During the Great Depression, many families found it hard to get by. In 1934, a group of Italian men had a meeting to discuss how they might make ends meet. These men were Anthony Leone, Ignazio Simone, Palmerino D’Amato, Paul Cultrera, Eustachio Davolio, and Maurice DiLiddo. They decided to pool their money to buy goods wholesale. The organization that would be later become the Italian-American Victory Club had its first meeting on Olympia Avenue on February 2, 1934.

As the group’s membership grew, it was no longer feasible to meet in member’s homes, so meetings were held at the Palais Royal on North Quinsigamond Avenue. In addition to the men noted above, other charter members included Anthony Lorusso, Frank Scirpoli, Biagio DiLeo, Vincenzo Rossi, Loretto Leone, Nicholas Grande, Domenic Rubbe, Vincenzo Geronomo, Matto DiPadua, and Guisseppe Mattero. A plot of land was brought in 1937 and a building erected, this being on Dewey road.

Members contributed all the labor involved, many of them working on the building in lieu of paying dues. Through the years, the club took an active interest in the town, sponsoring dances, youth sports teams and more recently, road races. The group also sponsored a welcome home party for the town’s World War II veterans. The Italian-American Victory Club remains a part of Shrewsbury even today, holding holiday celebrations, participating in local parades, and hosting a popular bocce league.