Akron Council 547 became a reality in 1900, when the national Knights of Columbus was only 18 years old. The population of Akron was 42,720 and the city had many Catholic men who were eager to become part of the fraternal organization.
The first class of candidates consisted of 52 candidates and 24 transfers. They were initiated on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1900. Membership grew rapidly and by 1925 had reached a total of 775 members. Council 547 founded and operated Camp Christopher until it was turned over to the Cleveland Diocese. Then in 1946, the Council started Camp Santa Maria at Portage Lakes; and operated it for 25 years before it was necessary to discontinue it. The group initiated and sponsored the Manhood and Womanhood awards and dinner for the local Catholic high schools. This project is continued by the Council. Membership continued to grow until it reached a high point of 1,800 members at the time of the 50th Anniversary. Because Akron had become such a large city by this time, Supreme instigated the formation of new councils in the city. Council 547 remained as the original and oldest council.
In 1960, the Council moved from its downtown quarters at 22 S. High St. to new office space at 1745 W. Market St. with meetings held at St. Joseph Melkite Church hall. Then in 1962, the Building Company purchased a house on 21/2 acres of land facing Summit Mall in Fairlawn. A downstairs bar and meeting room was added to make it more suitable for social functions. The property provided a beautiful setting for outdoor Masses, annual picnics, variety of social and money raising events for members and families as well as meetings. During the 60's, wives of Council members formed an active unit, the Columbian Ladies Guild. They have made a significant contribution to the progress of Council 547. This group met monthly with social and auxiliary activities. Christmas time brought the annual children’s parties with cartoons, candy, presents, magicians and clowns
With commercial building expanding across from the Mall, in December of 1978, the Building Co. decided to sell the Fairlawn property. This was based on the rapid increase of property value, increase of expenditures, and decrease of revenue from Council membership dues.
The next move was to temporary quarters in the dance hall portion of the Akron Recreation Center. We remained there until the A.R.C. was sold. During the years we were renting at A.R.C., the Building Co. was searching downtown and west Akron for a suitable building to buy or rent, but with no success. Next the Council returned to St. Joseph Melkite Church hall for its meetings and rented office space from Annunciation Church. We survived these awkward arrangements until the Building Company purchased the Jacobson Building at 90 S. Maple St., in October, 1989 along with 2 lots north and adjacent to the building. Our "new" building provides space for offices, and meeting rooms.
Happily life went on at 90 S. Maple St. as a meeting space and for the children’s Christmas parties until January 2006 when under the leadership of Stanly Foster (GK), we had conversation with Fr. Paul Schindler, (our chaplain) about moving to St. Bernard parish which would improve our visibility as Knights and remove the burdensome expense of a building. Originally we moved into the old parish office space on the first floor of the rectory building but it was decided by the parish/diocese that we belonged in the parish office building and so were given two rooms in the basement, in 2019 under the leadership of Peter Ossai (GK) we moved to three rooms on the ground floor.