The Ben–Lin(Bentley-Lincoln) Club
is located at 701 Bentley Avenue.

Ben–Lin Club Origins
Niles Daily Times, March 18, 1935

Ben–Lin Club purchases lots as site for a new clubhouse and playground. The Recreation Club announces it has purchased several lots at the northeast corner of Bentley Avenue and Hughes Street. Trustees of the club presented the clear deeds for the lots at the regular meeting Sunday.

The property has been paid for (free and clear). Purchase of the site for a clubhouse and playground is the first major step in the program of the Ben–Lin club as outlined when the organization was formed last October (1934).

The money for the lots has been raised since that time by card parties sponsored by the club and by the individual efforts of members.

The building and lot committee is expected to make a report on this matter within a short time. The committee includes Raleigh Hughes, Chairman; Frank Baker, Bob MacClain, Roy Porter and Joe Griffiths.

Niles Daily Times, November 11, 1935

On Wednesday of this week, November 6, the Ben–Lin Recreation Club house will be thrown open to the public with a dedication and social evening. Following the program there will be dancing and music by Eddie Fusco’s orchestra.

Niles Daily Times,May 11, 1937

Ed Williams of Cherry Street was painfully burned and the Ben–Lin Club House almost completely destroyed in an explosion and fire that occurred shortly before six o’clock last night(May 10, 1937).

Williams was in the building when the explosion occurred and suffered first degree burns on his face, and his hands were badly blistered and burned. He did not breathe any of the flames, however, and according to his physician, his condition is not serious although his injuries are very painful. He is confined to his home and it will be about three weeks before the burns are healed, the doctor stated.

While fire engines were held up for four minutes at the B&O railroad crossing on Church Street, the flames gained headway and spread so rapidly that only a charred shell of the building remains after the blaze had been extinguished. Due to the delay at the grade crossing, it took the firemen 10 minutes to arrive at the scene.

According to the statement of one of the members, the fire was originally confined to the kitchen and the damage would not have run over $15 if the fire department could have arrived sooner. The building is partially covered by insurance.

The fire occurred shortly after six o’clock last night when Mr. Williams unlocked the basement door of the club. Its origin is unknown although it is believed to have broken out when Mr. Williams struck a match to light a cigarette or pipe and ignited escaping fumes from the gasoline pipes with which the kitchen of the building was equipped.

The explosion knocked him out of the door and nearby residents observed him crawling from the building as though he had been blinded. The alarm was turned in immediately while Raleigh Hughes, John Kidd and Myron Kidd, members of the club, and the first persons on the scene, endeavored to fight the blaze. The fire was extinguished a few minutes after fire department arrived.

All the windows were broken in the building, part of the basement wall was blown out, and the frame building was gutted by the flames. Later investigation of the gasoline pipes revealed that all of the valves were closed and there seems to be no way for the fumes to escape according to the reports.

Niles Daily Times, August 25, 1937

From the ashes of the old Ben–Lin Club is now arising a new and more beautiful edifice. At a meeting of the Ben–Lin Club held last evening, the final contracts for the reconstruction of the club’s quarters, recently destroyed by fire, were let.

Every evening the club has been the scene of intense activity on the part of members who have been able to lend physical aid to the task of reconstruction. The exterior of the building has already been put up. The building specifications called for, include the most modern developments in building construction, particularly as to electrification and heating. One of the innovations will be air conditioning, which will assure a comfortable setting for the many coming affairs planned by the club.

An elaborate opening will be held within the next four or five weeks, open to the public, which will climax the hopes of those who have aided unrelentingly since the organization met its misfortune.

The rebuilding of the new quarters is a tribute to the perseverance and loyalty of the leaders and membership of the Ben–Lin Club. Many of these men could be seen every evening at the corner of Bentley Avenue and Hughes Street working hard and contributing without compensation their labor so, that the Ben–Lin Club may again assume its place as a community center.

Niles Daily Times, November 3, 1937

With a gala list of activities, the Ben–Lin Club will celebrate its grand re-opening Friday night. President Oscar Teucke announced today that the curtain will be rung up on the ceremonies at the club room at 7:30 o’clock.

A festive evening of music and dancing has been arranged. Professor Turner, Warren City Schools superintendent, will make the principal address of the evening and President Oscar Teucke and past-president Roy Porter will recount the history of the Ben–Lin Club.

Residents of Niles need no introduction to the Ben–Lin Club. For the past several years, its club rooms have been the scene of much general community activity. It has witnessed the whole gamut of town enterprise from the twinkling feet of children at their dancing lessons to the cheers of a football banquet.

The club has been widely publicized over the entire Mahoning Valley as one built almost entirely by the personal physical efforts of its members, assembling each evening, often after a day’s hard work at the store or mill, the members each contributed of their time and services.