The Downriver Pennsylvania Club
For decades, the Great Lakes Steel Corporation in Ecorse drew workers from all over the Midwest and the South to work in its mills. Many of the top officials and dependable steel workers that Great Lakes Steel brought to Ecorse were from Pennsylvania and they formed the nucleus of the Downriver Pennsylvania Club. They continued their Pennsylvania ties in their new Ecorse community and created social gatherings and special events.
By 1940, many of these workers who were from Pennsylvania decided that since they had this very important fact in common, they would start a club called the Downriver Pennsylvania Club. The Club drew members from Downriver communities like Lincoln Park, River Rouge, Wyandotte, and Ecorse.
An Ecorse Advertiser story about the club says that it first met in Lincoln Park and then migrated to the Ecorse City Council Chambers in the old City Hall on High Street. Then members opened their homes for meetings until in 1948, they financed and built the club building at 3648 West Jefferson Avenue in Ecorse.
Chartered in 1940, the same year of its founding, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club immediately became a community and charity outreach. Club members organized a bowling team in the 1940 founding year and the Club sponsored bowling teams for many years after that.
In 1941, the Club held its first Christmas party for the children of members, and club members and their families sponsored drives and fund raisers that provided food and friendship. In 1942, it sponsored a summer picnic which became a tradition.
On May 19, 1960, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a banquet, and state and Ecorse city officials celebrated with the club members. State Representatives attending included Alex Petri from the Seventeenth District and William R. Copeland from the Eighteenth District. Ecorse Mayor Eli Ciungan, and River Rouge mayor Donald R. Nettlow came to celebrate as did John McCauley of Wyandotte, Jack Johns of Lincoln Park and Circuit Judge Chester A. Bowles, a native Pennsylvanian.
By 1960, the Downriver Pennsylvania club operating under a closed charter, had 100 members. Whenever a vacancy occurred, new members were accepted to fill it, and when the sons of members turned 21, they could petition the club to be admitted to membership.
Downriver Pennsylvania Club officers in 1960 were Harold Milhorn, president; John Pierrel, vice president; Carl Milhorn, treasurer; Andrew Onufrak, financial secretary;and Mike Kilyk, recording secretary.
Between its chartering in 1940 and its twentieth year anniversary celebration in 1960, the club expanded to include community services and human welfare as well as social activities. The Club regularly contributed to organizations that included Father Flannigan’s Boys Town, Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, the Retarded Children’s Fund, United Foundations, the March of Dimes, and a school for the blind. The Club created a memorial fund that it used to send at least 26 children to camp each year. The club established a long history of assisting needy people, including widows and orphans.
The Lady’s Auxiliary of the Downriver Pennsylvania Club frequently entertained patients from area veteran’s hospitals and sponsored activities designed to aid worthy veterans. Both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion recognized the Downriver Pennsylvania Club for its work with veterans.
The Downriver Pennsylvania Club sponsored activities for adults and children, including the annual picnic at Edgewater Park on July 17, 1960. It held Halloween and Christmas Parties, New Year’s celebrations, hard times parties and Thanksgiving observances.
In 1962, the Pennsylvania Club sponsored its first event for the Ecorse Goodfellows and continued its charitable contributions to the Red Cross, the Easter and Christmas Seal campaigns, and Scout groups. For years, the Club sponsored an Ecorse Junior Hockey League team, financing the team with weekly bingos at the clubhouse.
On May 21, 1972, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club celebrated its 32nd anniversary, with its 32nd annual Founders Day banquet with over 200 celebrities, members, and guests attending. The Club presented former Ecorse police Chief Conrad Swearingen, with the “Man of the Year” award. Club president Harold Milhorn and Al Ciuca, acting as master of ceremonies presented the award.
The Downriver Pennsylvania Teenage Club won first place in the annual Memorial Day parade, and the teens in turn presented their award to the senior club who sponsored them. Allen Wilson, coach of the Ecorse hockey team that the Pennsylvania Club sponsored also won an award.
Guests at the banquet included Congressman John D. Dingell, 16th Democratic District and his assistant Charles Prather; Judge and Mrs. Horace Gillmore; Judge Bowles; Representative and Mrs. William R. Copeland, 27th District; Wayne County Commissioner and Mrs. Roscoe Bob; Mayor and Mrs. John McEwan of River Rouge; Mayor Albert Zukonik and his assistant Glinvier Osborne; Councilman Lawrence Royals; Southgate City Clerk and Mrs. Robert Alexander representing Mayor Robert Reaume; Mrs. Matthew McNeely, representing her husband; former Ecorse Councilman and past president of the Great Lakes Steel Post, American Legion, Giles Reeve, Otter Lake; Fire Marshal Roy Provost and assistant Fire Chief Milton Montie.
To mark its 46th anniversary in 1986, the Pennsylvania Club bought the first ambulance for the city of Ecorse.
When the Downriver Pennsylvania Club closed in November 2003, President Joseph Kellerman wrote a thank you letter to area residents who supported it over the decades.
