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EVENING HERALD OF SHENANDOAH-ASHLAN~MAHANOY
The Knights of Columbus in
Frackville has been a very
active organization. I wanted
to write a "tale" on its history
and activities so I talked with
Willard Long. Mr. Long was
born
in 'Pottsville
and
graduated in 1939.He has lived
in Frackville for twenty-eight
years and has been very active
in our community. He had
worked for the Van Heusen
Company for seventeen years
before accepting a managerial
position with the Model Garment Company where he has
been employed the past sixteen
years.
Willard has always been an
active
member
of
any
organization with which he has
been affiliated. Hehas served
several
offices
and was
secretary of the Knights of
Columbus for ten years; is a
member of St. Ann's Church
and Secretary-Treasurer
of St.
Cecelia's Choir; a member of
the Holy Name Society;
member of Rotary; President
of the Recreation Board; was
Borough Secretary for five
years and Borough Auditor for
eight years.
He has been interested in
dramatics and has served as
Master of Ceremonies on many
occasions,
participated
in
several minstrels in Pottsville
& Frackville; participated
in
plays sponsored by the Band
Booster
Association
and
Frackville P.T.A.; and has
been active in the annual
!dardi Gras Shows sponsored
by the K. of C.
When I asked him for information on the Knights of
Columbus he was happy to talk
about'
his
favorite
organization! And if you know
Willard you know he can really
talk! I enjoyed our evening so
much I quoted him verbatim:
I like to do things differently.
Probably histories are written
that the organization
was
founded on such and such a
date, etc.
I shall start at the present
time and go back to when our
Qub was started in Frackville.
At the present time we have
beautiful quarters on North
Lehigh avenue. We have, with
much hard work and effort
grown into an organization that
..is not ~y ,P.81't.of F'r~kviUe
Area but an organization that
is proud of our area and works
for the betterment of the area.
leo Luciani is presently serving as Grand Knight.
In l!ns we celebrated our
50th Anniversary. We decided
at the celebration not to have
long speeches or a boring \
history. Instead, I spent 4 to 5
months doing research and I
wrote 'a history that was
presented by seven of us; Joe
, Getty, Tom McAndrew, Frank
Sienkiewicz, Leo Luciani, Bill
Kaledas,
Fran Heine and
myself.
The audience
loved it
because it was entertaining
and yet we put our message
across.
Also in conjunction with the
50th Anniversary a Mass was
celebrated in the BVM Church.
Father Norbutas was celebrant
of the Mass. Itwas sung by the
men of the K of C with Frank
Sienkiewicz,
Stanley
Matlowski, Walter Baran, Leo
Luciani, Andrew Humetsky ,
.Francis Heine, Alex Korop"
chak, Joe Getty and Willard
Long. Dianne Decker was the
OI'ganist.
In the months that followed
the Anniversary
Mass was
sung at St. Joseph's and St.
Michael's Churches. This
chorus has' also performed at
many social functions.
In 1975 and 1973 two of our
members were recipients of
the God and Country Award
which is presented by the Sch.
General Assembly, 4th Degree
Knights of Columbus. In 1975,
Sir Knight Stanley Matlowski
was honored, in 1973Sir Knight
Joseph Drasdis received this
honor. Both of these gentlemen
are Past Grand Knights of our
Council.
One of our concerns has
always been children. Through
the years we have had varibus
activities for the children, such
as Easter Egg Hunts. At one
time we sponsored a Boy
Scout Troop, we sponsored a
Columbia Squire Circle and for
years we have sponsored a
little League Baseball Team.
Every
year
we hold a
Christmas
Party
for the
children which they enjoy very
much. They receive gifts from
Santa, play games and get lots
of goodies. Many years Santa
would visit children that we
knew were ill and bring them a
gift to cheer them.
For years we presented a girt
to the children who attended
the highest average in religion
and who finished 8th Grade at
both str Joseph's and the
B. V.M. Annunciation schools in
Frackville.
More recently,
we have
presented
awards to High
School graduates. At North
Schuylkill it is for the highest
achievement
in American
History. Cardinal
Brennan
High School for Religion and
the North Sch. Vo-Tech School
for Electronics.
We have a sick committee
that has done a great job
sending cards and visiting
members who are ill.
