The Original Saxon Club was built on Franklin Ave. on Youngstown’s lower Southside. Until 1967, this building included a bar for its membership and a dance hall located on the second floor. As further progress and construction of Interstate 680 continued, it put an end to the Saxon Club’s existence on the Southside. During this time period, the leadership of the Saxon organization had the foresight to buy property in Austintown Township. In 1941, the Youngstown Saxon Club purchased close to sixteen acres of farmland on Meridian Rd. in Austintown and opened what was called the Saxon Acres. At that location, summer picnics, activities and dances were held as well as having an open-air wooden pavilion being constructed. This pavilion, enclosed, expanded and even recently remodeled as it remains today.
Once notified that Interstate 680 would be built on our Southside property, a new building committee was formed. This committee planned, raised funds and built a new building at the Saxon Acres on Meridian Rd. The main building consisted of a large ballroom with a stage for performances for Saxon events as well as for rental to the general public. Also, in this building was a private restaurant and bar for its membership.
The 1980s brought further improvements and expansion to the Saxon Club as the ballroom was made larger, the lower lounge was added, office and meeting space was expanded. Additionally, a new, larger restaurant/bar was built to serve members. This was also the time where our outdoor bocce complex was built behind the main buildings.
Today, the Youngstown Saxon Club remains at its present location on Meridian Rd. where we’ve been since construction. The Saxon Club offers its members an inviting atmosphere for its Wednesday night drawing, German food specials and member events. Today, the Club also has many rental options for graduations, weddings, showers and more. We have almost 20,000 square feet of function space and 16 acres of expansive grounds for members and guests to enjoy.
The Youngstown Saxon Culture Group originated in 1969, before finding a home at the Youngstown Saxon Club. The Culture Group was initially a Saxon Folk Dance Group that performed traditional dances from the Transylvania region of what is now Romania. Shortly after the beginning of the dance group, a brass band was formulated specializing in Germanic music which was popular at that time. The dance group and band has traveled to Europe multiple times during its existence and performed their traditional Saxon dances while playing their German music throughout Germany and Austria. The dance group has disbanded but the brass band still performs to this day throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. Additionally, the band has expanded their European travel to include Romania in addition to Germany and Austria.
