Hennepin Council #1652
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Our history
Prior to the development of the Knights of Columbus in 1882, there were a number of Catholic fraternal organizations established, to provide benefits to members and their families. Many of these organizations were restricted to those of Irish heritage, with many organized out of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York City and the slums of Brooklyn, N.Y. They included the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH - 1836), Red Knights (1874), the Niagara Falls, N. Y. Catholic Mutual Benefit Association (CMBA of 1876), and the Catholic Benevolent League (CBL-1881). While there are other Catholic fraternal groups, we will concentrate on these groups, as they all have a relationship to the formation of our Hennepin Council 1652. It was some of these groups that Fr. McGivney consulted in his quest to form a fraternal organization that was open to all Catholics. As the Connecticut Red Knights disbanded in 1880, Fr. McGivney used the nucleus of this group to form the Knights of Columbus, which was incorporated in March of 1882, using the constitution of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters.
The Towns of Niagara Falls, N.Y, and Ontario had large populations of Irish descendants. It was natural that these Irish fraternal groups soon established councils or pranches in these areas. The Catholic Benevolent League (CBL) of Brooklyn, N. Y. established two chapters in Niagara Falls, N.Y., one in 1888 and one in 1892 - each within walking distance of the two international bridges The Catholic Mutual Benefit Association (CMBA) of Niagara Falls N. Y. formed Branch No. 18 in Niagara Falls, Ontario on August 5, 1882. This Branch No. 18 had its meeting hall on Bridge Street. 'The Ancient Order of Hibernians' (AOH) formed chapters in Niagara Falls, N.Y., St. Catharines, Niagara-On-The-Lake and Merritton, Ontario. Needless to say, the Irish community of Niagara Falls, Ontario was heavily involved in the Catholic fraternal organizations on both sides of the border. A prospective to this involvement is best detailed from a Carmelite publication of June 1895, when the cornerstone and dedication of St. Patrick's church was held.
“Early in 1895 the work of excavating was begun and on June 9th the cornerstone was laid. That day was a big one for Niagara Falls, for the entire community as well as for the parishioners of the church. Early in the afternoon the two branches of the Catholic Men's (Mutual Benevolent Association (CMBA) and two branches of the CBL (Catholic Benevolent League) and the A.O.H (Ancient Order of Hibernians), of Niagara Falls, N.Y, and visiting members from lodges in Niagara-On-The Lake, St. Catharines and Merritton, together with the local C.M.B.A. and A.O.H. branches, numbering about 500 men, met at the C.M.B.A. hall on Bridge Street, and headed by the Niagara Falls brass band, marched in a body to the site of the new church”.
A local newspaper article noted that the CBL were dressed in their regalia and it was an Irish day at St. Patrick's Church. It must have been a moving sight to observe some 500 men marching from Bridge Street to the St. Patrick's Church led by a brass band with the CBL dressed in their regalia and the various organization banner holders leading each branch in the parade.
The Knights of Columbus first reached the Niagara area in 1897, when Council 247 was formed in Niagara Falls, N.Y. It was in direct competition with the two established chapters of the CBL. As the Knights of Columbus grew at a fast rate, the ethnic Catholic organizations, including the CBL, declined. A Knights of Columbus Council (1394) of St. Catharines was founded in March of 1909. About this time, another Catholic Men's group formed out of St. Patrick's Parish, called the St. Pat's (Men's) Club, and they held their meeting and "smokers” on the 2nd floor of the Hamilton Bank Building, located on the north west corner of Queen St. and Erie Avenue. The local branch No. 18 of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association also relocated its offices to the same 2nd floor area in the Hamilton Bank Building.
Our Knights of Columbus Hennepin Council 1652 of Niagara Falls, Ontario soon followed with its formation charter on June 26, 1912. Hennepin Council 1652 started with 31 charter members taken from the various area Catholic fraternal organizations on both sides of the border. Hennepin Council 1652 had as its first Chaplin the pastor of St. Patrick's - the Rev. B. G. Fink O.Carm. and used the same 2nd. Floor area of the Hamilton Bank Building as its meeting location. The Council meetings were held at 8:30 p.m. on the 2nd. and 4th. Mondays of each month. The monthly meetings were attended by visiting members from the area Councils and priests from Our Lady of Angel's Seminary of Niagara University. This is the same seminary Rev. Michael J. McGivney attended, who inspired the formation of the Knights of Columbus.
