The lancet doors and windows have a distinctive pointed arch at the top. The windows feature fine tracery. Tracery is typically used as a decorative element in the upper part of Gothic windows (or screens, panels, and vaults), which are divided into sections of various proportions by a stone framework (wooden in this case).
Gothic architecture went through a revival in the late 19th century and became very popular in Mumbai through the works of architects like Frederick Stevens. The club building was likely built in or around the same period, which has certain Gothic revival elements. For example, a distinctive feature of the neo-Gothic architecture is the use of stained glass windows, which cast colourful light on the interior of the building.
Mr Antonio Barretto is the current manager of the Club of St. Anthony. A member of the club since 1973, he has a longstanding connection to the place. In 2013, he took up residence in the kudd and now manages its day-to-day affairs, keeping it operational.
During the colonial period, Goan migrants worked as pantry boys, dhobis, bakers, tailors, shoemakers, musicians, clerks, and other sundry jobs at Mazagaon. Some found employment in factories, hotels, offices, railways, and mills that dotted Mazagaon and Byculla. Many worked as sailors on ships that had to transit through the dockyards. Due to their itinerant lifestyle, they would leave their personal belongings at the kudd, locked away in trunks.
After decades of neglect, the building underwent a facelift, thanks to a collective effort by community members of Deussua. During the restoration, some material and structural changes were made to the century-old building. The original wooden flooring was replaced by marble flooring, and metal grilles were added to the windows. Even post-restoration, there is an overall sense of dilapidation and ageing, as evident from the peeled plaster on the walls of the veranda.
Accommodation at the club is cheap but basic. Guests are provided a single bed in the dormitory. Only members of the club are allowed to stay in dormitories. Those who are not members stay in the adjacent building as tenants. Unlike a hotel, there are no hard-and-fast rules for guests. However, every guest is expected to maintain decorum and discipline and not create nuisances for others.
The front veranda is divided by five semi-circular arches. Corinthian pillars support the brackets on the first-floor balcony. Over the years, the building has undergone many structural changes. For example, the second floor was added later and was originally not part of the building. The building on the right was also added later and has a staircase leading directly to the first and second floors. This new building has partly obstructed the front view of the façade of the older building.
The Star of David (a six-pointed star recognised as a symbol of Judaism) features in pairs of two on the parapet of the veranda. A flower motif is placed in the central part of the hexagram. The sets are separated by balusters. The presence of this Jewish symbol may be associated with the previous owners of the building, who could have been Baghdadi Jews, who had a sizable population living in Mazagaon in the 19th century but have since migrated to other countries.
The reception hall is used as a community space and for meeting outside visitors. Up until the early 2000s, the feast day of St. Anthony, which falls on June 13th each year, was celebrated in the club with dance balls in the hall and dinners. Nowadays, it is a much quieter place, occasionally used by visitors for watching TV.
Mr Rafique Baghdadi is a long-time resident of Mazagaon and an expert on the culture and heritage of his neighbourhood. He is a veteran film journalist by profession and often visits the kudd with fellow heritage enthusiasts to give them an introduction to the multicultural history of Mazagaon.