Sewickley Herald

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The Herald
The Sewickley Valley's Home-News Weekly
Vol. XXXII,   No, 19
SFAVICKLEY, PA., FEIDAY, API-TL 5, 1935
Price 5 Cents
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HUNTING GROUNDS SOLD
History of Big Travis Lodge Traced
Big Travis Lodge, organized October
29, 1912, by a group of Sowickley
sportsmen for tlie purpose of providing
hunting, Ashing and recreation facilities, recently ended its period of greatest usefulness when the members voted
to soil 439 acres of land to the United
States for uso as a park. Although ten
acres of ground and tho lodgo building
with its gas woll and water rights will
bo retained by tho lodgo for fifteen
years, tho hunting, especially, will not
bo the same when the area has been
converted into a park. Fishing may
bo greatly improved, as it is understood
that lakes will be created and stocked.
Tho lodge, which has grown to size
ablo proportions under tho leadership
of its organizer and prcsidont, David
A. Oliallis, started with tho purchaso
of soven acres of land, a small framo
houso and several outbuildings on Big
l'ravis Crook, Beaver County, for tho
sum of $350. Sportsmon presont at the
flrst meeting included D. A. Oliallis,
president' Dr. Jolin Waiter-,  tompor*
ary secretary; K. L. McPherson, secretary and treasurer; Charles Schlumpf,
vieo president; Joe Walters, Otto
Eeibert and David Anderson, trustees;
Goorgo Chapman, S. T. Shoop, W. C.
Duncan, John McDonald, William
Drynan, S. Kreploy, Charles Gordon,
J. B. McPherson, Georgo Hegner and
A. J. Hegner.
In April, 1913, tho by-laws wero
adopted and signed by Joseph W.
Walters, W. C. Duncan, W. M. Drynan,
Otto Eeibert, S. Kreploy, S. Y. Anderson, Jr., David A. Challis, W. J.
Grady, S. T. Shoop, H. B. McPherson,
J. P. S. Patton, Goorgo H. Hegner, A.
J. Hegner, P. L. Handy, Eiehard Boxel
and K. L. McPherson. By January 1,
1914, tho membership rolls also included
E. L. Anderson, William Baltz, E. W.
Becker, Charles Borem, W. H. Emmert,
J. H. Hoffman, Charles Jonny, D, W.
McPherson, W, S. Marlatt, W. L.
Neely, G. B, Saxton, W. T. Shannon,
J. W. Way, B. P. Campney, and E. H.
Wilson. John Honloy, Jr., Alex Shannon, W. H. Gartnor, William Hagor,
William Smith and Eobort Euttkanip
joined February 7th, 1910.
^Nineteen mombors used the lodge
during the limiting season of 1913, with
a good cook, George "Dad" Campbell,
hired at $1.00 per day. Improvements
were made in thc lodgo and members
were permitted to use tho lodge, with
their families, a weok each before hunting season opened. Farinors, ovor
whoso land the mombors hunted, and
other guests, were invited to the annual
dinners. In 1915, forty Belgian hares
wero liberated on the grounds, only to
bo exterminated by cats and other animals. A clay pigeon trap was installed,
a 'coon dog purchased, and, with good
weather, both squirrel and 'coon hunting were excellent.
By speeial assessment of the members in the summer of 191(5, a fund
was raised to purchase 02 acres of laud
adjoining the acreage of tho Lodge.
A lighting system and better heating
facilities were installed, and, in 1917,
a resolution was passed oxompting
men called for military duty from payment of dues and assessments. The
membership, which was limited to 35,
changed during the years, and in 1917,
\V.  C. Bower,  James Shannon,  C.  A.
Woodling and George Gorman became
members with E. L. Anderson joining
tho next year. E. D. Eitchey and T. E.
Sweeney were elected in 1919 with Mr.
Sweeney elected secretary and treasurer, a post held by W. J. Grady since
tho early days of the lodgo. David A.
Challis continued as president and C.
E. Schlumpf, vice president.
■Fruit trees and grape vinos were
planted on the property, improvements
made to tho buildings and successful
outings wore held in thc summer
months. In 1923, 70 moro acres of timber land were added to the property
of the. lodge, and two years later thc
practice of feeding game during the
winter was started. In 1920, 145 more
acres of land were purchased; arrangements wore made to post no-hunting
signs on all the country about the
elub, and a gas well was drilled, near
tho lodge. More changes occurred in
the membership since 1919, with Henry
Barhart, John McDonald, John Anderson, William Burns, E, Eussell Kuhn,
C. J. Jenny, J. B, Semple, Dr. Prank
Continued on Page 4
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