The Century Sportsmans Club, Inc.
52 Year History 1949 - 2002 
By: Paul LeClair
Copyright 1999 & 2002 

Eleven men who had been friends, fishing and hunting together over years founded the Century Sportsmans Club in 1949. 

The Club Purchased 56 acres including a 9-acre pond, for $2,000.00 from a farmer, Mr.Gunar Johnson. Mr. Johnson was made a Life member of the club. They had a Gentleman's agreement with Mr. Johnson allowing his Cows to continue to drink from the south end of the pond. (Minimum wage was $.75 per hour.)

The pond contained Large Mouth Bass, Pickerel, Horned Pout, Yellow Perch and the ever present Blue Gills.

The Auburn News newspaper in October 1949, stated the members pooled their dollars for a clambake while digging the cellar hole by hand. It was hard work, good food with friends. The original Foundation is of fieldstone gathered by hand from the Clubs own land. All the cement and mortar was mixed by hand. Water was from a nearby spring on the hillside. The Clubhouse was built during the next 3 years. 

In 1953 the Club held a Bass-fishing derby. First place for a five pound Bass was awarded to Henry Sosvielle, a senior member (73 years young.) In the spring of 1953 fish from Dark Brook reservoir were found to be swimming up into the Club pond. Terrific! 

With the help of the Century Auxiliary, Ham and Bean suppers, Game suppers, Ham and Turkey shoots, Pitch Parties, Clambakes and Cookouts were the means to raise funds. (1953 Minimum wage was $.85 per hour.)

In 1954 through 1956 we met the challenge in dealing with the Mass. Turnpike Authority. It involved agreeing on boundaries and club rights of way. The Authority took a large piece or our land, splitting our property and pond. Five acres of our land was left on the south side of the Turnpike, inaccessible to us, yet taxed. 

We met the Worcester County Engineers and U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers. Topographical maps show only a swamp. Where did this Dam come from? Mr. Johnson explained he had built the dam prior to 1930 - to flood the swamp to a pond, freezing in winter allowing him to haul firewood across the ice with his farm horses. A man had to help his family all he could in the depression years. 

In 1955 prior to draining the pond for Turnpike construction, we had a gentleman's agreement with Massachusetts Fish & Game. The Fish & Game seined Bass & Pickerel from the pond. Bass were used for spawn in the spring. All the Bass and Pickerel were placed in Mass. ponds - particularly those with camps for handicapped children. We liked that idea for the kids. 

We joined Worcester County League of Sportsmens Clubs in 1955 and have been active ever since. Paul LeClair represented the Century Club in the League for 39 years. Presently many of our club members take part in running the archery exhibit portion of the sportsmens show for the Worcester County League when it is held at the Worcester Centrum. Past Century President Dave Papale is the President of the County League (Year 2002).

We had a mortgage burning party September 11, 1955. Paul LeClair has Ticket #1 

In an effort to help our struggling sportsmans club we sold 135,000 yards of gravel to the contractor building this section of the Turnpike, for the small sum of $.10 per yard. We received a total of only $13,500.00. A pittance!

In 1955, with the help of the contractor, we had to rebuild the dam to County and Army specifications. No shortcuts allowed! 

In the spring of 1956 Mass. F. & G. gave the Club 500 Fingerling Bass to restock our pond - concluding the gentlemen's agreement. We also stocked 1,000 alewives, a salt-water fish that spawns in fresh water. Alewives are very prolific, 100,000 eggs to a pair. In the summer evenings of 1956, the surface of our pond was alive with the fingerling bass feeding on the alewives. 

With the conclusion of the turnpike construction we had to lime, fertilize, harrow and plant grass to hold our soil from erosion. Over the next four years we planted 8,000 trees to reforest our property. It was lots of hard work, one tree at a time.

