The Portuguese Independent Band has a long and storied history in Bristol. Begun in 1919 and charted in 1921, their club house on Wood and Roma streets, formerly the Sons of Italy Hall, was the band’s third home in the neighborhood.

While the band itself is alive and well — they marched in the Fourth of July Parade and are scheduled to perform at the Concerts of the Common series on Sept. 2 — the future of the club itself is in serious doubt. They owe more than $20,000 in back taxes and, with about $30,000 of other outstanding debts, the clock is ticking.

Mike Oliveira, the club’s former bar manager who says he’s been the jack-of-all-trades, behind-the-scenes guy at the club for years, is trying to rescue this neighborhood gathering spot. He remembers when the club was a lively center of the community.

“Not long ago, we had over 250 members, but we were really just getting by when COVID hit,” he said. Then the place lay empty for months, nobody renewed their dues, and the bills mounted.

Even the band doesn’t practice at its club anymore.

Mr. Oliveira’s last effort involved him sending out pleas for assistance to the 110 or so people who attended the club’s last social event, held in better times. He received two replies.

“It’s a great space, there’s a function hall in back with lots of possibilities, and it could generate money, but we’ve got to get people in there,” said Mr. Oliveira.

So passionate is he about saving the club, Mr. Oliveira, who says he’s worked two jobs for the last 30 years, is willing to put up a substantial sum of his own money — but he knows he cannot do it on his own. He’d be grateful if anyone who is interested in helping his effort to revitalize the club reached out to him at 401/641-9472.

“I just don’t want to see it disappear,” he said.