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History of the Lebanon American Club
First Officers Board
of Directors
In late 1921 a group of Arabic men were playing pinochle in the back of the Kaidy Brothers' store on Elm Street. As the game progressed a discussion arose as to why the Arabic community did not have its own social club. The group decided shortly thereafter to form its own club to serve the Arabic community. By early 1922 Assad Lataif, George and Frank Kaidy, Abraham Louis, Joseph and Chicory Buzaid, Nicholas Jaber, Edward Mammary, Saleem and Joseph Basher had formed the Syrian American Club. They began with informal meetings in Joseph Basher's pool room, but soon rented the top floor of Mr. Gus Seifert's building on the corner of Main Street and Library Place. After moving to the Seifert building the Club quickly expanded its membership and community involvement. On July 4th 1925 the Club made the best showing in Danbury's celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Dozens of Club members, dressed in Colonial Uniforms with muskets, marched down Main Street led by Frank Kaidy dressed in a Colonial General's uniform riding a white horse. In the 1920s with only 15 registered voters of Arabic descent in Danbury, the Club undertook the task of reaching Arabic immigrants to speak and read English and worked hard to obtain citizenship for these hard working immigrants. Club members traveled across the state in order to assist Arabic residents in obtaining the much coveted status of being an American citizen. When the Depression struck the Club financially assisted those poor and dependent individuals who wished to return to their native countries in the Middle East. The Club also expanded its financial assistance to Arabic residents of Danbury, who were in danger of eviction, by subsidizing rents and working out payment plans with landlords. In 1936 the Club, under its new name, the Syrian Lebanon American Club, purchased land on New Street and in 1937 construction was completed on the Club's home for the next 56 years. In 1938 the Club's membership voted to change the name of the Club to the Lebanon American Club, its name for the past 59 years. Two years later, when suffering from financial difficulties, the Club was assisted by the Young Women's Syrian Lebanon Society under the leadership of Mrs. Chicory Buzaid. Their assistance was instrumental in maintaining the Club and helping it to expand. Throughout the years the Lebanon-American Club has been a pillar of the Arabic Community. The Lebanon-American Club continues its involvement with civic and cultural activities throughout Danbury. The Club has awarded thousands of dollars to bright young high school students at its Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner. The Club also holds and co-sponsors fund-raisers to assist financially strapped member families with their medical bills in times of need. The Lebanon-American Club moved to its current home on West Street in 1993, and two years later the Club was instrumental in co-sponsoring fund-raising efforts for the hosting of Team Lebanon in Danbury during the 1995 World Special Olympic Games. The Lebanon-American Club's community involvement and commitment over the past 79 years is a testament to the dedication of the Arabic community to the City of Danbury and its citizens at large. Adapted
by Thomas J. Saadi |
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