best recall the constant companionship of strong (really strong) cigars…driving too fast…his love of ice cream and “anything chocolate.” As Dorothy Perz Langenderfer, a longtime volunteer secretary in the early 50’s recalls “We’d have a birthday party every year either December 7 (his birthday) or December 8 (the holy day). And heaven help us if we didn’t have brownies…chocolate cupcakes or German Chocolate cake (his favorite) baked each year by Secretary Lois Tate… the darker the chocolate, the better,” Dorothy confides.
But you can’t reminisce about Monsignor Schmit without remembering many other longtime partners at the Club. First and foremost would be John Ehret, Sr. He was there before even Monsignor! “John came with the building,” both Sanford and Tuttle reminded us. John was with Bankers’ Liquidating when the diocese bought the Club in 1941. He orchestrated the sale and the transfer with such ease that Bishop Alter hired the Rosary Cathedral parishioner, before Monsignor took over the helm in late 1942'‘.
And Ehret and Schmit were an unbeatable combo, nearly 30 years…John as Executive Secretary/Business Manger and Monsignor as overall Director. The two both served on the National Catholic Youth movement scene for many years in the early-mid ‘60’s, Monsignor was long-term on the National Youth Board and Ehret as Vice-President of the National Conference of Catholic Youth. (Also serving nationally at that time, was a young Robert Savage, later Toledo Vice-Mayor, on the National Council of Catholic Young Adults.)
John Ehret’s retirement after 29 years of service, in 1971 was what ended the partnership. And a grateful diocese presented Mr. Ehret with a new automobile, for his three decades of cheerful service. (He died in August, 1974.)
But there were many others with long loyal service to the Club. Leading the longevity list would be Frank Tuttle, 39 years. He started in 1948 as a “pool towel boy” and left in 1987 as Executive Director. Next with 38 years was Mary Lou Metzger Kurucz, a pioneer with Monsignor in girls’ sports. She was Associate CYO Director retiring in the early1980’s. (The annual “outstanding female athlete” awarded given today is named after Ms. Kurucz, who passed away in 1986.)
Paul Johnson, who also started as a swimming instructor in the 40’s, left the Club 28 years later having served as CYO Director. (Paul met and married his wife, Geri Longmore, another secretary at the club) during his 28 years of multiple services.
Val Frank Billmaier, Monsignor’s secretary, was with the Club for 31 years (1955-86). She was secretary primarily for Monsignor and Mr. Ehret. However when long time bookkeeper Marge Venia Clark resigned after 24 years of service, Val became bookkeeper too. She learned, Val confesses, “by the seat of her pants. Thank goodness for the patience of Monsignor and Mr. Ehret,” she adds.
Other longtime employees included the housekeeping / maintenance staffs. There was Maurie Berrie, who doubled on maintenance and as the wood crafting instructor and the housekeeping duo of Genny Shatzer and Justis Rather. Also, one of the longest most faithful and visual employee was Eddie Rutherford. Eddie managed the CYO/TCCY operations at Westminster Gym from 1958-84. It was a combined two building operation (A Protestant Church and the old St. John’s and deSales’s Colleges gym, Monsignor had acquired in the late 40’s for $6,000.
Speaking of long-time employees, how about Club bus driver (1970-2002), Jerry Danford! He headed –up the two-bus, four-driver operations, in addition to remaining a TARTA bus driver. (2) This is the same Jerry Danford who for years played the organ at the Toledo Golddiggers hockey games and Mud Hens baseall games. Bus service included gaining a “transportation grant” for diocesan grade schools, especially Central City Ministries’ schools. Providing transportation to day camps, Cedar Point and King’s Island were commonplace in the Summer, as was accommodating trips, beginning in 1943 to summer camps both at Oak Openings and Camp Lady of the Lake, at Vineyard Lake in Southern Michigan. During the school year it might be trips for high school and grade school athletic contests or swimming classes for Girl Scouts. “It was just part of Monsignor’s idea of providing service by and for the Club,” Danford noted.
But service and hospitality was not just limited to bus transportation. The Club welcomed an unbelievable extended list of host organizations. Programs included: for example: Catholic Daughters of America, Boy & Girl Scouts, Ephpeta Sodality for the Deaf, Irish Social Club, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Insurance Women of Toledo, Knights of Equity, Santa Maria Organization, Legion of Mary, Tip Toppers (ladies 6’ and taller), Irish Benevolent Club, Daughters of Isabella, Ancient Order of Hibernians, SERRA Club, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Toledo Council of Catholic Men and Toledo Council of Catholic Women to mention but a few…quite a few!