“Our club was always a charitable organization and gave away thousands to charitable causes. I’m sure Ecorse enjoyed their Christmas party for the 26 years I know of and lot more before that. Wherever the need was, we were always there to help,” Kellerman wrote in his farewell letter.
By 1940, many of these workers who were from Pennsylvania decided that since they had this very important fact in common, they would start a club called the Downriver Pennsylvania Club. The Club drew members from Downriver communities like Lincoln Park, River Rouge, Wyandotte, and Ecorse.
An Ecorse Advertiser story about the club says that it first met in Lincoln Park and then migrated to the Ecorse City Council Chambers in the old City Hall on High Street. Then members opened their homes for meetings until in 1948, they financed and built the club building at 3648 West Jefferson Avenue in Ecorse.
Chartered in 1940, the same year of its founding, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club immediately became a community and charity outreach. Club members organized a bowling team in the 1940 founding year and the Club sponsored bowling teams for many years after that.
In 1941, the Club held its first Christmas party for the children of members, and club members and their families sponsored drives and fund raisers that provided food and friendship. In 1942, it sponsored a summer picnic which became a tradition.
On May 19, 1960, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a banquet, and state and Ecorse city officials celebrated with the club members. State Representatives attending included Alex Petri from the Seventeenth District and William R. Copeland from the Eighteenth District. Ecorse Mayor Eli Ciungan, and River Rouge mayor Donald R. Nettlow came to celebrate as did John McCauley of Wyandotte, Jack Johns of Lincoln Park and Circuit Judge Chester A. Bowles, a native Pennsylvanian.
By 1960, the Downriver Pennsylvania club operating under a closed charter, had 100 members. Whenever a vacancy occurred, new members were accepted to fill it, and when the sons of members turned 21, they could petition the club to be admitted to membership.
Downriver Pennsylvania Club officers in 1960 were Harold Milhorn, president; John Pierrel, vice president; Carl Milhorn, treasurer; Andrew Onufrak, financial secretary;and Mike Kilyk, recording secretary.
Between its chartering in 1940 and its twentieth year anniversary celebration in 1960, the club expanded to include community services and human welfare as well as social activities. The Club regularly contributed to organizations that included Father Flannigan’s Boys Town, Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, the Retarded Children’s Fund, United Foundations, the March of Dimes, and a school for the blind. The Club created a memorial fund that it used to send at least 26 children to camp each year. The club established a long history of assisting needy people, including widows and orphans.
The Lady’s Auxiliary of the Downriver Pennsylvania Club frequently entertained patients from area veteran’s hospitals and sponsored activities designed to aid worthy veterans. Both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion recognized the Downriver Pennsylvania Club for its work with veterans.
The Downriver Pennsylvania Club sponsored activities for adults and children, including the annual picnic at Edgewater Park on July 17, 1960. It held Halloween and Christmas Parties, New Year’s celebrations, hard times parties and Thanksgiving observances.
In 1962, the Pennsylvania Club sponsored its first event for the Ecorse Goodfellows and continued its charitable contributions to the Red Cross, the Easter and Christmas Seal campaigns, and Scout groups. For years, the Club sponsored an Ecorse Junior Hockey League team, financing the team with weekly bingos at the clubhouse.
On May 21, 1972, the Downriver Pennsylvania Club celebrated its 32nd anniversary, with its 32nd annual Founders Day banquet with over 200 celebrities, members, and guests attending. The Club presented former Ecorse police Chief Conrad Swearingen, with the “Man of the Year” award. Club president Harold Milhorn and Al Ciuca, acting as master of ceremonies presented the award.
The Downriver Pennsylvania Teenage Club won first place in the annual Memorial Day parade, and the teens in turn presented their award to the senior club who sponsored them. Allen Wilson, coach of the Ecorse hockey team that the Pennsylvania Club sponsored also won an award.
Guests at the banquet included Congressman John D. Dingell, 16th Democratic District and his assistant Charles Prather; Judge and Mrs. Horace Gillmore; Judge Bowles; Representative and Mrs. William R. Copeland, 27th District; Wayne County Commissioner and Mrs. Roscoe Bob; Mayor and Mrs. John McEwan of River Rouge; Mayor Albert Zukonik and his assistant Glinvier Osborne; Councilman Lawrence Royals; Southgate City Clerk and Mrs. Robert Alexander representing Mayor Robert Reaume; Mrs. Matthew McNeely, representing her husband; former Ecorse Councilman and past president of the Great Lakes Steel Post, American Legion, Giles Reeve, Otter Lake; Fire Marshal Roy Provost and assistant Fire Chief Milton Montie.
To mark its 46th anniversary in 1986, the Pennsylvania Club bought the first ambulance for the city of Ecorse.
When the Downriver Pennsylvania Club closed in November 2003, President Joseph Kellerman wrote a thank you letter to area residents who supported it over the decades.
“Our club was always a charitable organization and gave away thousands to charitable causes. I’m sure Ecorse enjoyed their Christmas party for the 26 years I know of and lot more before that. Wherever the need was, we were always there to help,” Kellerman wrote in his farewell letter.