Julian Bartley (Andy) Anderson
1913 – 1995
Moose Jaw Cosmopolitan Club Organizer
1957 – 1977
Cosmo Senior Citizen Centre Inc. Building
Chairman 1962 – 1968 – 1985
THE COSMOPOLITAN CLUB OF MOOSE JAW
1957 – 1977
In 1961, a project was needed to take the place of sponsoring boy scouting association. The council decided the Cosmos were doing too much for the boys, so the helping hand was stopped. At this time, Jack Dorfman of the Harwood Hotel was a big supporter of the Cosmo and suggested seniors could be considered because of the increasing population. This would be going from one end of the spectrum to the other. The club thought this was a good idea and decided to make it their project.
Wanting to get the views of the medical profession, Dr. Heal, whose interests were in health of the elderly. He was enthusiastic about the idea of the recreational centre to keep seniors active for good health in mind and body. This was all that was needed for the Cosmos to start. Jack Dorfman immediately started off the fundraiser by offering the club a steer from his ranch to raffle off. Now the project was really on its way.
The first step was to find a site. The south east corner of Crescent Park was close to the high rises, hospital, downtown, as well as beautiful surroundings. City Hall was approached with the project for the site, but the answer was “No”, no more buildings in the park but would help in any way they could. The only other piece of property was the north west corner of Fairford St. and Third Ave. E, a waste lot – too close to the CNR tracks and water vein that runs across the city, cuts across this lot. The Cosmos checked to see where the vein was and it wasn’t going to interfere with a basement less building that it would be all right. The city gave them the property for $1.00 tax per year and a 25 year lease was renewable.
The building committee was formed with J.B. (Andy) Anderson as chairman. Contractors were contacted, projects for funding were underway. The project and sod turning was started. Now a loan was needed for $20,000. The projects were harvest balls, auction sales, fiddlers contests, while the Cosmopals were having fowl suppers. 350 grey cup take out dinners, and raffles to help pay for the kitchen. They made it!
While trying to get enought funding, Branch #5 pensioners were looking for a home and were invited to come in with us. They decided to come on condition they be given some space of their own and given their own day. It was agreed and the pensioners came with $9000 for the building fund. The CRP pensioners were also approached and agreed at first but changed their minds and decided to remain where they were. So with the two clubs, we continued on and were a perfect match.
What a great day and proud group at the opening in December, 1963, of a building of 30′ x 60′, called the Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Day Centre. A Cosmo dream come true. The building contained one main room, kitchen, washrooms, furnace room, and a small office space. The Supervisor was Donelda Reynolds, a senior who volunteered to organize the programming and to get the Centre started on the right foot. Under her guidance, the membership rapidly increased. A Cosmo Board was set up by the city, with 12 to 15 members. 3 Cosmo, 1 representative from the City, 1 ministerial assoc, 1 labour union, and citizens at large. A constitution was written and one very important point in the constitution stated that “no one because of funds will be turned away from this Centre, everyone in Moose Jaw and District who is a senior are welcome to come and take part in programming or just to socialize”. Because this is a Centre and not a Club, the fees are only voluntary and to help keep up the funds. The first membership fee was $2.00 and for the Cosmo it was $1.00 as an associate without vote.
In 1968, the Cosmo decided the Centre was badly in need of and extension. Andy Anderson was again the Building Chairman. This addition was 30′ x 60′ with two floors, the kitchen doubled in size, a craft room, a Cosmo meeting room, a card or reading room. The main floor open space was doubled making room for shuffleboard courts. The cost was $40,000.00. To finance this addition, the Cosmo took a loan for $20,000.00 and the rest was a loan signed by nine members. A big celebration took place at the burning of the mortgage. It was a highlight of the project. The funds for this project were raised with the revival of harness races to Moose Jaw, from the Cosmo, and the concessions from the races and fairs as well as the first Octoberfest held in the Armories for 1000 people by the Cosmopals. All the hard work paid off!
By 1982, there were rumblings that the shuffleboard courts were not regulation size, compettitions were forming and members were participating to the fullest, so interest was for another expansion. The Cosmpolitan Club had become defunct so other methods of funding would have to be thought of.
The first thought was City Hall and Government Agencies. There should be no problem here because our record for the other expansions with plans and funding were good, not having needed any before so asking for some help now should be no problem! Not true! An unbelievable thing happened. They confronted us with a new unexpected idea. The XYZ Seniors were looking for a home and the suggestion was the two clubs should amalgamate into one Centre – ours and add an extension large enough for all senior groups in Moose Jaw. The plans all favored the XYZ group by desbanding the Cosmo Organization, changing the name, administration, constitution, and appointing new administration. The plans for this were to be $1.03 million. This objective was strongly opposed by the majority of the Centre membership. The Centre’s proposal was $200,000.00, one half of the now increased price of $400,000.00, but the Cosmo would have to have the other $200,000.00 first. The Centre agreed, happy to know the expansion could now go ahead and to save the city one million dollars. The final price was $429,051.83. Andy was again Building Chairman.
The expansion 60′ x 110′ contains large auditorium with stage, speaker system, air conditioning, craft room, regulation shuffleboard courts, washrooms, and a basement 20′ x 40′ with a pool room with two tables, washroom and furnace room. The upper level is a balcony, an area for visiting or reading overlooking the auditorium and storage space.
The older part was renovated having an enclosed office, game storage room, cloak room, and an island counter in the kitchen. The outside is finished in sand colored stucco with brown trim. It stands proud and inviting for all to enter and enjoy. White Construction Company was the contractor for all phases.
In 1984, the name was changed to Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre Inc.
When the addition was completed, we were visited by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health and Welfare, Beattie Martin who presented the Centre with a cheque for the sum of $70,000.00. Excitement and smiles were everywhere for the great finish.
1969 SPECIAL MENTION
Jack Dorfman, Harwood Hotel
Dr. Heal, Geriatrics
Scoop Lewry, Mayor
Allister Muar, Lawyer
William Trew, CPR Pensioners
William Goodfellow, CPR Pensioners
Kay Moffat, Branch 5
You must be logged in to post a comment.