HISTORY
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
CONCEPTION COUNCIL No. 1930
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created April 2020; updated December 2022
CONCEPTION COUNCIL No. 1930
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created April 2020; updated December 2022
Conception Council No. 1930 Knights of Columbus was formally instituted on December 8, 1918 by the Territorial Deputy C. O'N. Conroy, assisted by W.W. Thomas Armstrong. The following officers were installed: Grand Knight J.J. MacDougall; Deputy Grand Knight W.F. Billingsley; Chancellor J.M. Greene; Recorder J.L. Connors; Financial Secretary L.J. Lawton; Treasurer M.J. McNeill; Advocate P.F. Power; Warden J.P. Burke; Inside Guard: J.J. Morrissey; Outside Guard: Edward Sweeney; Trustees: Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, D.J. Jackman, and John Connors. (Source: Addison Bown, "Newspaper History of Bell Island," 1918, p. 56.)
On October 18, 1926, the first sod was turned near the Convent School at the Mines [Immaculate Conception] for a new convent to be erected by the Knights of Columbus. Subsequently, a Ladies' Auxiliary was formed for the purpose of raising funds for the building of the convent, with the following officers: Mrs. J.A. Hughes, President; Mrs. F.F. Jardine, Vice-President; Mrs. F.J. Wade, Recording Secretary; Mrs. W.R. Power, Financial Secretary; Mrs. T.A. Conway, Treasurer.
The photo below is believed to be of St. Michael's Parish Knights of Columbus church ushers. L-R: Bill Jardine, Ed Power (behind Bill), Wm. Murphy (back), Pat Kelly (front), Jim Ezekiel (back), Elias Basha (front), Doug Perry (back), either Bernie Downey or Jim Power (front), Wm. Somerton (back), Jacob McLean (front), Mike Boland (back), Ed Russell (front). Photo by Charles Ruggles, probably 1954 at the official opening of Immaculate Conception Church on Town Square. Photo and names courtesy of Lew Kelloway.
On October 18, 1926, the first sod was turned near the Convent School at the Mines [Immaculate Conception] for a new convent to be erected by the Knights of Columbus. Subsequently, a Ladies' Auxiliary was formed for the purpose of raising funds for the building of the convent, with the following officers: Mrs. J.A. Hughes, President; Mrs. F.F. Jardine, Vice-President; Mrs. F.J. Wade, Recording Secretary; Mrs. W.R. Power, Financial Secretary; Mrs. T.A. Conway, Treasurer.
The photo below is believed to be of St. Michael's Parish Knights of Columbus church ushers. L-R: Bill Jardine, Ed Power (behind Bill), Wm. Murphy (back), Pat Kelly (front), Jim Ezekiel (back), Elias Basha (front), Doug Perry (back), either Bernie Downey or Jim Power (front), Wm. Somerton (back), Jacob McLean (front), Mike Boland (back), Ed Russell (front). Photo by Charles Ruggles, probably 1954 at the official opening of Immaculate Conception Church on Town Square. Photo and names courtesy of Lew Kelloway.
December 8, 1958 was the 40th anniversary of the granting of the Charter to Conception Council. 1958 was one of its busiest years:
- 105 new members were initiated and made full-fledged knights; another 63 applications were approved for membership.
- Early in the year, the members honoured their Grand Knight, William J. Kent by celebrating what is known as a Grand Knight's Night, where he and Mrs. Kent were guests of honour.
- St. Patrick's Day was observed once again on a large scale with a motorcade around the main highways of the Island to St. Michael's Church where all participants attended the eleven o'clock Mass; prizes were given for best-decorated cars in the motorcade; at night, the members entertained their lady guests in St. James Hall at a Knights of Columbus Ladies' Night celebration.
- Scholarships for grades nine, ten and eleven were provided again this year.
- A history-making event occurred when the State Convention was held on Bell Island. It ran for three days with 25 delegates in attendance; it concluded with a banquet and Ladies' Night to honour the visiting officials.
- In June, the Conception Council, under the spiritual leadership of its chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. McGettigan, P.P., performed the living Rosary in the Church of the Immaculate Conception to honour the 41st apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.
- In June, the election of officers was held with the familiar name of L.J. Lawton from the 1918 election, this time as a Trustee.
- Columbus Day celebrations
- 105 new members were initiated and made full-fledged knights; another 63 applications were approved for membership.
- Early in the year, the members honoured their Grand Knight, William J. Kent by celebrating what is known as a Grand Knight's Night, where he and Mrs. Kent were guests of honour.
- St. Patrick's Day was observed once again on a large scale with a motorcade around the main highways of the Island to St. Michael's Church where all participants attended the eleven o'clock Mass; prizes were given for best-decorated cars in the motorcade; at night, the members entertained their lady guests in St. James Hall at a Knights of Columbus Ladies' Night celebration.
- Scholarships for grades nine, ten and eleven were provided again this year.
- A history-making event occurred when the State Convention was held on Bell Island. It ran for three days with 25 delegates in attendance; it concluded with a banquet and Ladies' Night to honour the visiting officials.
- In June, the Conception Council, under the spiritual leadership of its chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. McGettigan, P.P., performed the living Rosary in the Church of the Immaculate Conception to honour the 41st apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.
- In June, the election of officers was held with the familiar name of L.J. Lawton from the 1918 election, this time as a Trustee.
- Columbus Day celebrations
It was reported in the July 19, 1958 edition of the Daily News on page 2 that excavation had started for the new Knights of Columbus building, the Diamond Club, on East Track. This was operated as a popular night club for many years. It was in the process of being torn down when it was destroyed by a fire on June 15, 2010.