Beside the people, the Club is perhaps known for its variety of community services and the multitude of organizations it housed. These activities were multiple in appeal and diversity. There were annual citizenship preparation classes (where the Club attracted nearly 400 per year) … contract bridge lessons and tournaments … square dancing … cultural and civic lecture series … retreats … Red Cross nutrition classes … art class … baby-sitting training … charm schools … sewing/dressmaking classes (Singer Sewing Machines even donated six floor model machines) … woodcrafts and woodworking instruction, wedding receptions galore in the Gold Room, as well as, fundraising spaghetti dinners with the Mazzurco family.
Also, the Catholic Club was an USO Canteen for service men and women in the 40’s … one of the nine in the Toledo-metro area. Dancing … a complete line of sports activities … letter writing … free lunches and snacks; even overnight sleeping quarters for up to 60 per night … mixed weekly “splash parties” in the pool were all part of the USO operations. Also during both World War II (1942-45) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) the Club was a bona fide Fall-out Shelter complete with rations, barrels of fresh water and all the other government standards.
And did you know that in the 1940’s and early 50’s many evening activities were segregated? Monday and Wednesday nights were for men’s activities; Tuesday & Thursday were women’s nights.
The Club hosted the first “Winter Indoor Camp-In” in the Midwest in the mid-50’s. There were kids (850 of ‘em) every where! The pool and gym of course had to be left for the organized activities. Club leaders “brown-craft-papered” aisles and walking space so sleepers didn’t get walked-on,” shared Frank Tuttle who supervised the activities, including two on-duty nurses and scores of volunteer adults.
So when you think of the Club, you think kids! An early motto was “Welcome, indeed … regardless of creed.” Annual Kid Club memberships were $4 each; family membership $30 (maximum). Today children’s’ yearly memberships are $50. (Still a great buy by today’s prices!).
And with kids comes sports and what a smorgasbord from which to select. There was handball, basketball, swimming, squash, weight lifting/body-building, badminton, table tennis and even boxing (under the Police Athletic League – PAL) both at Westminster Gym and at the Club. Then too the Club sponsored the CYO outdoor football, baseball, softball and most recently soccer leagues.
In the 60’s and 70’s the Club, close to downtown Toledo, became a favorite site for area business people “anxious to stay in shape.” Over lunch hours joggers, hand-ball and squash players, and “by the lap” swimmers were a common sight. (4/5) One of the best known regulars was Judge (Ret.) Andy Devine.
And one of the most frequent joggers was Tom Murnen, who also served for many years on the Club’s Advisory Board and as volunteer. Both Tom and older brother, Ray, remember first swimming at the Club with their father Ray Sr. in the late 30’s (while still a K of C club) and early 40’s. Both Murnens used the Club athletic facilities, as indeed did their other three siblings. And years later, a third generation of athletic Murnens trained and “played ball” at the Club.
With the Club now in its sixth decade of operation, the multiple generational use like the Murnen family, is becoming more common place. For example, Jean Dempsey Cornell was active and an officer of the deanery and diocesan TCCY (Toledo Council of Catholic Youth; later the TCCYA – Young Adults). Jean, along with the aforementioned Bob Savage attended national conventions and presented “an activities paper” of the pace-setting Toledo diocesan program to the National Board in Washington, D.C. Jean received the coveted “The Eagle of the Cross” in 1961 based on her TCCY credentials.
Her daughter, Katie Cornell, a current Club advisor, now involved in youth activities through St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns and as a TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) advisor also was given “The Eagle of the Cross” award a generation later. They are the only mother-daughter recipients of this prestigious honor.
And while we’re talking multi-generational involvement, we’d be remiss if we failed to mention Patti Robb. Ms. Robb was John Ehret’s granddaughter! She came to the Club as a grade-school swimming student (under then instructor Frank Tuttle) and remained as daycamp counselor, security staff and then as a swimming instructor, herself.
Another “typical” muti- or inter-generational episode has to do with Pat and Mary (Donnelly) Hendricks. They met through TCCY, Mary from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Pat from Rosary Cathedral. Pat went on to coach CYO sports for many years and their six off-springs used the Club facilities often. But the “nicest” story about their children’s use of the Club again rotates around Monsignor Schmit and his kind concern for others.
