Finding aid for the Fenwick Club, Cincinnati

History of The Fenwick Club, Cincinnati

The Fenwick Club, located in downtown Cincinnati, was a home and place of social activities for unmarried men. Founded in 1915 by Msgr. Charles A. Baden and with the approval of Abp. Henry Moeller, the Fenwick Club was organized to serve unmarried Catholic men under the age of 40 by providing them with space for cultural and social activities in a Catholic context, as well as lodging space. It regularly hosted dances, talks, dinners, and other social events. It was named for Edward Fenwick, the first Bishop of Cincinnati. It was the first institution of its kind in the United States. The Fenwick served both self supporting men and in conjunction with the Boys’ Home, provided character and health-building programs. The building included residences, a library, a gym and sports facilities, and living space, and it sponsored social events for the residents. The club initially used space at 319 Broadway, and although it soon completed a building on Commercial Square, rapid growth forced the leaders to buy an adjacent lot in order to construct an annex building in 1921, just four years after their first building was constructed. After the building was constructed, a Catholic chapel was built next door, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, was constructed in 1927. In the first two decades of the Fenwick Club, approximately 10,000 young men entered and resided in the Fenwick. As late as 1950 the Fenwick was a home for 200 men. In 1938 the Fenwick became the home for Catholic Charities and other related programs. In addition to the residences, the Fenwick contained an Athletic Club, used by local businessmen and included a swimming pool, running track, handball courts, a weight room, and other gym equipment. In 1973, the Fenwick Club's annex building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the seventh downtown building with this distinction. Despite its status as a historic site, the building was destroyed in 1979 due to lack of use and excessive costs for repair. It sat near Procter & Gamble headquarters, and as the company was looking to expand its office complex, several neighboring buildings were removed. Besides the Fenwick Club, the project resulted in the destruction of the Fontbonne, Wesley Chapel, Allen Temple AME Church, and the adjacent Catholic chapel. Although destroyed more than thirty years ago, the annex building officially remains on the National Register.

Scope and Content

This record group is a sparse collection of records relating to the Fenwick Club. A bulk of financial materials are from the 1970s prior to its sale to P&G. Various historical records regarding dedications and brief histories are prior to 1940. As the Fenwick worked with the Boys’ Home, included are building specifications for the latter’s property in 1908.

Statement of Arrangement

Researchers will also want to consult the records of the Archbishops of Cincinnati. These record groups will contain files relating to the administration of the Fenwick Club, Cincinnati. Also see RG 7.1 Church and Institutions Histories.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Item Description, date, box number, folder number, Record Group Number, Record Group Name, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives.

Detailed Description of The Collection