Located at: 1036 Sunny Knoll Drive, Galesburg, IL 61401
Contacts: Business Office - (309) 342-4431 : Fax - (309) 342-3829 : Golf Shop - (309) 343-5915 : Restaurant - (309) 343-5912 Swimming Pool - (309) 342-2413 Grounds - (309) 342-4341 E-mail Us
Contacts: Business Office - (309) 342-4431 : Fax - (309) 342-3829 : Golf Shop - (309) 343-5915 : Restaurant - (309) 343-5912 Swimming Pool - (309) 342-2413 Grounds - (309) 342-4341 E-mail Us
When Bracken Holdings requested a fee of $5,000 annually, the camp was unable meet the cost and was forced to close due to lack of funds. It is hoped that this camp area will be put to good use by our members in the near future.
Looking Back
In October 1924 a big barbecue for 1,200 persons was held. It was a fine day and a big success. Many Club improvements and great progress had been made in this first year. Reverend Zendt, Pastor of the First Christian Church, made a motion to give a rising vote of approval and confidence to President S. A. Wagoner. Annual dues were fixed at $25 per year.
The following year, 1925, the weather was bad and the open house and barbecue planned for the Club grounds was held in the Galesburg Armory.
It has been custom of the Club to wind up a successful season with a Club barbecue or various other open house events.
In 1930, we had 1,000 members, and things were rolling along at a happy clip when the world-wide Depression hit our State and Nation. Galesburg's laborers were laid off, and some business came to a standstill. Many of our members could not pay their Club dues. Our Directors wisely set up a plan for members to work out their dues by working at the club at $ .40 per hour. Buildings were painted, and repairs were made to various buildings and roads. They removed tons of unwanted moss from the lake edge by circling a section with a steel cable and then hooking it to a team of horses and bringing it to the shore where it was put into wagons and hauled away. They cleaned brush and dead trees and generally improved the Club property. It was a satisfying task for all concerned.
Many old-timers remember the happy days when our picnic tables and cooking facilities were used to capacity by our members at breakfast, noon, and suppertime. Especially was this true on Sundays when movies were shown in the evening. The theater seats were filled, and kids sat on the ground and roadway with their blankets.
Why has this all changed? Do our TV programs and air- conditioned homes take away the desire to see outdoor movies? Maybe so. At least our Board believed this to be true, for they removed the benches from our viewing area. Things do change!
Fishing has been good at Bracken during these fifty-five years. There have been tons of live fish dumped in our Lake to make the anglers happy.Long strings of crappie, bass, perch, catfish, and sunfish have been taken home for dinner. Very few fishermen fished "through the ice" in those early days, but today many have caught their fish by boring a hole in the ice and letting down the bait on a string.
1928 - a bridge was built over the boat harbor. This was a well-constructed suspension bridge and is still standing in good shape after fifty years. It is a landmark of the Club.
1929 - the Club Board engaged a musical group of 22 musicians to give Sunday afternoon concerts during the summer season.
When our first Club House was built in 1925, it is reported that an error was made in placing the Club House too close to the water, due to surveyors misreading their instruments. They had failed to provide a beach in front of the Club House. A cement retaining wall was constructed to separate the beach from the Club House. Two wings were added to our Club House in 1929 at a cost of $1,365.00.
1929 - The Board appropriated S5,000 for the immediate construction of a nine-hole golf course.
1930 - The C.B. & Q. Railroad let us tap their waterline for our water needs on the golf course.
Looking Back
In October 1924 a big barbecue for 1,200 persons was held. It was a fine day and a big success. Many Club improvements and great progress had been made in this first year. Reverend Zendt, Pastor of the First Christian Church, made a motion to give a rising vote of approval and confidence to President S. A. Wagoner. Annual dues were fixed at $25 per year.
The following year, 1925, the weather was bad and the open house and barbecue planned for the Club grounds was held in the Galesburg Armory.
It has been custom of the Club to wind up a successful season with a Club barbecue or various other open house events.
In 1930, we had 1,000 members, and things were rolling along at a happy clip when the world-wide Depression hit our State and Nation. Galesburg's laborers were laid off, and some business came to a standstill. Many of our members could not pay their Club dues. Our Directors wisely set up a plan for members to work out their dues by working at the club at $ .40 per hour. Buildings were painted, and repairs were made to various buildings and roads. They removed tons of unwanted moss from the lake edge by circling a section with a steel cable and then hooking it to a team of horses and bringing it to the shore where it was put into wagons and hauled away. They cleaned brush and dead trees and generally improved the Club property. It was a satisfying task for all concerned.
Many old-timers remember the happy days when our picnic tables and cooking facilities were used to capacity by our members at breakfast, noon, and suppertime. Especially was this true on Sundays when movies were shown in the evening. The theater seats were filled, and kids sat on the ground and roadway with their blankets.
Why has this all changed? Do our TV programs and air- conditioned homes take away the desire to see outdoor movies? Maybe so. At least our Board believed this to be true, for they removed the benches from our viewing area. Things do change!
Fishing has been good at Bracken during these fifty-five years. There have been tons of live fish dumped in our Lake to make the anglers happy.Long strings of crappie, bass, perch, catfish, and sunfish have been taken home for dinner. Very few fishermen fished "through the ice" in those early days, but today many have caught their fish by boring a hole in the ice and letting down the bait on a string.
1928 - a bridge was built over the boat harbor. This was a well-constructed suspension bridge and is still standing in good shape after fifty years. It is a landmark of the Club.
1929 - the Club Board engaged a musical group of 22 musicians to give Sunday afternoon concerts during the summer season.
When our first Club House was built in 1925, it is reported that an error was made in placing the Club House too close to the water, due to surveyors misreading their instruments. They had failed to provide a beach in front of the Club House. A cement retaining wall was constructed to separate the beach from the Club House. Two wings were added to our Club House in 1929 at a cost of $1,365.00.
1929 - The Board appropriated S5,000 for the immediate construction of a nine-hole golf course.
1930 - The C.B. & Q. Railroad let us tap their waterline for our water needs on the golf course.