By 1929, the parish and school of St Patrick's expanded into a hall on the south side of the church. The hall contained 4 new classrooms, an auditorium and basketball court, and lower hall meeting room. Hennepin Council 1652 soon relocated to this hall in 1929 and held their meetings in the lower hall meeting area, along with the Men's Holy Name Society, Catholic Women's League, Scouts, Cubs, altar servers. Shamrock Club, and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). Hennepin Council 1652 formed the Neil McNeil Squires Circle No. 145 in September of 1935 and it also held its meeting at this hall.
The Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires Circle remained at the St Patrick's hall until it became difficult to hold meetings due to the numerous groups and city-wide sport activities that used this hall on a daily basis. In 1954, Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires re-located to the Niagara Falls Marion Hall at 1968 Barker Street which was operated by the Carmelite's of Our Lady of Peace Church. Hennepin Council 1652 remained at this location for approximately six months, before relocating in 1955, to a converted house at 4376 Stanley Avenue. This building is located across from the north end of Fairview Cemetery and next to the present Niagara Plumbing Supply Company. This house was converted to hold a meeting area on the first floor and an office and member lounge area in the basement.
The growth of Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires soon required relocation to a larger hall. In 1967 they purchased and relocated to a former rural school building on McLeod Road at the intersection of Beechwood Road. It was at this location that the Fourth Degree Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831 was formed in August of 1980. Hennepin Council 1652, Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831 and the Squires Circle 145 remained at this location until 1987 when they relocated to a hall more centrally located at 6101 North Street in Niagara Falls. This hall was shared with the Sertoma Club who occupied one level and the Knights of Columbus organizations occupying the other level. In 1988, the Hennepin Council 1652 Columbus Club took over possession of the entire building, where they were located until 2019.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hennepin Council #1652, in conjunction with the Columbus Club, opted to sell the hall on North Street, moving into Our Lady of Peace Hall on Stanley Avenue, once again returning to Carmelite owned land. We have established our new home here and have hosted many successful events, fundraisers, and continue to grow our Council.
Written by SK Joseph Solomon for the 100th Anniversary of Hennepin Council #1652 in 2012, updated and edited by SK Owen Rizzo in 2025
The Towns of Niagara Falls, N.Y, and Ontario had large populations of Irish descendants. It was natural that these Irish fraternal groups soon established councils or pranches in these areas. The Catholic Benevolent League (CBL) of Brooklyn, N. Y. established two chapters in Niagara Falls, N.Y., one in 1888 and one in 1892 - each within walking distance of the two international bridges The Catholic Mutual Benefit Association (CMBA) of Niagara Falls N. Y. formed Branch No. 18 in Niagara Falls, Ontario on August 5, 1882. This Branch No. 18 had its meeting hall on Bridge Street. 'The Ancient Order of Hibernians' (AOH) formed chapters in Niagara Falls, N.Y., St. Catharines, Niagara-On-The-Lake and Merritton, Ontario. Needless to say, the Irish community of Niagara Falls, Ontario was heavily involved in the Catholic fraternal organizations on both sides of the border. A prospective to this involvement is best detailed from a Carmelite publication of June 1895, when the cornerstone and dedication of St. Patrick's church was held.
“Early in 1895 the work of excavating was begun and on June 9th the cornerstone was laid. That day was a big one for Niagara Falls, for the entire community as well as for the parishioners of the church. Early in the afternoon the two branches of the Catholic Men's (Mutual Benevolent Association (CMBA) and two branches of the CBL (Catholic Benevolent League) and the A.O.H (Ancient Order of Hibernians), of Niagara Falls, N.Y, and visiting members from lodges in Niagara-On-The Lake, St. Catharines and Merritton, together with the local C.M.B.A. and A.O.H. branches, numbering about 500 men, met at the C.M.B.A. hall on Bridge Street, and headed by the Niagara Falls brass band, marched in a body to the site of the new church”.