We have raised Pheasants since the middle 1950's. Now sharing costs with the Auburn Sportsmans Club, we are raising twice as many pheasants. Both Clubs are stocking the birds. Our Fish and Game committee provides the consistent tender, loving care for these birds. Birds are released in Auburn, Oxford and Leicester covers.

Two members, Norm Morin (Pres. '55) and Ray Pelky, were avid trout fishermen. These two men fished so many brooks and ponds they were known to the Game Wardens and Mass. Fish and Game and were often asked about the quality of trout in various waters. Forming a friendly relationship for both sides of fishing. In 1960 Norm and Ray approached the club about raising trout for stocking in local waters. The Club agreed. Mass. Fish & Game advised the Club on how to build the trout rearing pools, at the cool shady area on the down hill side of the dam and to care for and feed trout. The Club was raising and stocking 3,000 trout a year in the brooks of Auburn, Leicester and Oxford. In 1964 trout were missing from the pools. Norm and Ray wanted to catch the poachers. They watched morning and after noon. Kingfishers were the poachers, lots of them. Mass. F. & G. said to put Chicken wire over the pools. It stopped the poachers!

We have stocked snowshoe hare from New Brunswick. It is very expensive to do.

In the late '60's we doubled the size of our clubhouse. Our own club members did all the work, in the evenings and weekends. A busy summer! 

In the 1970's & '80's we improved the beach and our pond, nice retaining wall and picnic area. Sand was added to the beach area. Hard work! Members recently added a beautiful architectural wall to the area and other improvements to the picnic area - including new tables. In the winter family skating parties are held and members ice fish for the big ones.

In the 1970's the members set up a rifle range for members' use and have maintained to NRA standards. There is constant maintenance to keep up to standards.

In 1975 Pres. Paul Govoni, started the Club in Bingo. With steady workers, we have helped many charities and our club through the years.

Through the years the use of our Clubhouse & grounds have been provided to other civic organizations, including:
Cub Scouts: Swimming and Cookouts.

Boy Scouts: Weekend camp outs - we once found a 15' rope and wood tower and wood corral built on the beach.

Boys of Nazareth home, a number of times, Cookouts & Fishing one boy and one member. (1)

Kids from great Brook Valley - Worcester, Cookouts and Swimming.

For eight years our Members have held a Special Olympics Cookouts and Fishing, one member & one Olympian, well enjoyed by all. (1)

(1) All these "Guest" Fishermen and FisherLadies has received a prize - even for three inch Blue Gills. 

The Massachusetts Council of Sportsmans Clubs meets here once a month. Our kitchen committee provides a lunch for them when requested.

Many Club members are active archers and maintain a course of 28 target butts, through our wooded areas. We have many diligent Robin Hoods who seek wild game in the fall and winter hunting seasons. One of our Archers commented on the Wild Turkeys ability to run through the underbrush - "they are muscular and sure are not Butterballs". We have Archery shoots with other clubs and tournaments with others throughout New England. 

In 1994 the Club started Frontier Days, consisting of bow & arrow, primitive firearms, fishing (one worm one hook), knife & hatchet throwing and camping. Competitors from New England & other states take part. Tom Owens, Chairman has combined this with the Native American Pow Wow meeting in our campgrounds. Public is invited to both events.

The Club provides our facilities for Trials of Life Saving dogs' one-week end in August. 

Year round, building and property have to be maintained at all times - hard work by diligent members. This includes woodcutting and stacking to support our wood stove all winter long.

The Club has had 45 presidents. It is sometimes a Seven Night a week job.

Our Club sponsors many family events:

Family Day, including a kids fishing derby.
Horse Shoe pitching contests in the summer. 
A Pitch League in the winter.
Swimming and picnicking at our pond for members and family.
Camp grounds area for members and family. 
Good fishing, with Bass, Pickerel and stocked Trout: summer & ice derbies. 
Rifle range, with competition.
Members run their bird dogs & rabbit hounds.

With all activities, we have members who provide the Good Cooking!

Thru the years Century Club has prevailed. Century - you are one helluva Club!