Pennsylvania Club History

This page is devoted to keeping a record of the history of the Pennsylvania Club. You can view many photos and download a written history of the club. We're always looking for more pictures, stories or other artifacts for archiving and display, so that we may keep alive the rich past of this club and its members. More contemporary photos may be found on the Photos page. As an arbitrary dividing line, anything older than about five years will be posted on this page.

Written History

Read about the history of the Pennsylvania Club, updated December 2023.

List of former and current members of the PA Club.

Peruse past guest registers of visitors to the club.

Though not strictly a history of the club, here's an article giving a short history and description of the geology of Georgian Bay.

Some information on our neighbor, the Iron City Fishing Club:

  • Short story about how the site for the Iron City Club was found.
  • History of the Iron City Fishing Club.

The Sharon Social Fishing Club was founded in 1891 and is located on Lake Muskoka. You can read about its history, last updated in 1981.

If you're interested in learning a little local history via a walking tour, a visit to the Calhoun Lodge and Baker Homestead in Blackstone Harbour might be in order.

Photos

Photos have been arranged somewhat chronologically, but many are our best guess only. Most of the early ones do not have dates attached to them, nor are many of the people in them identified. So if anyone has more information on any of them, let us know and captions will be added as appropriate.

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  • Haas August Trip - Picking up groceries, taxi from Moon River, canoeing in Secret.
  • February - Photos by Bill Hasely taken on February 23.
  • Spring - Beaver, low water, cooking on our own.
  • July Men's Camp - Turtle soup, dogfish.
  • Labor Day - Sprinkling ashes, cookout.
  • September - Couple of muskies, swimming bear, lots of wind and rain this week.
  • Pike Trip - You missed a good trip if you weren't there! Check out the new incinerator.
  • Work Week - New boat ramp, walkway, matching roof on small cottage.
  • Summer - Some sunsets, the usual shots of bass...
  • Shirey-Knipe Week - Kids having fun.
  • August Fishing - Good times and lots of fish.
  • Labor Day Week - Hasely group photos by George Chemsak.
  • Kiefer Week - Work on the boathouse cribbing and some good-size bass.
  • September - Guests from Germany.
  • October - Becky Neuhauser (Tim Belcher's sister) was up at the Club the last week of the season and sent in this collection of pictures.
  • Camp Opening - Clouds, winds and bugs, but no crowds! 39" pike and 8# walleye among the many fish caught.
  • Work Week - Pleasant weather (except for the last day) helped the small, but enthusiastic crew really get the place spruced up.
  • Hasely Week - Photos by George Chemsak of musky, pike and mangled fingers.
  • Summertime - Monster largemouth and the return of Doc.
  • September - Power outage, closing up camp, name that fish.
  • Spring Trip - Camp opened, kitchen renovations, lots of pike, bird watching.
  • Work Week - Dock steps, picnic table, boathouse shelter deck extension, fog, rain and some fish.
  • Book Group - Lots of bears sighted, fox snake, turtles, gar, pike & bass.
  • Summertime - Rescuing the canoeists, gar, ducks, geese & loons.
  • Cunningham/Micco Week - Water skiing, potato launching, cliff jumping.
  • September Men's Camp - Pike, largemouth, canoe trips, sunsets, dining room prep work.