This building was given to the Boys in the neighborhood on the condition that they respect the memory of her son. Therefore in 1933...The building was named The Butler-Mitchell Boys Club.
Membership grew so rapidly that new quarters where sought. A church building at 254 Virginia Street was rented, and programs were moved to this location. This building had a gymnasium, in addition to a game room.
Along with the building came James Mann and Eli Bongiovanni. These Two Gentlemen were able to recruit a graduate of Canisius College/Fallon H.S. athletic director, Al Gaurnieri, to become the Physical educational director. Al, as he liked his associate to call him was a master at getting boys to do things that they never thought they could do. He was a man who earned the respect of every person he touched. Many would argue that Edward Butler Mitchell sent us Al through his mother's prayers for her son. This man helped mold thousands of young men from 1933-1958.
In 1955, when the Boys Clubs of Buffalo and the Boys Clubs of the Niagara Frontier (Butler-Mitchell) jointly sponsored a campaign to raise enough money to erect a new building on Buffalos West-Side. April 26th saw the dedication of the new building at 370 Massachusetts Ave. This was to be known as the Butler- Mitchell Massachusetts Branch, along with the Butler Mitchell Virginia Street Branch. At that time a second alumnus was to be formed this would be Butler Mitchell Alumni Massachusetts. Till this day both alumni's exist, one being us and the other being Virginia street. The Virginia street alumni are more of a social club who meets on yearly basis. As we are a very active alumni.
Shortly after Massachusetts opened Al Guarnieri passed away between officiating basketball games. That is when a gentlemen we all know as Mr. Butler Mitchell took over the tradition, that being Joe “Bye” Biondolillo. Joe had a gift, he was a great student and an even better teacher. Joe, like Al, mentored many of young men and future staff members. They taught us to work hard, play fair and never give up, whether it is on the court, or on the field of play, or in everyday life. They helped us become proud, respectful young men.
Nick Bonifacio, under direct tutelage of Joe “Bye”, went on to take over the reins. Nick worked at the club for 35 years. He still is the driving force of our Alumni till this day. Nick himself has mentored and helped hundreds of young men. Nick to these young men was a teacher, a friend, and in some cases, a father to the kids. This seemed to be the relation the kids had with all the staff throughout the years and that is what made us a big happy family.
We could go on for hours mentioning names of gentlemen & ladies who dedicated many of hours working with kids at the club. Unfortunately, so no one is offended because we can't mention them all, we limited it to Al, Joe, and Nick. To all our other mentors, we know and you know who you are, and Butler Mitchell family says, thank you very much.
Yes that is some of the history of the club itself. Our alumnus is another entity.
These guys are the hardest working guys around. We have guys who where members of the club and we have guys who we call the North Buffalo Guys. These guys came around later. Later, meaning the mid 1970s. They never say what's in it for me. With the alumni it's always been about the kids. This alumnus is a brotherhood built on trust and loyalty.
Loyalty to keep the reputation and traditions of Butler Mitchell alive. To this, we say thank you to all our mentors, and to Mrs. Roscoe B. Mitchell "may your son rest in peace while his name lives on forever."
In the words of Mrs. Marjorie Van Antwerp Butler Mitchell's sister,
"You can put the name Butler Mitchell on any building downtown but nothing would compare to the honor this alumni has bestowed on the name Butler Mitchell."
