The Middletown Sportsmen's Club off Michael Road held its first meeting on May 13, 1947 in its new clubhouse. It was an 80 foot long building constructed of logs with a full basement. When construction began World War 2 was in progress and materials hard to obtain. Don Dazey, who was associated with LeSourdsville Lake and an avid sportsman, was an early president who not only helped plan the clubhouse, but guided the process of obtaining the land. Serving on the Development Committee were: Frank Rodgers, Chairman, Roy Crout, Jim Diefenbach, Elmer Schenck, Leo Homan, Bud Berry, John Bachman and Joe Riley.

The group heard of land available through the State Conservation Department in Columbus. It was what had been platted in 1997 as the Rose Hill Subdivision, named for its owners. the Rose family of Clincinnati. The 25 by 100 foot lots were sold as part of a land speculation scheme from a beautiful brochure. It was advertised as part of Middletown with full city services- -water, sewer and streets--but was, in fact, not part of the city and had no utilities. The fire hydrants, painted red, were in reality, made of wood. Disappointed lot owners, who visited their lots, let them revert to the county for taxes, and the land was eventually taken over by the state and turned over to the Conservation Department. To gain access to the plot, a 1/3rd mile, 30 foot wide easement off the Jim Mynier farm along Michael Road was secured and a gravel road constructed. The 77 acres of land was purchased from the state for $2,500. In 1951 the woods used as the picnic area was purchased from Edith Bergan.

The Sportsmen's Club soon became, not only a sportsman's retreat, with club membership climbing to about 1500, but a community center, where many happy events were held. It became host in 1950 for the Ohio Trap Shoot and other regional and state sports events were held. It became host in 1950 for the Ohio Trap Shoot and other regional and state sports events. The Sportsmen's Club had begun as the "Middletown Fish and Game Protective Association" which had held meetings at several Middletown sites such as the Sorg Building, Elks, C.G. and E. Building and Roberson's Sporting Goods Store, but the group's dream came true when it obtained its own quarters in Madison Township.

(Material based on a book on the club edited by Ade Smallwood.)

Madison High School Seniors Community Shetches 1999

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