Founded in 1944, the Sportsmen's Club of Northern Westchester was incorporated in 1945. Since 1948, the members have met in Memorial House in Katonah, NY having met previously at the old firehouse next to the bank in Katonah. The first President of the Club was Asahel Waite.

By 1947, the Club was firmly established and reaching out to the local communities to offer the services of the members for projects of interest to the Club. That year the members volunteered to conduct a fisheries survey of Cross River Reservoir. That Reservoir was first put into operation in 1908 as a unit of the Croton System of New York City Department of Water Supply. The only previous study had been made in 1936 at the time of the Biological Survey of the Lower Hudson Watershed.

The purpose of the 1947 study was to update the Water Department's information on this watershed; to evaluate the physical, chemical and biological factors related to fish life and, if necessary or advisable, to put into effect a revised stocking or management policy in keeping with present conditions. Through the cooperation of all Club members, it was possible to make a much more thorough study than ordinarily would have been possible with a small crew and limited time.

The Conservation Department's Southern Fisheries District was especially appreciative of the help they received from the Club in all phases of the project.

           
   Club Members stock reservoir        
      The Sportsmen's Club operated rearing pools to produce 1000 stocking trout over 11 inches. Members are shown as they stock the reservoirs.  

 
           
  Fishermen rod fish and net beautiful trout.      
           
         
  George Dolicker on the conservation scene


As kids look on, George Dolicker (left) and other conservationists manage the release of pheasants into the wild.

 

 

 

 

 

When George Dolicker, resident of Katonah and original charter member
of the Club, died in 1949, the Club sought to honor him in a way that would
commemorate his many personal contributions to conservation and continue
his work to interest youngsters in conservation. To do this, the Club set up
a scholarship fund in his name so that each summer a Junior Club member
(age 12-16) is sponsored at the New York State Conservation Camp.

The regular seasonal work of the Club has been bird-feeding, raising and liberating of pheasants, trapping of vermin, planting of berry trees and grain for provender and the cleaning and stocking of streams.  The Club has also offered fly-tying classes.

For a period of time, The Sportsmen's Club of Northern Westchester published a newsletter called "The Creel." Copies of the newsletter were always send to local men in the Services.  A copy of Volume 1 #8, April 1954, lists Schuyler Bradt as Editor and states "Club meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 p.m. in Memorial House, Katonah, N.Y." The report of the Membership Committee records a total of 136 members: 99 Senior members, 20 Junior members, 11 Honorary members, and six in military service. The Treasurer reported a balance of $274,99 on hand. The annual membership fee was $3.00. Also noted was the fact that five boys were sponsored that summer at Camp DeBruce.


The Katonah Record headline for Thursday, July 21, 1949 heralded the return of another favorite activity of the Club:

                 "Second Pan Fish Derby Shatters All Records as

                    325 Youngsters Haul 3727 Fish From Reservoir "

 

The happy winner accepts congratulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The article reported that, after the Derby officially ended at 3:00 p.m., the weary contestants swarmed on the refreshments and "all 45 cases [of soda pop] and 110 pounds of hot dogs seemed to disappear simultaneously."