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539 oldest Knights’ council in Western US
By Stephen Sweeney
Founded on March 29, 1882, by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Conn., the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. The organization is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
Denver Knights of Columbus Council 539 was instituted Nov. 18, 1900, and is the oldest Knights’ council in the Western United States. Council 539’s first grand knight (council head) was John H. Reddin (1900-1903).
Meetings were held in the Fraternal Union Building from 1907-1910. The Knights of Columbus Club at 1409 Glenarm Place served as the meeting hall from 1910-1919.
In 1919, the building was sold with the decision to move “up on the hill,” meaning Capitol Hill. Also in 1919, a new corporation was formed to govern the council’s real property. The first order of business for the new nonprofit was the purchase of the home and 10 lots at 16th and Grant streets. This property housed the Fletcher Mansion.
A Denver newspaper praised this three-story home as “a marvel of perfection, inside and out.” It included five bathrooms finished in Italian marble, a bowling alley in the basement and a 30-foot swimming pool. There was also a large carriage house on the property.
In 1928 a major renovation was undertaken to create a large meeting hall. The hall extended south from the old residence portion of the building to the former carriage house and became one of the finest and most spacious halls in the city. This portion of the structure stands to this day. Used for bingo, dances and other social occasions, the hall is still available to be rented. (For information, call 303-861-2419.)
Now well-known, this hall saw much use during World War II when it was used for USO dances and other parties to entertain servicemen. Every night, the hall was lined with cots so that service personnel could get a good night’s sleep. The Knights were commended many times for their community involvement and help to the military during the war.
By 1950, the Denver council had grown to be one of the largest in the United States. Despite the great size of the council’s hall, many events were so large that they had to be conducted in downtown hotels.
The council voted “yes” on April 9, 1962, to build a new home. Groundbreaking occurred on July 13, 1962. The building was dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr on May 11, 1963, just after demolition of the old building to make room for a parking lot.
Much has happened in the ensuing 48 years, including the visit of the Supreme Convention, which draws Knights and clergy from across the globe, in 1984. (The Supreme Convention is once again taking place in Denver on Aug. 2-4 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.)
Currently, Council 539 has 282 members from eight parishes in Denver.
Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. The founding vision for the organization also included a life insurance program to provide for widows and orphans of deceased members. The insurance program has expanded substantially and is well respected.
The Knights of Columbus is open to men age 18 and older who are practicing Catholics. For more information about the Knights or Denver Council 539, call 303-861-2419 or e-mail emblem@kofc539.org. Visit the Knights website at www.kofc.org.
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