A Bit Of Club History by Bert Raymond - April 2002

Bert Raymond is one of the founding members of Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club, Bert became a club member in 1948. Bert contacted me via e-mail and explained who he was and asked me to pass on his best wishes to the current membership. Bert and I have exchanged a couple of e-mails during the past month. I asked Bert if he would put together a short article on the creation of Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club and what the club was like in the early days. Below is Bert’s article.

I went to work at the Wallum Lake Sanitarium, as the old timers know it. Wallum Lake Sanitarium was strictly for the treatment of TB; today it is called Zambarano Hospital. In 1948 about 90% of the employees were former patients with the exception of the patients in Dietary. Wallum Lake Sanitarium was like a small village, we had our own Store, Post Office, Chapel, Movies, Bowling Alleys, Natural Pool and a Radio Room for Patients, Laundry, Food Commissary and more. Apartment Tenants could buy groceries from the State. I met my wife to be Mary, who was born and raised on Hospital grounds and in High School at that time. We married in 1950, and moved into one of the apartments at Wallum Lake Sanitarium. Mary and I raised two wonderful children and moved to Florida in 1983. We spent 43 years together until her passing in 1993.

A handful of patients got together and formed a group that was eventually known as Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club. The first President was a nice old chap by the name of "Pop Jones", this was about the time I joined. I worked in Dietary so by know surprise I was elected to supply the Donuts and Coffee after becoming a member. Club Meetings were held on Monday nights in the recreation room across the hall from the main kitchen, which was located in the Wallum Lake House. Our dues at the time were 1 dollar a year, this may sound impossible but it is a fact. At this time Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club had no expenses except for the picnic at Bob Witcha’s Tree Farm on Wallum Lake Road, which was free to members. By today’s standard one dollar a year is a small amount for dues, but, back then State Employees at the Wallum Lake Sanitarium earned 120 dollars a month and were lucky to take home 75 dollars a month. At that time a pound of New York Sirloin was .35 cents per pound. Eventually we started meeting in town at Red Man’s Hall, Dick’s Café and Arams in Harrisville, which eventually became Dev’s.

Dick’s Café was quite a gambling house with frequent bar fights, gambling was done in the back room were our club meeting was held. Some patrons of Dick’s Café did not like us there; it took away from their time in the gambling hall. It reminded me of the Old Wild West, all we needed was a hitching post outside.

The membership began to grow, in no time we were up to 50 members and we just kept growing. As time went on and membership grew it was decided to hold a monthly raffle were the proceeds would go to a Land and Building fund. A committee was formed to find land, the committee chair, if memory serves was Roland Pruno. A couple of sites were considered until a decision was made to purchase the existing property. Looking at what Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club has become today the choice was the right one.

Through the hard work of the volunteers the foundation was built. The original portion of the club is the concrete area. A 9’ x 12’ area of the original building was picked out for me and called the kitchen. It took some time to furnish the kitchen with utensils; a little begging and obsolete items from Wallum Lake Sanitarium helped furnish the kitchen.

Then came Mike’s dream of the Traps, Range and the rest of the great things. I remember the first Fishing Derby going back to the late 50’s or early 60’s. I spoke to the President of Wallum Lake Rod and Gun Club Therault and Micky about having a Fishing Derby for the kids at Wallum Lake Sanitarium, they laughed and did not think it would work. I was able to finally organize the Fishing Derby and boy were they wrong.

Shortly after the fishing derby came the Barbecue Pits, I was originally against them, and time would show I was wrong. My thoughts were charcoal cooking was not sanitary especially serving the public, this was the reason that not many restaurants were not doing this anymore.

Some events I really enjoyed were the Game Dinners, we then started having Steak Dinners, Field Days, Snowmobile, Pheasant Hunting along with Canadian Hare stocking. I raised some Bob White Quails and released them on club grounds. I wonder if any of their descendants are still around.

In 1998 I visited the club, as I stood there and looked around at what the club has become nobody could be as proud as I was. I thank all my friends for all the great years I had as a member.

Bert Raymond now resides in Bartow, Florida; Bert can be reached via e-mail at bertraymond@msn.com

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