February,
1974
Peter
Kowker was presented with an
honor,arylife membership. The
amazing thing about Pete is
that he was first elected
Treasurer in July, 1931. He is
still serving as Treasurer at
the present time and he has
always done a wonderful job.
Does
the
Knights
of
Columbus donate money for
any reasons?
The Frackville Knights of
Columbus has pledged money
to the Frackville Centennial,
has donated money to many
activities such as the frackville Free Public Library,
Ambulance Fund, Recreation,
the Kiddies Day at Whippoorwill Park. They've bought
book covers and distributed
them to the schools.
On February 9, 1972 (jus
Heine became
a 50 year
member of the Knights of
Columbus. Gus was a member
of the Mahanoy City Knights of
Columbus and he had a good bit
to do with the formation of the
Frackville Club.
In the early ·19'1~'s our
member, Slanley Matlowski'
became District Deputy. This
was a personal honor and also
for the Club. I
In 1971 we had our Social
Rooms completely renovated.
At various times during the
history of the Club we have had
teams active in sports. We
have had at one time or
another
a softball baseball
team, a bowling team, and a
baseball dart team.
The Knights of Columbus has
always had a Memorial Service for deceased members. In
1968 we began a new service
which we still use at the
present time. We feel this
Memorial Service is a very
devout and beautiful way to
recognize
our
departed
members.
We have done many things to
create activity and to interest
the members. ,We have an
attendance award for meeting
attendance;.
we have shown
films to create activity; we
have members participate on
committees so as to' get Involved.
For many years now we felt
that some things can be
overdone or become too much.
We have our own rooms for our
use, as an organization, just'
about any time. But what we
have done is tried to concentrate on one night a week to
have activity in the Club
Rooms. We have concentrated
m Tuesday night of every
week. On the first Tuesday of
the month ;we have our Service
Program Committee meetings.
These are open to all members.
The Service Program is made
up of Church, membership,
community, youth and council.
()l the second Tuesday of the
month are the Stock Club
meetings. Certain members
had formed a Stock Club
years ago to create more in-
terest and activity.
These
meetings
are open to all
members. The Third Tuesday
is the monthly
business
meeting. The fourth Tuesday is
designated as Knights Nite,
mostly for sociability.
For many years on the last
Tuesday of the month a biro
thday party was held for all the
members who had a birthday
during that month. On any
Tuesday night members can
enjoy televisim, social games,
refreshments
or
simple
fellowship with other members.
Years ago when th~ C" p
'l.D.C. held a lund r~m&
onve, our Knights of Columbus
like many other organizations,
was a contributor.
Our members are asked to
attend Ecumenical
Services
'whenever they are held.
In 1967 our members began
assisting
at Mass at the
Danville State Hospital. Our
Council takes two months a
year and on the designated
month,
every
Sunday
5
members go to Danville to
assist. One man serves as
lector for the Mass. The other
four men team in pairs and
station themselves at the two
entrances. Those who attend
Mass are assisted when they
arrive, by, giving them the
Mass Card and prayers and
checking if they will receive
Holy Communion.
At the
distribution of Communion, the
men aid the Celebrant and any
patient
who may
need
assistance. This has been a
very rewarding experience for
all the members who have
participated.
A number of times on the
occasion of a local parade,
members have participated.
We have visited in groups
such places as the North Vo
Tech School, the Frackville
Free Public Library and local
industries, and such industries
as the Alcoa Plant in Cressona ..
The Club has made trips to the
Shrine in Washington, D. C.
and other trips to Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York
City. Some of these trips were
made to sporting events.
Columbianism is built on
four principals, Unity, Charity,
Fraternity and Patriotism.
The Knight,i. .of (;QJqmbus ,
members are men Who not only
believe in their religion, but
also practice it, live it and try
to help others. The Knights
help the Churches whenever
possible. Our Council has at
least four quarterly
communion Masses a year. These
are held in the local churches.
Our Council also has members
from Gordon,
St. Clair,
Fountain Springs, Gilberton,
Maizeville
and
Mahanoy
Plane. Corporate communion
Masses are celebrated
in
churches in these areas from
time to time. On some occasions a breakfast is held in
conjunction with a Communion
Mass. The members attend
Mass, receive Communion and
they join together for a breakfast. Over the years, Memorial
Services have been held and
other services
for special
occasions. In the past we had a
"Living Rosary" service. The
members would assemble in a
circle in the church and each
member would recite a bead of
the Rosary.
