A Historical Timeline of the Club from 1945-1985

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The Sugar Creek and Lookingglass Chapter of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen's Club is the brain child of Mr. Arnold Ebel, a dedicated conservationist, who, alarmed by pollution of our local streams and the ever decreasing amount of game in fields around Trenton decided to endeavor to do something about it.

• A preliminary meeting, held in the form of a rabbit fry hosted by the Trenton Nut House Club, was held in Trenton in December of 1944. The Meeting was attended by Mr. C.E. Fiscus, county chairman of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.

• The next meeting was held on January 24, 1945 at the Farmer's Bank of Trenton in the upstairs meeting hall. There were 125 people present. Among the attendees were: Mr. Leonard Schwartz, President of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Mr. C.E. Fiscus, Mr. W.B. Goodell (superintendent of highways), Mr. Twigg (farm advisor), and Mayor Leonard Neiss of Trenton. Officers were elected by acclamation as follows: President - Arnold Ebel, Vice President - William Beine, Secretary - Joe Dufour, Treasurer - Delmount Schaeffer, Directors - Alfred Brown, Barthol Imming, and Herbert Art Cope.
• The second meeting was held on February 9, 1945. It was decided that the name of the organization would be the Sugar Creek and Lookingglass Chapter of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen's Club. Funds were to be used to raise and liberate raccoons, hatching quail and liberation of grown birds, along with buying and spreading feed for wildlife during winter months.
• The constitution and by-laws were written in March and adopted April 13, 1945. Dues were set at $1.50 annual per member for 18 years of age and older.
• Charter members included: Arnold Abel, Bill Beine, Joe Dufour, D.L. Schaeffer, Alfred Brown, Barthol Imming, Herbert Art Cope, J.P. Huber, L.F. Huber, Wm. Ranz, Al Kohlbrecher, and Art Wagner.

• The club had accumulated nearly $2,000. In March, a small wooded area on which there was a small lake, located just east of Trenton on Highway 50, was leased from Mr. Al Groene, for $100 a year. The location mentioned is know known as Klasing's lake, where Klasing License & Title is located.
• A pavilion was constructed by the club on this property. A small two room house was made a home for the caretaker, Mr. Allan Curtiss. The grounds were improved and fishing became an every day event.

• On April 10, 1953, the club knowing their lease would soon be up and a possessing a desire to own a lake of their own, gave Mr. Everest Hegger $200 as earnest money on the purchase of 36.95 acres of land northeast of Trenton. This is where the club is located to this day.

• In September of 1954, a contract was awarded for the construction of a dam at the south end of the property. The cost of the dam and removing dirt for the lake was $8,507.32. The Trenton Chamber of Commerce donated $1,250. The dam was completed in the spring of 1955.

• The 40x60 pavilion was built, along with a closed in area for restrooms and a kitchen. This was done largely by volunteer labor and donation of material, for a cost of $3,638.94.

• The club purchased a tractor for grass cutting.
• A small dam was built on the north end of the lake to hold back some of the wash-in of mud.

• The machinery shed and fishing docks were built at a cost of $3,099.76.

• The north dam was made larger, and a roadway was made across the top so the caretaker could cross over. The dam and improvements cost $8,507.32.
• A house trailer was bought for $3,499.31 to be used for the caretaker's home.

• The ceiling was put in the pavilion and the horseshoe courts were built at a cost of $441.

• The club decided to kill all the fish in the lake and restock it with channel cat, bass, and bluegill.
• The city of Trenton was replacing sidewalks, so the old rock was used to riprap both ends of the lake due to muskrat activity.
• The membership made repairs to the house trailer, replaced all gas lines, water lines, painted all buildings, fed fish, killed moss, and cleared the banks so members could fish.

• Plans were drawn up for an addition to the club room. Ken Erwin, Bill Suever, Ed Schultee, and Roger Maue served on the committee to build a 41x24 addition to the north of the kitchen. After removing the wall to the kitchen, the club had a club room, another pavilion, two showers for campers, and both restrooms were remodeled.
• Electric lines were put underground for members with small camping trailers

• Roger Maue and Ken Erwin built two more restrooms.

• The lake committee, grounds committee, building committee, and equipment committee were formed.
• The club purchased a new riding mower, enlarged the parking lot, oiled the roadways, and extended the road to the north for more camping.
• Dick Richter and Don Rakers tore out the old boat dock and built a new one.
• A storage room was built within the large shed to store supplies.

• The club bought a used house trailer to replace the caretaker's quarters.
• The kid's fishing derby was established.