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Saturday, July 29, 2006 the Jasper Sportsmen’s Club held a 60th Anniversary celebration. An open house was held at the clubhouse in Putnam. Attending were about 90 people, including wives and families of members, people from the Putnam area and other friends. The club was formed in 1946 when a group of men from Walker County felt the need of a hunting area where the natural resources would also be protected. Founding members were George Averitt, Carl T. Hare, F.M. Hudson, Grady Jones, Williard Kilgore, and J.R. Sherer, Jr. Land was obtained in Marengo County by George Averitt, a director of the National Wild Life Federation and Fred Simpson of Mobile, a president of the Federation. The first meeting of the club was held in the lobby of a hotel in Butler when the six men met to approve the land acquisition. The first clubhouse was a two-room house built prior to the Civil War. The house had no glass windows, only wood shutters, one fireplace and no conveniences. John Hutto of Hutto Furniture Company obtained two refrigerator crates to use as privy covers. Since the crates had no doors the members chose to leave the opening facing the river rather than the road. Roads were not paved. They were either dusty or muddy. Often mules and wagons could only reach the hunting area. By 1950 there were about 20 members. A clubhouse was built about three miles closer to Highway 69. There was no electricity or running water. An artisan well of sulphur water was the only source of water. After a hunting trip everyone smelled of sulphur. A generator powered by a four-cylinder jeep engine was found to supply electricity and it worked when it wanted to. Kerosene lamps supplied light and wood stoves were used for cooking. The club finally acquired electricity from Black Warrior Power in 1953 when members agreed to wire all the houses in the area. The Tombigbee overflowed annually, covered roads and flooded the clubhouse. Mud was a constant problem. During the term of John Patterson as governor, he came to the club as a guest. A state car became stuck and mules were brought to tow the car. In 1988 a new clubhouse was built in Putnam on Highway 69. Seven acres were acquired from Toulmin Young. The house includes all modern conveniences including satellite TV, a large dining room, restaurant type kitchen, living area with fireplace, and bunk and shower areas. Members built the building with each working in his area of skills as carpenter, electrician, concrete finisher or plumber. In recent years metal siding was added. In the early years the club hired Frank Johnson of Putnam as the club conservation officer. Later the state of Alabama commissioned him as game warden. He served the club and state until his death in 1987. The late T.P. Thomas of Jasper served a club cook for about 30 years. People from the Putnam area serve as kitchen help during the hunting season. Several times during the sixty years the club has held dinners at Musgrove Country Club in Jasper. The guests have included wives and family members and guests from Marengo County, especially the late Jabbo and Jereatha Witherspoon who were the caretakers of the old clubhouse for many years. Membership has grown to 35, the number allowed in the by-laws. Past Presidents were George Averitt, Carl Hare, Audie Wilson, Leonard Cotton and Jim Burton. The current president is Jim Davidson and Billy H. Sherer is Vice-President. J. R. Sherer, Jr. served as the only secretary-treasurer until his death in 1970 and J.R. Sherer, III until 2002. Dell Green is currently secretary-treasurer. Author J. R. Sherer, III |
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