This was a
beautiful ceremony.
During Lent, the Rosary is
recited by the membership
every Tuesday evening.
There was a time when every
Tuesday evening of Lent we
would have an inspiring
message delivered by either a
Priest, Minister or Layman.
This was done for years, and it
is hoped this program can be
revived
sometime
in the
future.
Our members participate
and have participated in many
activities
such as a golf
tournament, bowling, softball,
pinochle
and dart
tournaments.
We have always had many
members who are active in
Civic Affairs.
Our Council has held many
social affairs, such as parties
at
New Year's
Eve,
CITY-SATURDAY,
AUGUST 7, 1976
PAGE NINE
Halloween, St. Patrick's Day,
and other special occasions.
Also testimonials have been
held for Past Grand Knights
and other members who have
served for a long time, such as
Treasurer Peter Kowker and
Financial Secretary Francis
Heine. The largest event held
every year is the Mardi Gras.
The Mardi Gras is a fun night
held before the Lenten season.
A show is presented
by
members and there is dinner
and dancing. This year the,
show was of a Bicentennial
Theme with colonial costumes.
Albert and Lorraine Gricoski
and Dianne Decker were in
charge of this year's performance. This was the first
year that the Mardi Gras was
held in St. Michael's Church
Hall. This was the 19th consecutive
year of this affair.
The idea of the Mardi Gras was
that of Walter Baran.
When it was first started, the
Council rooms were on the 3rd
floor of the Garden Theatre
Building. For the first several
years the Mardi Gras was held
on Shrove Tuesday night and
all festivity would stop at
midnight.
The only entertainment at the first Mardi
Gras was Pete Kowker doing a
few card tricks. The second
~!
we did a one-act play
with all~adies as players, but it
was a comedy and all parts
were
portrayed
by men
dressed as ladies. After we
moved to the new quarters on
North Lehigh Avenue, our
Mardi Gras show became
mostly a musical. We had now
switched it to the Saturday
night before Lent and it is still
held on that date.
The Mardi Gras was held for
several years in our Council
rooms, but in 1963 the rooms
were
not large enough.
Originally ticket sales were
limited to members and their
families. Later members were
permitted to bring friends with
them. The demand for tickets
continued to grow, so the entire
affair was moved to Ace Hall.
In a few years the crowds were
too great for even Ace Hall to
accomodate
them.
The
decision was made that ticket
sales would be limited to 250.
Walter Baran who started the
Mardi Gras idea also was in
charge of the show that was
performed. For all but the last
two years either Walter Baran
or Willard Long handled the
shows. There were many fine
performances
by individuals
and by groups. The cooperation
was always forth coming from
everyone
and the audiences
reacted over the years by their
acceptance of the entire affair.
May 28, 1961was the blessing
and dedication of our new
council quarters
on North
Lehigh Avenue. The men
worked very hard to get these
new Quarters. Money had to be
realized in one way or another,
members purchased bonds to
help finance the purchase and
renovations. Many members
volunteered a great deal of
their time and labor to the
renovating. The work went on
for months, stairways were
moved, some were ripped out,
others put in new. Walls came
I
down, others went up. New
plumbing wiring was installed.
Scrubbing, sanding, painting,
cleaning, fixing ... went on and
on. Hours, days and even
months of work were put into
the building by men whose only
reward was a deep feeling of
satisfaction of a job well done.
The Knights always tried in
donating
money to do so
locally. Such as the Frackville
Free
Public
Library,
Ambulance Drive, Recreation
etc. A set of Compton's
Encyclopedia was purchased
for the Library.
We distributed cards to local
merchants to display that they
close Good Friday from noon to
3: 00 p.m., The purchase of hoof
covers for the school children
is another work we enjoy.
Francis Heine faithfully goes
to all the cemeteries in the area
and places a flag on the graves
of deceased
members
annually.
In 1959the building on North
Lehigh Avenue, our present
building,
was purchased.
September 22, 1959The Ladies
Auxiliary was formed. The
formation of the Auxiliary
helped the organization a great
deal. They have added the
"women's touch". They hold
active
and
interesting
meetings of their own and they
have helped
the Knights
organization in many ways.
