BY FREDERICK D. MEEHAN – March 4, 1952

(Editor’s Note: Here are concluded the articles from old Gazette files.)

III—GOLF CLUB TO INCORPORATE AND BUY GROUNDS

“With the sentiment of the club all in favor of throwing up the lease on the Warner land at its expiration, the question to be considered was, “Can the money for the purchase of the land be raised?” That question was not, however, in doubt for a moment. It is likely that the entire amount could have been obtained at this meeting, only it was thought better not to concentrate the stock in the hands of a few members, and even outside parties, an opportunity to subscribe, so that it was determined that the corporation should be formed and should have a capitalization of $5000, to be in shares of $10 each. It will probably take at least $4000 to carry out the plans of the club; that is, buy and improve the land, and erect a new house.

Proceeding With Due Care

“It was voted that no move should be made towards acquiring the new land until fifty percent of capital stock has been raised. It was voted that the land should be purchased by the special committee as soon as the subscriptions reach $2500, and as soon as this amount has been subscribed, arrangements will be made to take out the papers of incorporation, the club to be called the ’Northampton Country Club, Incorporated.’
“There will be, of course, two organizations, the incorporated club, which will hold the land, and the Northampton Country club as a social organization. Probably most of the members of the social organization will hold stock in the incorporated club. The incorporated club will lease the land to the social organization, but it will be provided that the rental shall never exceed $300 yearly, and it will be arranged also that there will be no
incentive to corner the stock in the incorporated club. The stock will not pay over six percent. (What optimists!—Ed.)

They Weren’t Blank For Long

“Before the meeting was over, subscription blanks were passed around. Treasurer Clark said that there was not the least doubt of the successful carrying out of the plan, and several businessmen stand ready now to finance the project if necessary. “The special committee which will have charge of purchasing the land and getting out
papers of incorporation, and which has done the preliminary work leading up to this action by the club is made up of Alexander McCallum, William M. King, F. A. Waterman, R.L. Williston, E.H. Bannister and W. A. Clark.

Very Special Work—Very Special Committees

“Two other special committees were appointed last night, as follows:

• Committee on subscriptions: H. P. Eastwood, chairman; C.W. Walker, A.L. Kingsbury, F.E. Davis, Dr. W. J. Copeland.
• Committee on incorporation: D.M. Rust, chairman; J.M. Connor, R. H. Cook, W.H. Feiker, W.M. King.

Some of the Old for the New

“The old clubhouse will not be moved grounds, but will be torn down, and the material in it used, in part, in the construction of a new clubhouse. “The new grounds are in Leeds, on the south side of Mill River below Cook’s dam, on the flood plain of the river, almost opposite to the present grounds, and most of the property is owned by Nonotuck Silk company. They are about two minutes ride beyond the present course.

And It’s Beautiful Today!

“The land which it is proposed to purchase is said to be in a far better condition for golfing than land which clubs usually acquired. At least 30 acres of it will need comparatively little work to get into condition for play. There is several hundred dollars’ worth of timber on the land, which will pay good interest, the club believes, as a farming property.”

IV—New Country Club House Will Be a Fine One

“Important action was taken Friday at the meeting of the building committee of the Northampton Country club, when it was voted to erect a new clubhouse, which will cost about $5500, exclusive of the land. It will be situated near Cook’s dam, Leeds, and construction will probably not be commenced until early spring. The building, furnishing large accommodations will be opened about June 1, 1909, when there will be ceremonies
incident thereto, with a large gathering of club members and friends. “The contract will not be let until after a meeting of the club, to be called soon, when the plans will be exhibited. The club is incorporated, with a capitalization of $5000, and application is to be made to increase this to $8000.

Victorian Splendor

“The plan accepted calls for a building 85 feet long and 50 feet wide, including a plaza 14 feet broad on three sides. It will stand a little back from the bluff at Cook’s dam, so that it may be seen from the trolleys, and its location will be picturesque, both as to surrounding and view to be obtained. From the road only the second story will be seen, though the house is to be two and a half stories high. It will be supported by stone piers. “On the ground floor will be two locker rooms, one for men and one for women, and a cozy open fireplace is one corner, a sort of den. The second floor, on a level with the street, will contain an assembly room, measuring 40 by 30 feet, having a large open stone fireplace on one end, two card rooms, a kitchen and a large dining hall.

The “Caddy” Slept Here

“On the third floor, over the kitchen and dining room, will be the quarters for the caddy, where he will sleep. The space over the assembly room will be open for such use as demanded in the future, when occasion arises. The finish will be in the rough, unsheathed but rustic. On the outside the boarding will be in imitation of clapboards, while the roof will be of stained shingles. The color of the building has not yet been decided. At one end will be a large stone chimney of colonial design. The structure will face the meadows.

New Name—Same Old Game

“The Warner Meadow Golf club was organized in 1898, and this year it was incorporated as the Northampton Country club. There are 165 members, and the officers are: President, R. L. Williston; vice-president, A.Z. Kingsbury; secretary-treasurer, W. A. Clark; directors, the officers and W. M. King, C.A. Clark, Dr. A. G. Minshall and E.H. Bannister. They and Alexander McCallum and Prof. F. A. Waterman constitute the
building committee. The club is in a sound financial condition.

