A local Knights of Columbus council marked the end of an era last week when members distributed more than $1 million — proceeds from the sale of its old home — to four local churches and 12 regional and national non-profit charitable organizations.

When the Father Joseph Boehr Knights of Columbus Council No. 4753 in Tiverton sold its council home on 28 Fish Road for $800,000 in October 2021, an eight-member committee was formed to select the charitable groups that would benefit from the sale.

Last week’s gathering at St. Theresa Church, the council’s new home for membership meetings, was the culmination of the committee’s work, when 16 checks were distributed to the beneficiaries’ representatives.

It was a bittersweet evening that gave members the opportunity to reflect on their group’s 65-year history.

The council, comprised originally of 85 men, started in 1959 in a small store on Main Road. Five years later, the Fish Road property was purchased to accommodate the council’s growing membership, and six years after that, a large addition was added to the building.

By the 1970s, the 1,200-member council was the largest in Rhode Island and was still expanding.

Ray Brodeur, the emcee for Thursday’s event who recently celebrated 50 years with the group, was elected Grand Knight in that era, a position designating the highest ranking elected officer within the council.

In many ways, life revolved around Knights of Columbus events for Brodeur and his family, as it did for hundreds of other members.

“When I joined in the early 1970s, there was a function just about every week. We had dinner dances, communion masses, and all kinds of charity events — bike races, bike-a-thons, yard sales. We raised money and donated for years and years to just about everybody.”

Brodeur said the building was a hub of activity in town, used not just by Knights of Columbus members but by the library, police and fire departments for various community events.

“It was the biggest part of my life and my family’s life as well,” he said. “My kids grew up in that kitchen at the council. We were there all the time.”

As the years passed and family life and culture changed, the Knights of Columbus, like many fraternal organizations that formed in the last century, started to see its membership decline.

“A couple of years ago we didn’t have the men or active members to support bingo and other fund-raising activities for the council, so we decided to sell the home,” said Brodeur.

Currently, actual membership is around 350, but only 15 are active, and meetings are held twice a month at St. Theresa’s Church.

“All of the members are in their 80s and 90s,” said Brodeur. “A lot of them can’t attend meetings and they certainly couldn’t help out at our functions.”

Brodeur acknowledges the day the building was sold just about broke his heart. But he still sees some of the lifelong friends he made as part of the Knights organization at the twice-monthly meetings.

Reflecting on the changes in society in recent decades, he added, “Life is different. People are working two or three jobs to support their families, so they don’t have time for these organizations. It’s sad, since the organizations do a lot of good. Believe me, we are not the only ones that donate.”

Charities funded by KOC home sale:

• St Theresa Catholic Church, Tiverton: $127,500

• St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Tiverton: $127,500

• Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton: $127,500

• St. Madeleine Catholic Church, Tiverton: $127,500

• Carol Center for the Blind, Newton, MA: $30,600

• Be Like Brit, Worcester, MA: $30,600

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: $30,600

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN: $86,700

• Shriners Children’s Hospital: $86,700

• Cross International, Pompano Beach, Fl.: $25,500

• The Jimmy Fund, Brookline, MA: $56,100

• Mother of Life Center, Providence:  $40,800

• Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago, Ill: $76,500

• Crystal Springs Inc., Fall River: $15,300

• Southcoast Health, $20,400

• Watuppa Rowing Center, Fall River: $10,200