Our Beginnings and Early History In 1942, James Foley, who had moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Schenectady, began to pursue the idea of establishing a dance group for married couples similar to The Benedicts of Cleveland, dedicated to socializing and formal dancing. It was the era of the Big Bands. It was also wartime! The country was in the midst of retooling its industries to meet the demands of the war effort. General Electric was foremost in World War II production. Daily lives of the people were affected in many ways: food and gasoline rationing, limitations on clothing purchases, victory gardens, curfews, blackouts, sirens, and air-raid practices. It was clearly a time when diversion and a social outlet were needed. Foley's proposal drew much support, and a Founding Committee was formed. On November 30, 1942, the committee met to begin work on a constitution for the Schenectady-based THE BENEDICTS. Interest grew rapidly. By January, membership had grown to 147 couples, consisting mostly of GE employees and others in Schenectady affectionately referred to as "the uptown people."
We have evolved over the past seventy years and have matured along the way. We remain energetic, enthusiastic, and focused on the future. We are confident that, as the years go by and the leadership passes from one group of member couples to another, our goals, traditions, and friendships will remain, and we will always be proud to say: "We belong to The Benedicts." |