Lorain's American Croatian Club celebrates 100 years

LORAIN — For 100 years, the American Croatian Club has served as a gathering place for Croatian immigrants in Lorain. While the number of first- and second-generation immigrants has dwindled over the decades, and the group has shifted from helping newcomers assimilate to keeping the culture and tradition of the old country alive, it has still weathered the storms to which so many of Lorain's ethnic clubs were lost. "We just had to be patient enough to weather the challenging times over there," Club President Richard Grubic said. Croatians began arriving in Lorain in the early 1920s to work in shipbuilding and the mills. A group of 12 Croatian men, under the leadership of Rok Dominick, organized the American Croatian Political Club, chartered in 1923. It met monthly at Dominick's Hall, 1688 E. 28th St., then later to the basement of St. Vitus Church, 1785 E. 32nd St. In 1948 the club secured its liquor license under Grubic's father, Joseph Grubic's leadership, while in the former Grove Theater. Two years later it purchased Dianne's Recreation on Grove Avenue, renovating the former restaurant into the club room while keeping the bowling lanes open to the public. The club, like many in Lorain, lived and died with the steel mill. "During shift change, they said you could not get a place at the bar, it would be three rows deep," Grubic said. "We nearly died with the steel mill when it went through all the layoffs and really curtailed back in the late '80s into the '90s. It was touch and go." That heyday in South Lorain saw dances and picnics in the hall, a Tamburitzan group and other attractions. But the rough times came when the leadership didn't have two nickels to rub together, head trustee Chris Thomas said. "The quality of the manager that we had there went down, down, down and the quality of what they were allowing to take place there went down, down, down," Grubic said. "I was one who was very apathetic. I did this because my mom wanted me to.'" His mother was a longtime officer, he said, remembering her getting so frustrated with the way the club had changed. She had an aneurysm in 1992. But even after her death, he was still there, he said with a laugh. It was a long walk through the city's south side in the late 1990s that reminded Grubic why he, and his family, were so involved in the ethnic club. "I walked past the house where I grew up, I walked over to where my mom grew up and I walked through Oakwood Park over to near the 31st Street bridge where my dad grew up. It was like I was touching base with them," he said. "I went back to the club, I sat across the street … on the curb by the gas station and I just meditated for a while. He realized: The club can't die. It was perseverance, a lot of pep talks between Grubic and former treasurer Mary Ann Mrvatz, and a bit of luck that the club was still there to accept an offer from Rite Aid to sell its Grove Avenue property for a neat six-figure sum in 1998. And again when the owner of the Riviera Swim Club on Oberlin Avenue reached out to Grubic about the possibility of the Croatian Club purchasing his property because he wanted to retire. And its membership came full circle – meeting again in the basement of St. Vitus Church before it moved into the former country club. The Cleveland Catholic Diocese closed the church in 2009, and the club inherited cookware and card tables with advertisements from the 1930s and 40s to keep that portion of its history alive. While the club's membership had waned in South Lorain, the new location brought in a new generation. "Once we were able to move here, it was so attractive and people could see we had a wonderful present and a future," Grubic said. "That's when they all started wanting to get involved." After its move, the club also officially changed its name and its mission: from the American Croatian Political Club to just the American Croatian Club. Its focus changed from helping new immigrants assimilate to helping the later generations find their ethnic roots. "It's just like any other corporation … your business model has to change with times and your mission statement can change over the decades. Instead of helping to assimilate, now it's to promote and preserve the Croatian heritage and culture," Thomas said. The Croatian Club has a host of events planned to celebrate its 100th year, including a sold-out dinner on May 20. Following the dinner, a dance — open to the public — will be at 7 p.m., featuring live Croatian music. From 5-7 p.m. June 3 there will be another dinner open to social and Croatian Club members. July 22 will be its annual picnic and lamb roast, with attendees coming in from California, Florida and Canada. The Croatian Orchestra from Pittsburgh will also perform. At 2 p.m. Oct. 15, the Tamburitzans will perform at the Lorain Palace Theatre. Tickets go on sale June 15 and can be purchased online at lorainpalace.com or by calling the Palace at (440) 245-2323. "The anniversary that we're celebrating, we're doing it because of our parents and grandparents," member and 100th Anniversary Dinner Chairperson Kathy Arnoczky said. "It's for the love of our culture growing up, because it was fun." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.