Buffalo Court # 5, Knights of Equity was chartered in 1897 by the Supreme Council of the Knights of Equity. The first meetings were held in Walker's Hall at 13.5 East Swam Street. Other meeting places in succession were the Old Moose Hall at the corner of Franklin and Court Streets ( presently the site of the U. S. Federal Court House); 910 Main Street; The old Law Exchange on West Eagle at Franklin Street; The Marine Engineers Hall, 211 Main Street and The Catholic Institute Hall at Main and Virginia Streets. In 1945, the Knights bought (through their holding company, the Buffalo Irish Club) their first clubhouse at 493 Delaware Avenue. This facility served as Court #5 headquarters until declining membership and increased operations costs necessitated its sale. In 1970, the Knights along with the St. Pat's Club and Gaelic American Athletic Association purchased a former YMCA at 245 Abbott Road and renamed the facility The Buffalo Irish Center. Today it is the cultural center for the western New York Irish community.

Over the years Court # 5 has carried out the intentions of its founders in promoting the welfare of its membership and joining with other Catholic and Irish organizations in combating anti-Catholic and anti-Irish organizations and movements.

Today Court #5 maintains a special charities committee which reviews requests from groups and organizations for contributions. Our current scholarship program presents several students entering college or university with a monetary award.

During World War I, Court #5 raised thousands of dollars for the Knights of Columbus War Camp Fund which serviced U.S. Armed Forces. Over the past 100 years the Knights have raised funds and donated them to various groups. Some of the groups are Diocesan Home for Children, Cerebral Palsy Institution, Colombian Fathers, Colombian Sisters, Mercy Hospital, Infant Home, Franciscan Center, Salvation Army and many other groups. Court #5 has also over the years made donations to various individuals and families who were in need in the Buffalo area.

Court #5 has held since 1940 the charter of the Buffalo chapter of the Friendly Son's of St. Patrick. Our only event under this charter is an annual dinner dance held in March to commemorate the Feast of St. Patrick. The dinner is the Buffalo Irish social event of the year. Leaders of all Irish organizations as well as local politicians are in attendance. The "Buffalo Irishman of the Year" award is presented by the Knights. The "Tara Award" is presented by the Daughter's of Erin, and the Knights and Daughter's Scholarship committee awards their scholarships on this evening. The Knights assumed this charter to keep alive the spirit of an organization that was originally founded during the American Revolution and professed the ideas and religious freedoms that are so important to our own organization,

Among the members of Court #5 who are or were prominent in the professions, business politics and labor are the following:

*General Wm. T. Donovan - Commander of the Irish 69th regiment of New York City, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor - World War I. *Lt. Comm. Thomas J. Bagley - U.S. Navy World War I *T.U. O'Connor - Chairman U.S. Shipping Board under the Harding Administration - President of the International Longshoreman Union. *William H. Ryan - U.S. Congressman *Daniel A. Driscoll - U.S. Congressman *Maj. Lawrence Corcoran - U.S. Army - Silver Star World War II - Distinguished Service Cross, Korea. In addition, he received 18 decorations for heroism. *James M. Mund - U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. *Edward O'Malley - New York Attorney General and Supreme Court Judge. *John J. Kommory - New York State Treasurer *John J. Coleman - President, Buffalo Federation of Labor *John J. Higgins - President Buffalo Federation of Labor *Joseph P. Maloney - International Vice President, U.S. Steel Workers

More recent prominent members of Court #5 include many professions and are to numerous to list.

The Members of Court #5, no matter from which work of life, are dedicated to keeping alive the original intent of the founding members. "To create and foster a spirit of mutual helpfulness among its members...spiritually, intellectually, socially and to promote their material interests and well-being."

With these objectives in mind, Court #5 will continue to be an important member of the Irish community during the next 100 years.