The oldest Hendricks boy, Larry, suffered from severe polio as a youngster and after being released from the hospital, Monsignor (who had married Pat & Mary – as he so often did with TCCY couples) found out about Larry. He felt that Larry needed to learn to swim as a safeguard and that aquatics would be good therapy. So, he offered Larry swimming lessons and the use of the Club pool, gratis, whenever the Hendricks wanted. No wonder Monsignor was a favorite of so many.
But there have been five other gratifying and pleasing Club Directors over these 60 years. Succeeding Monsignor Schmit was Rev. Tom Oedy who began as Associate Director in July 1976. He took over shortly after Monsignor’s retirement in July 1981. It was Fr. Oedy, as part of the general diocesan restructuring under Bishop James R. Hoffman, that orchestrated the CYO-Youth Activities into the new Schools-Youth Ministries Secretariat. It was also Father Tom, who began with the help of Fr. Mike Hohenbrink the YES (Youth Elect Services), the volunteer teenage summer service projects. Father also extended the TEC program into prison ministry work. Father Tom resigned in 1986 to reenter parish work.
Enter then the first non-clerical director … Bill Sanford. He, like his predecessor, had been hired in 1976, but as an Associate Director of CYO. He became Director of CYO in 1981 and then Director of the entire Catholic Club in 1986. He remained in that position until his 1994 resignation to go with the City of Toledo. It was for Sanford, the task to implement and complete the inenviable task of mingling the Youth Services Ministries from its long-standing residence at the Club into the Schools’ Secretariat at the then Catholic Office Building (COB). This was finalized in July 1993 with Jeff Mielcarek, current CYO Director being so named. Sanford also initiated the first United Appeal Advisory Board (which had been funding the Club for many years beginning first in the 50’s as the earlier Community Chest).
Following Sanford’s resignation, Ursuline Sister Nancy Mathias, OSU served a few months as interim Director. Then Rita Yaffe was named first full time laywoman Director beginning in late 1994; where she remained until 1996. Present Director Paul Syzmanski took over in 1996 and remains in this leadership position yet today.
As previously noted a major enterprise beginning with Monsignor Schmit was the TCCY, and later Corda Club. The former was “post CYO” organizations of young single adults, 18 through 30; the Corda Club was for post-30 singles. Bob Raab was the first TCCY President, elected in 1948 and again in ’49.
TCCY had a four pronged programming … spiritual, social, cultural and athletics. It was open to all diocesan parishes. In Toledo, almost every parish had its own unit or combined with a neighboring parish. Elsewhere a deanery hosted a single group.
There were annual one-act play competitions, weekly Sunday-night dances with DJs or live music, hosted by rotating parishes, athletic leagues (i.e. mixed bowling, basketball, along with weekend ski trips) and retreat weekends and inter-parish Masses
To quote Club Secretary, Sue Kelly Badyna noted, “TCCY was a wonderful organization. Many good marriages came from the activities of TCCY. There were sports in every season, and a dance every Sunday night and many a Sunday afternoon at a TCCY basketball game. All executive meetings of TCCY … were held in the meeting rooms at the Club.”
Sue adds, “TCCY was so much fun that people just didn’t drop out. I think that’s what motivated Monsignor to start the new group … the Corda Club.”
Even today, there are many TCCY-reunions, with former members now in their seventies, from different time-frames and interest. For example later in July, there is a “musical group” reunion from the 1950’s and 60’s hosted at the MCO Hilton Inn with over 50 coming, some great distances.
And so as the Catholic Club pursues in its sixth decade of history, service and dedication, the memories of good people … good times and good sportsmanship continue, and will build through many more productive, positive years.
As such one is reminded of Msgr. Doyle’s, the original purchaser of the Club in 1941, remarks at the 1980 retirement of Msgr. Schmit. To paraphrase: “The record of an institution is but a shadow … of the intelligence, dedication, enthusiasm of its leadership.” Thousands upon thousands of young and old alike owe the Club and its leaders a singular debt of gratitude and appreciation.
Contact person: Barbara Witkowski, (email)
Address:
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1601 Jefferson Ave.Toledo, OH 43604(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.catholicclub.org
| Last updated on July 6, 2009 |
