Lebanese Community News: The Sister Parishes and the Lebanese Club

The early Lebanese and Syrian immigrants to Danbury confronted many hardships and a key factor in their survival and success in Danbury was, and still is, the three “Sister” parishes and the Lebanon American Club which all fostered faith, family and community support with religious and ethnic activities, dinners and festivals.

 The first of the Sister parishes was Saint Ann’s parish founded in 1910 by the Melkite Greek Catholic community led by Rev. Archimandrite Nicholas Medawar who also ministered to Melkites, Maronites and Orthodox families until they established their own congregations.  St. Ann Church was located on William Street from 1922 until 1988.  After holding services and events at different locations including the Lebanon American Club, St. Anthony and other local churches the Parish, under the leadership of Fr. Roman, dedicated its Clapboard Ridge Road location in 1992. 

 St. George’s Church was founded by the Antiochan Orthodox community in 1922. Father John Hakim was its first resident pastor. St. George Church was located in Little Lebanon on Elm Street until 1987.  With Father Daniel Daly as the Parish Priest, the parish relocated to a new facility on Kohanza Street

 The Maronite Catholic community led by Father Ignatius Sayegh founded St. Anthony’s Church in 1932 and shortly thereafter converted a home on New Street into the Parish’s first church.  Under the leadership of Monsignor Semaan Farris and Building Fund Co-chairman Chicory Dewan and Sedalla Jowdy the parish dedicated its church on Granville Avenue in November 1958.

 The fourth community pillar is the Lebanon American Club.  “The Club,” as it is often referred to by locals, was founded in 1922 as the Syrian American Club by Assad Lataif, George and Frank Kaidy, Abraham Louis, Joseph and Chicory Buzaid, Nicholas Jaber, Saleem and Joseph Basher and Edward Mammary.  The name was changed to the Lebanon American Club of Danbury in 1936.  The Club assisted members in becoming American citizens, learning English and served, along with the Sister parishes, as a social support system for those in need.  Prior to moving to its current West Street location the Club’s home was in “Little Lebanon” on New Street.  The Lebanon Club is active in the civic and cultural life of the community and many of its members, past and present, have been major contributors to the economic and social fabric of Danbury.   A little remembered anecdote is that a competing club, called “Club 25” was formed in the 1930s by twenty-five young Lebanese men who felt that the membership of the Lebanon American Club was “too old.”  Club 25 dissolved in 1947 and its members joined the Lebanon American Club.  Today the Lebanon American Club is a main stay in the Lebanese community and in Danbury’s social and civic life.

 We hope you enjoyed part II of our series and please read parts III and IV.  You may send us ideas and articles for consideration in future publications of LCN via email at: LCNdanbury@aol.com.