Goodbye, Old World
Secret Societies
This grave statement, while imminently plausible, is false. Tradition is not dead. It may be true, however, that it is slowly dying; it may only be hanging on by a thread. As the ties to the old world fray, the new world rampantly entwines, brambling its wild green offshoots all over the place, no specific base, no discernable direction.
These are the rumblings I encountered while researching social clubs for this article. Ask the folks at any aging establishment what the future holds and they are hopeful, but far from certain, of their ability to persevere. Yet it seems well documented that, while the new world may indeed be taking over, traditions can and will evolve where allowed. It is the traditions that are not allowed to evolve that often break. Social clubs are a prime example of this phenomenon. Once the bastions of old world triumph and tradition, they are becoming a new world casualty. Simply put, in their established form, social clubs are a dying breed.
An image of an old-style club remains in our collective imagination. It is preserved as a quaint fraternal picture swathed in sunshine; a pastoral of our grandfathers or great-grandfathers, conversing easily in native tongues over a game of bocce or a round of pinochle. The clubs began nobly, as a way to create a community for immigrants trying to make their way in America. They provided a base for entertainment, meals, camaraderie and, essentially, for survival.
There are roughly 20 social clubs left in the Providence area. There used to be 44 in the Federal Hill area alone. Why do so few remain, when they have historically provided so much, for so many?
"The answer, according to Linda Norcini, wife of the president of the Toscan Social Club, is that "tradition is a lost art." The Toscan is a members-only club in Federal Hill that was established in 1911, still admitting only men (and women as their guests). Speaking with Linda and her husband in the small, central room that serves as a club den, the issue of longevity kept creeping in to the conversation. One factor that Linda and her husband Lawrence attributed to the decline of these societies was that children, once they grow up, are moving away more frequently than before. And then there is the issue of cars - something we rarely think of as anything more than a modern convenience. Cars have proven to be a major detraction from the insular sense of community that social clubs used to provide. In the past, when people did not have cars, they simply did not travel as far. They would walk from home to the club without having to leave the neighborhood. It seems strange, however, that this would make such a detrimental difference. Even if people move away, won't they use those cars to come back to the club once in a while? According to the Norcinis, "kids are not brought up where this is important" anymore.
This may not be entirely the case. Rino and Lydia Maselli have operated St. Bart's Social Club in Silver Lake for 30 years. Though it is still well known as a social club, hosting parties and events in the basement, they have tailored the concept to include a restaurant, which now occupies the majority of the club. L'Antica Trattoria is a typical Italian neighborhood restaurant, with the distinction that Lydia is the only cook in the kitchen, one thing that has remained the same over the past 30 years. When asked whether this evolution has helped the club survive amidst the changing cultural climate, Lydia conceded that this was probably the case. She explained that the traditions they used to uphold began to wane because "people didn't seem to want to get involved... to put their time in. They are very busy." Yet the Masellis still have regulars that have come for years that are "like family," and they have seen children grow up and have children of their own that they bring to the club. While people may not have as much time for card leagues or leisure games, going out to eat with the family is a tradition that only seems to increase in popularity. With the advent of L'Antica Trattoria, the Masellis have tapped into the pulse of a new generation.
The importance of community involvement is the social club tenet that remains most firmly and universally in place. Garfield Social Club in Central Falls was established in 1948 and is a member-owned center for 230 Am-Vets and local civilian members. The bar and club area are reminiscent of a roadside bar that one might warily visit on the last legs of a cross-country trip. They have an open kitchen, a karaoke machine and one of the state's oldest pool tables, a gift from the Quonset Officer's Club. Speaking with Garfield's vice president Matt, it is obvious that the club does not only attract members for the bar or the cheap food, though that is obviously a factor. In addition to being a place to hang out, they also take enormous pride in the local sports teams and charities they support. Toscan Social Club also shares in this pride - the little league team they sponsored won last year's championship. Additionally, the Masellis use St. Bart's Club to remain very involved in the Silver Lake community.
Even with the commendable goal of outreach, it seems essential for these clubs to adapt to the current climate - at least to a degree - in order to survive. One has to wonder, can a club that only accepts male members thrive for much longer in this day and age? Those that are more family oriented, more open, may fare better but, as with everything, only time will tell. While change may be a tough sell to the clubs' resolute members, stranger things have certainly happened. Even at Garfield Social Club, which appears to be a vastly fraternal establishment, the times are a-changing. When asked if they have any female members, a patron sitting at the bar replied, "Oh, yeah. She'll be right back."
Garfield Social Club | 11 Hunt St, Central Falls | 726-9653
Toscan Social Club | 68 Spruce St, Providence | 621-8022
L'Antica Trattoria at St. Bart's Social Club | 66 Sophia St., Providence | 942-0640
