Knights of Columbus rebuilds its home

The building that houses Burbank’s chapter of the Knights of Columbus was rededicated on Friday after undergoing months of work to repair fire damage.

Located at 134 S. Glenoaks Blvd., the structure caught fire last May after a blaze engulfed a neighboring law office and the flames spread.

PHOTOS: Knights of Columbus Burbank chapter rededicates building

It took about five months of work to restore the structure, which has been home for the Burbank Saint Cabrini Council of the Knights of Columbus since its beginning in 1951.

“It’s really nice to be back in the facility where we spent so many years,” said Felix Rodriguez, the Grand Knight for the local chapter. “It’s amazing how you realize you miss something when it’s gone.”

Founded in 1882, Knights of Columbus is the world’s oldest Catholic fraternal organization and it focuses on community-service efforts aiding the needy.

Over the years, the Burbank location has been the site for fundraisers and meetings for Knights members as well as for local Boy Scout Troop 219.

Last spring’s fire damaged the walls and ceilings of the building. Meetings were shuffled around to various locations in the city, including restaurants and parishes, Rodriguez said.

But fortunately, most of the sentimental items were spared in the blaze.

“The fire department was able to save just about everything,” he said. “We lost very little.”

One of the pieces Rodriguez was glad to still have was the council’s founding charter.

“It has a list of all the original members,” Rodriguez said. “We had to have 20 members to establish the council and their names are on it. [The charter] is very dear to us.”

Insurance covered the cost of repairs, which totaled more than $100,000, he said.

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