SILVER BELL CLUB - LODGE  #2365          
                              of the     
                         POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE           

Our Lodge has been in existence for 85 years working with local and National programs.

In 1925,  twenty-six (26) young sports minded men banded together to form an athletic club which became the Silver Bell Club.   These men were exclusively a neighborhood group who lived in the densely populated area of the City of Gary, East of Broadway between 11th and 21st avenues. The center of this community was St. Hedwig Parish, whose residents were predominantly of Polish and Slovak origin.  The club's primary objective at the time was to participate in various competitive sports of which boxing, baseball, and basketball were the major ones. 

At the first meeting, officers were elected.  The Gary Club was the 2,365th group to join the Alliance. To assure themselves of lasting unity, the club became affiliated with the Polish National Alliance of North America, the largest Polish fraternal organization in America.   To distinguish this Lodge from a mere number, the membership chose to be chartered by the State of Indiana and thus, was named the "PNA Silver Bell Club, Group # 2365.

In 1944, the Club began its first business venture when it leased a building at 1700 Massachusetts Street.   It was a great meeting center and after the end of World War II, it was a place to reunify the neighborhood GI's returning home from military service.

In 1950, the Club purchased the former Gleason Welfare Center,  located at 15th and Connecticut Street, from U.S. Steel Company.  The Club began to expand with enrollment of new members and the inclusion of additional sport activities.  In 1955, the first amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws was written and adopted.  "To promote the welfare of our brothers and our fellow men; to participate in civic, athletic, social and fraternal activities in our community". 

                                       The intra-club activities began at this time:
Installation Banquet, Memorial Service, a bowling league, sports outings, golf and bowling tournaments, Children's Christmas Party, picnics, and academic scholarships each year to deserving club members or their children.

In 1972, due to relocation of members from the neighborhood, the Club opted to sell the entire real estate to the Correctional Department of the Stare of Indiana.  Immediately following the sale, the Club moved its headquarters to the Polish American Center, 39th and Georgia.

In 1974, the President, in his second term, initiated the first annual "Sports Awards Banquet".  Two champion members were honored, Tony Zale, former world middle-weight boxing champ and Hank Stram, former head coach of the super bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Honorary awards, endorsed by Zale and Stram, were presented to outstanding high school athletes, who excelled in academics and sports.  Proceeds from the banquet were placed in the club's scholarship fund and earmarked for scholarships each year for members and members' children.
This sports award program drew crowds from 700 to 900 people to the event. 
This continuing  event features National sports figures, honoring graduating high school students of Polish-Slovak decent. 

Between 1972 through 1978, the Club sponsored the Senior League World Series, picnics, bowling leagues,  and softball teams,  becoming the leader of Polonia in Northwest Indiana.  The 50th anniversary banquet in 1975, celebrated with nearly 600 people attending.   

By-laws were amended in 1973, allowing female members into the organization.  Phyllis Dunajski, was the first woman elected to office in 1994.

The Club purchased a 50 acre site and hall at 10310 Grand Blvd., in Crown Point, Indiana, on October 10, 1997. Plans were underway for a memorial grotto and athletic social functions.  

A catastrophic fire destroyed the 5,000 square foot hall on Christmas Eve, in 2004.  Plans are currently underway to construct a new hall for membership and functions.  Until then, meetings are held at: 
 
                                                         Gary Sportsman's Club
                                                             10101 Madison St.
                                                             Crown Point, IN  
        
The Marshal Joseph Pilsudski PNA Lodge # 2431 merged with Silver Bell Club in 2005.  In 2008, PNA Lodge # 2947 and in 2009, PNA Lodge #1810 merged with our Club, these two Lodges have retained the name  Silver Bell Club Lodge # 2365.  

The future of the Silver Bell Club has been based on a firm foundation, the goal will be to increase  membership, in order to continue it's fraternal and civic endeavors for the Northwest Community, as well as Polonia.  
       
Some of our  activities have been with numerous community events and  programs:  
 1.    Awards for college scholarships
 2.    Annual bowling tournaments 
 3.    National spelling Bee contest
 4.    Camping outings for children
 5.    Senior activities
 6.    College sporting events
 7.    Co-sponsoring a local Débutante/Squire Ball
 8.    Softball tournaments
 9.    Polish language school
10.   Dance groups 
11.  Youth sports teams