They decorate the window of
the quarters, and assist at all
social affairs. Mrs. Leo Luciani
is President of the Ladies
Auxiliary.
In 1958 a bulletin was started
to be published
quarterly
called "The Pinta." The CoEditOl;S were Walter Baran and
Willard Long. The first several
years it was quite elaborate
and the entire cost was paid by
members donations. Later a
more simplified version was
published monthly. As I was
secretary for ten years, I also
edited the Pinta and did all the
newspaper write-ups.
'
The official name of the
organization
is The Rev.
James A. Hogan Council No.
2580 of the, Knights
of
Columbus. The Council was
named for Rev. Hogan who
served as the Pastor of tile
Holy ,Rosary
Parish
in
Mahanoy Plane from 1897 to
1911.
. The Council was organized
i June 21, 1925 when the
Shenandoah ,Council's Degree
Team exemplified 1he first
degree on 59 candidates from
Frackville
who were .the
beginning of Council 2580.
The flrSt meeting was cqnducted by District Deputy CJ\..
Donahue. The following officers were elected: GI'8I)d
KnigM, , J. C.MCGtnnft;
Deputy Grand Knight, E. J.
Heine; Chancellor, Er. William
J. Dougherty; Warden, Joseph
Collins; Recording secretary,
Jacob Kleman;
Financial
secretary, Joseph J. Malloy;
Advocate, Thomas O'Connor;
, Treasurer,
John Becker;
Lecturer, Fred J. Brennan;
Inside
Guard,
Augustine
Heine; Outside Guard, Francis
Cantwell; Trustees, Clarence
Blickley, Louis Pauly and.
Joseph J. Rice, and Chaplain,
Rev. James J'. Graham."
And so we are at the end, or
is it the beginning. The club
was started in 1925.
Following are the past grand
knights of the council: (+indicates deceased> 1925-27John
McGinnis+,
27-28 Joseph
Malloy + , 28·30 John Allen + ,
30-31 Patrick Flannery+, 31·32
John Allen + , ~2-33 John
McAtee +,
33-35
Joseph
Rooney +, 35-38 John Allen + ,
38-39 August Heine, 39-40 John
Allen +, . 40-42 John Brendon
. Collins +, 42-44 John Skurnowicz, 44-46 John Allen +, 4647 J. T. Purcell + , 47-48 J. J.
Becker, 48-49 A. J. Heine, 49-50
E.J. Dalton}, 50-58A.J. Heine,
58-60 Stanley Matlowski, 61-63
Walter Baran, 63·64 Michael
Homa, 64-65John Badida, 65-66
Joseph Drasdis, 66-67 Thomas
Anthony 67-69 Albert Gricoski,
69-70 Joseph Getty, 70-'14 Ell
Hancher, 74·75 John Medvetz,
75-16Leo Lucian, 76-77Thomas
McAndrew.
At the present time, Tom
McAndrews is handling the
bulletin and doing a fine jOb.
Also in 1958 the council
started a degree team which
would exemplify the flrst two
degrees of Unity and Charity.
At the present time The Degree
Team members are: Joseph
Drasdis, Eli Hancher, Francis
Heine, Stanley Matlowski,
Albert Gricoski, Leo Luciani,
William Kaledas and John
Medvetz.
The council holds a family
picnic every year. This is for
members,
families
and
friends.
In 1959through the efforts of
the K of C the words "Under
God" were added to our
country's Pledge of Allegiance
and our council bought and
,"
~
~... :
.-
"
~~J
p
q
Knig ts at corporate communion at Sf. Michael's in June 1958 Michael's
.
"
In 1927meetings were held in
the Zetuski Building on North
Lehigh avenue and in 1926
assisted in the organization of
the Catholic Daughters
of
Frackville.
~~=*
~:::;"
h
"
distributed new pledge cards to
the schools.
We started a Free Dues
Award. All members who pay
their dues in full by April are
eligible for the awards.
Peter J. Kowker was first
elected treasurer in July 1931
and he has served every year
since that time, year after year
he does an outstanding job.
•••..•
s
g'
~
.
Window displays at the Knights quarters are always attractive, One of the
most memorable was this Memorial Day display in 1958.
ii
:m:
~:~~~
:~I: .
,
_
_
Living charter members of the Frackville Knights:
Peter Kowker, Gus Heine and Joseph Burns,
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