• Latest

Barre Fish and Game Club Early History—Part I

July 16, 2019
The Central VT Chamber Legislative Preview 2020

Moving Light Dance Company Presents the 13th Annual Green Mountain Nutcracker

December 10, 2019
The Central VT Chamber Legislative Preview 2020

US Army Reserve Ambassador des Groseilliers Annual Donation to The Veteran’s Place – Northfield

December 10, 2019
The Central VT Chamber Legislative Preview 2020

F&W to Hold Public Meeting on Coyotes Dec. 17 in Barre

December 10, 2019
Downton Abbey

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

December 10, 2019
The Central VT Chamber Legislative Preview 2020

The Central VT Chamber Legislative Preview 2020

December 10, 2019
WGDR’s End of Year Giving Campaign

Preparing Your Outside Animals for Winter

December 3, 2019
Holiday Hazards for Your Pets

Holiday Hazards for Your Pets

December 3, 2019
WGDR’s End of Year Giving Campaign

Employee-Owned Companies Raise $35,186 and Collect 5,604 Pounds of Food for Vermont Food Bank

December 3, 2019
Downton Abbey

United States of Tents

December 3, 2019
WGDR’s End of Year Giving Campaign

WGDR’s End of Year Giving Campaign

December 3, 2019
Jiffy Mart’s Spectacular Ribbon Cutting

Watch for Me-VT: Sharing the Road Essential to Safe Communities

November 26, 2019
Jiffy Mart’s Spectacular Ribbon Cutting

Lighting of the Tree at the Vermont State House

November 26, 2019
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • 2019 Rates and Ad Sizes
    • 2019 Distribution Map
    • 2019 Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • 2019 Rates and Ad Sizes
    • 2019 Distribution Map
    • 2019 Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Barre Fish and Game Club Early History—Part I

vt-world by vt-world
July 16, 2019
in Local News
0

By Percy Angwin

In the late 1800s and early 1900s there was a state organization to which individuals could belong, the old Vermont Sportman’s League.  It was more of a political body than a conservation club and it had a hand in electing Vermont’s governors.  As a matter of record Teddy Roosevelt, then vice president, was attending one of its dinners on the shore of Lake Champlain when he got word of McKinley’s assassination and had to take off for Washington.

It is entirely possible that many of Barre’s less affluent hunters and anglers felt a bit “left out” and wanted a club of their own.  At that time there was some general indignation over “bird trapping” by some citizens who had brought the practice over from southern Europe.  At any rate the meeting was called and the keg of beer tapped one evening.  My recollection is that the late Tom McGoff and Louis Bottiggi were the prime movers for the formation of a club.

It was in thea 1920s that the club started to flourish.  The Scampini Hall meeting place continued for a time and one of the early highlights was an indoor shooting match with the late Alfred Wilhelmsen (a fine pistol shot), competing against the Rev. J. Joseph “Joe” Fowler, who was Barre’s first real archery enthusiast.

During the next few years various cliques controlled the fortunes of the club and meetings were moved to the Blanchard block and other sites, particularly during the regime of the “Pirie Gang”, who had their private hunting club at “Bull’s Throat” in Maidstone.  The late Jim Pirie, Bob Bassett, Alex Riddel and others held the top club offices (at that time terms were not limited).  Gene Prindle, Harry Houghton, Joe Ladrie and others gave the club more local prestige, along with Earl Flanders of Orange, then chief warden for the state.

In the late 20s there came a change. Dr. E. H. Bancroft of South Barre, a veterinarian, became president and “Bill” Carle took over as secretary.  They started an intensive rabbit stocking program and when the club was short of funds Bancroft and Carle actually signed notes to pay for the bunnies on delivery.  They were reimbursed as the club membership fees (always only $1) came in. Under their active regime, during which Frank Woodcock, Jim Biggs, Wally Biggs, Con Sellberg and others became active in the club directorship, along with Ernie Belville and many others, the club membership started climbing to several hundred.

When Jim Biggs moved into the president’s chair the Barre club put on its first sportsman’s show.  It was a modest affair in the then new state armory on Jefferson street.  Admission price was only a dime.  The armory was heavily decorated with spruce bows.  Booths were set up by Frank Woodcock, Perley Haskett and other area sporting goods dealers.  Animals were obtained from the Mann game farm at Maple Corner and from anywhere in the state where they could be located.  The late Ernest Batchelder was active in the club at that time along with the Comolli brothers, Adolfo and Armando.

It was during that period that the Vermont Fish & Game Club was formed, with the Barre Club a leading light, and Jim Biggs, Joe Fowler and this writer as active participants.  By then the late Alex Kirton (a wonderful fly fisherman and gentleman) and the late Harold Wilson had taken over a big share of the membership solicitation duties.

It was also about that time that the Gunner Brook program came into being.  Alex Kirton, this writer, Americo “Mac” Galli and one or two others, realizing that the auto was making a big change in most people’s fishing habits, came up with the idea of having Gunner Brook, a handy stream, set aside for ill and crippled granite workers who couldn’t go far for their angling, and for children to enjoy.  The stream was closed to others (thanks to cooperation from Cliff Bailey and others along the stream) and stocked.  We also concocted the annual “derby” idea which has resulted in so much fine sportsmanship being taught.  John Richardson had become active in the program by that time and some years later William J. “Bill” Maxwell became enthused over the idea and carried it on for years until Everett Tucker succeeded him in recent years.

The 30s were the big early years for the club.  Eugene Stefanazzi and Romeo Sironi became active forces in the club, and I had taken over—one of my several terms in office.  Sironi and Stefanazzi put on the most intensive membership campaigns in club history and put the membership well over the 1,000 mark.  By that time regular meetings were held in the Worthen block and later at the Barre courtroom at City Hall.

Barre Fish and Game Club Early History—Part II will be in the next issue of The World.

Previous Post

Governor Phil Scott Details Initiatives to Increase Electric Vehicles in Vermont

Next Post

Fasting

Next Post

Fasting

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2019 Deadlines
  • 2019 Distribution Map
  • 2019 Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Dining Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition 2019
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Rate Card
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In