Putyatyntsi Immigrant Founders of the Ukrainian Civic Center and Ukrainian Federal Credit Union of Rochester, New York

The ideation of a Ukrainian Civic Center as a gathering place for the entire Ukrainian immigrant community of Rochester, New York can be traced back to August 8, 1909, when 15 men formed the Knights of St. George Brotherhood on Herman Street (now Upper Falls Boulevard). Mr. James Bratush writes on page 11 of his book, Historical Documentary of the Ukrainian Community of Rochester, New York, that “The main objective of this new group was to organize similar groups in other Ukrainian communities throughout New York State. They were supposed to be brotherhoods dedicated to the ideals of temperance and anyone who sought to join was made to sign a declaration stating that he would not imbibe any alcoholic beverages in public places and that he would behave himself decently at home and elsewhere so as not to spoil the good reputation of the Ukrainian community.” 7 of the 15 founding members of the Rochester, New York Brotherhood were immigrants from the village of Putyatyntsi. The Knights of St. George (later the Ukrainian Civic Center) founding members were:

The original 1936 Ukrainian Civic Center building on 831 Joseph Avenue (pictured above), was later expanded and modernized in 1953 to include four new bowling alleys, a new billiards room, larger accommodations for weddings and social events on the main floor, and a modern kitchen, bar, dining hall, reading room, and lending library on the lower floor. The main floor still retained the original performance stage and dance floor.

It was at the Ukrainian Civic Center (UCC) on 831 Joseph Avenue that the charter for the Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit Union (RUFCU) was signed on July 10, 1953, by eight UCC members. The RUFCU now has branches across the United States, serving over 28,000 members. Of the 8 founding members of the RUFCU, 3 were immigrants from the village of Putyatyntsi.

These tenacious founders became the first RUFCU employees and worked without pay in a small corner office of the Ukrainian Civic Center. Below, is the cover of the 10 October 1973 edition of the “credit union opinion” magazine celebrating the institution’s 20th Anniversary. Image provided courtesy of the RUFCU.

https://ukrainianfcu.org/about-us/our-history/