No Place Like Home

“When the house is completed, it will be one of the handsomest in Western Massachusetts. It also is expected that the membership of the club will be greatly increased, for, aside from the fine golf course, covering about 50 acres of land, there will be two tennis courts and opportunities for other games upon the grounds. The land was
purchased from the Nonotuck Silk company and John A. Ahearn.

Early Time Golf Equipment Was Light and Inexpensive

In spite of the large membership, the cost of golf equipment commonly used by the members in the early days would have forced a modern golf professional into bankruptcy. The average golfer toted no more than six clubs; a driver, cleek, mid-iron, mashie, niblic, and putter—all made with wooden shafts. The golf bags themselves were very small and were fashioned from cloth. The weight of the bag and clubs totaled far less than ten pounds. Essential today, but unheard of then, were such accessories as head covers, umbrella, rubbers, tees, and extra sweater or rain jacket, a hood which can be raised in case of rain, golfing gloves, quantities of extra golf balls and medical supplies in case of a blister. The total cost of golfing equipment was from ten to fifteen dollar at the most.

Some May Remember

Golf balls, due to the production in rather small quantities, sold for the surprisingly high price of fifty cents each. The earliest brands to appear on the course were the Silver King, the Haskell and the Ocabo. Unlike today, the members did not part with a golf ball once it as cut or bruised. The majority of members, as part of their golf equipment, had golf ball molds which they used each Friday. First they would heat the ball, then place it in the mold, press out all the cuts and abrasions, and after the ball had cooled, the member would then paint it.

“Round After Round” – What Monotony!

The golf ball was made of gutta-percha and hence was readily remolded when heated. Unless the golf ball were lost, the same on could be reconditioned and used round after round. It was not unusual, if properly reconditioned, to use the same ball for an entire season. About the turn of the century a steel shelled golf ball was introduced which, due to its structure, could not be cut. While this brand of golf ball could not compare to the distance of a modern ball, it had its compensation. The course was extremely narrow, and being bedecked by numerous trees in the fairway, tobacco barns, rocks and other obstacles, too lively a ball would invariably get
one into trouble. The object, therefore, was to preserve the ball, hit it a safe distance and stay out of trouble. After 1900 the most popular brands included Red Dot, Baby Dimple and Domino, the latter so-called because of the black dots engraved on the cover.

Caddies Got 15 Cents—and No Tips

Since the course was closed on Sundays, play was very heavy on Saturday afternoons. To facilitate play, many members hired caddies at the munificent sum of 15 cents per round. There was no tipping, although the more generous players gave their caddies a bottle of sarsaparilla as a reward for a job well done. Woe be the unfortunate caddie in golf’s maiden days would lost a precious golf ball! Although the years have wrought many changes in golf as a sport, the people in Northampton who were non-members of the Warner Meadow club considered it a great honor to be invited to the club to play golf or tennis.

But the Wherewithal Still Has Its Good Points

Undoubtedly more true than now, golf was considered a rich man’s sport. Anyone who was anybody was a member of the club and he was looked upon with high respect and deference by his neighbors.

Tragedy Strikes

Stark tragedy struck the Warner Meadow Country club, when on the afternoon of September 16, 1901, Patrick Finn, assistant greenkeeper, was killed by lightning while seeking to aid two golfers. Frederick N. Kneeland, cashier of the First National bank, and Dr. Elmer H. Copeland, local physician, had completed the sixth hole when a heavy thunderstorm struck. Seeing their plight, Mr. Finn brought an umbrella from the clubhouse to afford the two members some protection against the terrific downpour. While the three were standing together under the umbrella, a bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree, killing Mr. Finn outright and seriously injuring Mr. Kneeland and Dr. Copeland. Mr. Kneeland, after regaining consciousness, limped to the clubhouse and informed the members present of the tragedy. Dr. Hitchcock, W.H. Feiker, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hendrick and head greenkeeper, Edward Corbett, immediately went to the scene of the accident.

Dr. Copeland was found in a dazed condition and his right side was partially paralyzed. He was placed in a wagon and immediately driven to his home. Mr. Kneeland was not so seriously injured and was able to walk to an electric car. Mr. Finn’s body was removed to Raleigh’s undertaking rooms.

Plans were immediately initiated by the members of the club to assist, financially, the widow of Mr. Finn and the three young children. The reader will be interested to learn that the youngest of these children, who was only ten days old at the time of his father’s death, has been employed at the local Veterans hospital for a number of years. In 1947, when the annual poll, conducted by the patients of the hospital, was inaugurated, he was chosen psychiatric aide of the year.

Improving the Clubhouse

As the Warner Meadow club continued to prosper, more extensive improvements were made on the clubhouse itself. The house was moved back several feet from its previous location and by raising the old building, a second story was added. The lower floor contained the hall, reception room and kitchen, while the upper floor was set aside for lockers, baths, and two rooms for the use of the keeper of the green. It was the feeling of
the members that the golf club should take on more of the activities of a Country club, by planning a program of sports and social affairs for the winter season. When the Warner property was purchased for the present Look park, the clubhouse was moved to its present location (behind the Narum residence), extensively remodeled under a P.W.A. grant, and now serves as a storage building for park property. (To be continued)