Mexican Mutual Society celebrates 95 years in International City

LORAIN — The International City's only operational Hispanic social club celebrated its 95th anniversary Saturday. Mexican Mutual Society, chartered Nov. 8, 1928, as a nonprofit benefit society for Mexican immigrants coming to work at National Tube steel mill, marked the milestone anniversary with an evening commemorating its members and the work they did over nearly a century to keep the club going and Mexican culture alive in Lorain. President Joel Arredondo gave a brief history of the Society, founded by men who traveled 3,000 miles to work in the steel mill later followed by Puerto Rican immigrants who were helped by the benefit group before establishing their own. In the past 95 years, society has had its ups and downs, Arredondo said, noting declines in membership when families returned to Mexico after the start of World War II. In 1941 the group pooled its money to purchase the former Macedonian Coffee House at 1820 E. 28th St. — still the club's home — for $3,000. It took the membership 10 years to pay off that loan, Arredondo said. And soon it again faced waning membership in the 1960s and early 1970s, until several second-generation Mexicans resurrected the society and its activities, including getting it an official liquor permit in 1973 — though Arredondo noted Judge Gus Nunez was honored by the society and remembered when the men asked for the liquor permit and replied "What are you talking about? You guys always serve liquor there." From there, MMS added softball, bowling, and pool — Arredondo joined to play softball — and it celebrated Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day with dances and dinners. Over the years, it expanded, both in physical space and in membership, including finally allowing women to join the club in 1980. Arredondo recognized the "resurrectionists" who brought the club back in the early 1970s, crediting them with the club's longevity: Frank Amador, David Arredondo, David Flores, Pete Flores, John Inchaurregi, Jimmy Inchaurregi, Gene Leibas, Jim Palmer, Mario Reyna, Pete Soto, Larry Amador, Jorge Flores and Ralph Herrera. MMS also presented William Ortega with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his years as a club trustee and treasurer. It presented Hector Lopez with a Distinguished Service Award after he helped the club stay open in 2016 by regularly serving food in the bar, and later helping remodel the back hall during the COVID-19 shutdown. Anniversary Committee Member Eileen Torres recognized the group's cultural significance, including sharing its heritage Saturday night at a packed Rosewood Place."We have a culture that's recognized the world over. You hear mariachi, you think Mexico. You see a serape or a sombrero, in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo — well maybe U.S.A because we've taken it much farther than the Mexicans have," she said with a laugh. She touched on the cultural significance of the Mayans, and their highly developed architecture, mathematics, astronomical and calendar system all more advanced than its European counterparts at the time. With millions of Mexicans living in Mexico, the United States and abroad, it is a culture spread far and wide, she said. Mayor Jack Bradley congratulated the group on its longevity. Bradley previously presented a proclamation recognizing MMS on its anniversary, presented at the Nov. 6 City Council meeting alongside a resolution from Council. "This has been a very, very important group to our community," he said. It is still a very vibrant group in our community." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.