A local newspaper article noted that the CBL were dressed in their regalia and it was an Irish day at St. Patrick's Church. It must have been a moving sight to observe some 500 men marching from Bridge Street to the St. Patrick's Church led by a brass band with the CBL dressed in their regalia and the various organization banner holders leading each branch in the parade.
The Knights of Columbus first reached the Niagara area in 1897, when Council 247 was formed in Niagara Falls, N.Y. It was in direct competition with the two established chapters of the CBL. As the Knights of Columbus grew at a fast rate, the ethnic Catholic organizations, including the CBL, declined. A Knights of Columbus Council (1394) of St. Catharines was founded in March of 1909. About this time, another Catholic Men's group formed out of St. Patrick's Parish, called the St. Pat's (Men's) Club, and they held their meeting and "smokers” on the 2nd floor of the Hamilton Bank Building, located on the north west corner of Queen St. and Erie Avenue. The local branch No. 18 of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association also relocated its offices to the same 2nd floor area in the Hamilton Bank Building.
Our Knights of Columbus Hennepin Council 1652 of Niagara Falls, Ontario soon followed with its formation charter on June 26, 1912. Hennepin Council 1652 started with 31 charter members taken from the various area Catholic fraternal organizations on both sides of the border. Hennepin Council 1652 had as its first Chaplin the pastor of St. Patrick's - the Rev. B. G. Fink O.Carm. and used the same 2nd. Floor area of the Hamilton Bank Building as its meeting location. The Council meetings were held at 8:30 p.m. on the 2nd. and 4th. Mondays of each month. The monthly meetings were attended by visiting members from the area Councils and priests from Our Lady of Angel's Seminary of Niagara University. This is the same seminary Rev. Michael J. McGivney attended, who inspired the formation of the Knights of Columbus.
By 1929, the parish and school of St Patrick's expanded into a hall on the south side of the church. The hall contained 4 new classrooms, an auditorium and basketball court, and lower hall meeting room. Hennepin Council 1652 soon relocated to this hall in 1929 and held their meetings in the lower hall meeting area, along with the Men's Holy Name Society, Catholic Women's League, Scouts, Cubs, altar servers. Shamrock Club, and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). Hennepin Council 1652 formed the Neil McNeil Squires Circle No. 145 in September of 1935 and it also held its meeting at this hall.
The Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires Circle remained at the St Patrick's hall until it became difficult to hold meetings due to the numerous groups and city-wide sport activities that used this hall on a daily basis. In 1954, Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires re-located to the Niagara Falls Marion Hall at 1968 Barker Street which was operated by the Carmelite's of Our Lady of Peace Church. Hennepin Council 1652 remained at this location for approximately six months, before relocating in 1955, to a converted house at 4376 Stanley Avenue. This building is located across from the north end of Fairview Cemetery and next to the present Niagara Plumbing Supply Company. This house was converted to hold a meeting area on the first floor and an office and member lounge area in the basement.
The growth of Hennepin Council 1652 and Squires soon required relocation to a larger hall. In 1967 they purchased and relocated to a former rural school building on McLeod Road at the intersection of Beechwood Road. It was at this location that the Fourth Degree Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831 was formed in August of 1980. Hennepin Council 1652, Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831 and the Squires Circle 145 remained at this location until 1987 when they relocated to a hall more centrally located at 6101 North Street in Niagara Falls. This hall was shared with the Sertoma Club who occupied one level and the Knights of Columbus organizations occupying the other level. In 1988, the Hennepin Council 1652 Columbus Club took over possession of the entire building, where they were located until 2019.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hennepin Council #1652, in conjunction with the Columbus Club, opted to sell the hall on North Street, moving into Our Lady of Peace Hall on Stanley Avenue, once again returning to Carmelite owned land. We have established our new home here and have hosted many successful events, fundraisers, and continue to grow our Council.
Written by SK Joseph Solomon for the 100th Anniversary of Hennepin Council #1652 in 2012, updated and edited by SK Owen Rizzo in 2025