'On the evening of Thursday, Nov. 26, 1925, some of the hunters living in the borough of Alburtis met at the public house of Walter Wassum for the purpose of organizing a rod and gun club. Minutes by the first club secretary indicate that it was decided to organize such a club and that the name should be "Alburtis Rod & Gun Club."
The first slate of officers included Wassum, president; William H. Hensinger, vice president; William P.B. Gery, secretary and Mahlon W. Snyder, treasurer. The three trustees named were Edgar J. Reppert, Robert Kohler and H.R. Snyder.
At a meeting held Dec. 7, 1925, it was decided to have the first fund- raising project. The event was a shoot for feathered livestock to be held Saturday, Dec. 26. MahlonSnyder offered the use of his property at the "Old Mine Out" for the purpose of holding the shoot.
That first event was a great success as reported by Chairman Robert Kohler. What's more it showed a nice profit of "$2.65."
For the period of 1927-1933, there was little or no club activity or any meetings "as this was the time of the Depression," said Haines.
In mid-1933 activities of the Alburtis Rod & Gun Club began to surface again. Regular meetings and more fund-raising activities were scheduled. At this time, the club still did not own property but was using the grounds offered by Snyder.
During the late 1930s more men showed an interest in joining the club. Consequently, a formal meeting was held Jan. 8, 1934. At that time, it was decided to limit club membership to 35. Several years later, this was rescinded and membership opened with no limit. Today the club membership is approximately 1,700.
On March 14, 1935, it was rumored that the neighboring Brookdale Rifle Club was experiencing hard times and was ready to disband. As a result, an invitation was extended to them to merge with Alburtis. At a meeting April 8, Forrest Kiefer, property committee chairman, stated the land consisting of a "plain"
and surroundings with a deeded acreage of 20 acres and 56 perches was purchased from F.B. Lauer for $400. At the June meeting it was decided to construct the first building on the new property, with the understanding that the costs would not exceed $100 (That's right! One hundred dollars). This was finally accomplished with much volunteer help.
The month of July, 1935, saw the first stocking of wildlife and fish on the club property. Game committee chairman Charles Knerr reported that Ernest Bush and Forrest Kiefer stocked the grounds with 51 young ring-necked pheasants and that they had also stocked the Swabia Creek with nice fingerling brook trout provided by the fish commission.
In September it was decided to join the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. The first delegates appointed were Charles Knerr, Gordon King and Harvey Landis.
In May, 1936, another tract of land consisting of some 2 1/4 -acres was purchased from Wesley Jacobs for $100.
At the June, 1936, meeting a small piece of club property west of the Swabia Creek was granted usage by the Boy Scout Troop. The Scouts built a beautiful dam and bridge at the stream. They constructed a series of about 50 railroad tie steps from the high bank down to the stream.
In July a contract was given to Tilden Kuhns to construct a pavilion 60- feet long, 20-feet wide and 7-feet high, at a price not to exceed $300.
Incorporated on 1937 - By the end of 1937 the club property and buildings were taking shape to a point that other organizations within the borough of Alburtis were granted use of the club property for picnics, swimming and camping.
Some of the early groups using the club grounds were the Alburtis Boy Scout Troop, the Alburtis A.C. baseball team and the Camp Fire Girls.
On Sept. 29, 1939, the building committee, consisting of Wassum, Charles Frederick and Thomas Beitler, obtained bids for the construction of a new clubhouse. Low bidder was Melvin Lentz at $1,990, a fireplace would be $100 extra and a full basement another $400. All this was approved and construction was started.
The new clubhouse was completed by July of 1940 and on July 8 the first regular meeting ever held in the gun club building took place. Previous meetings were being held at Ernest Bush's American House.
Those in attendance at that meeting were Wassum, John Kehm, Gordon King, Harry Ohl, Harvey Landis, Beitler, ArthurStump, Victor Daniel, Raymond Moyer, David Findlay, Arthur Haines, Earl Miller, William Hunsberger, Stanley Miller, Walter Boyer, Walter Snyder, Solon Greenawalt and John Scherer.
In the fall of 1941, a celebration was held on the grounds, the highlight being the burning of the mortgage. This affair was attended by an estimated 500 people. The club was now free of properties and buildings debts.
By mid-1943 the membership had grown to nearly 400. We were now well into World War II. Records of the club showed that 88 of our members were serving in the Armed Forces.
In the early 1940s the club started holding an annual Easter egg hunt which was open to the public. This affair was attended by 400-500 persons annually. By the mid-1960s they were discontinued.
Another yearly event which started in the early 1960s was the Hunter Safety Course. The course is held in fall and is now a requirement of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. In order to purchase a hunting license for the first time, a person must pass the course. Instructors are all club members trained by the state for this purpose.
In 1982 another tract of 15 acres of forest land was purchased from Thomas Hemphill. This tract adjoins the existing property to the north of Swabia Creek, bringing the total club acreage to 68 acres.'¹
Over the years more land has been purchased bringing the total acreage to over 200 acres.