Bridget Collins of Withamsville has been a Clermont countian for 20 years and loves the East Fork of the Little Miami River. She has been a member of Sportsman’s Club for 12 years and today serves as one of the organization’s trustees. She is very proud of the fact that she is the first female to hold an elected position as an officer of the club.
It was pointed out that the seven trustees must conduct a minimum of four meetings each year.
All of the ladies spoken to were very proud of being a member of a club titled as serving as a club of sports men.
The trustees are entrusted with controlling and managing the business, funding, and property of the club and also governing the members and their families and guests.
She has thoroughly enjoyed her 12 year membership because of “The fellowship. We all make a lot of good friends here and we fish, hunt, and camp together. We have a lot of fish fries here.”
Wednesday night the camp is the site of some vigorous horseshoe competition and this competition is open to the public.
Another regularly scheduled event is the car show which will entering its 16th annual season on the first Saturday following the county’s annual Pumpkin Run. The car show, too, is open to the public. This year the date is Oct. 8, and Oct. 9 will be the rain date. The event is for pre 1990 cars and trucks. Food and other refreshments will be offered for sale. There are To 60 Plus Specialties, Participant Drawing, GM V-8 Rebuilt Motor, and Craftsman Floor Jack and Stands. Must have car entered to win motor and jack/stands that are given away separately. Registration is 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pre-registration cost is $10 and on the day of the show the cost is $20. For more information, contact Chris Hageman (513) 532-9623 or email at cwhageman@yahoo.com.
“I love it here. It’s close by to home, convenient, and a very nice spot for most people from Clermont County. You can’t get a better location right on the river,” Collins said.
The Clermont County Sportsman Club is located at the intersection of state Route 222 and Elk Run Run Road. The official address is 1901 Elklick Rd., Batavia.
The historical significance of the area is extremely impressive. Five Indian tribes were known to have camped and some even lived within the present borders of the county including the Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot, Delaware, and Mingo (a segment of the Iroquois Confederacy). Other Indian tribes fished and hunted here including the Cherokee. It is certain they traveled the waterways of the county passing right through the location of the camp.
Gold has also been discovered in the area. Batavia had a gold mining company in 1868, but never in the county’s history has anyone discovered enough gold to make their self wealthy.
Some of the first American settlers in the area settled here. Edgar Anstaett was a leader in forming the club and his family had lived in this area for many years as had the families of the other Sportsmen’s Club founders – John Armleder, Henry Whitt, Ernest Schoettler, Bill Dowdney, Fred Winters, and Jack Buerkle.
The first family to build a home (a log cabin) in Batavia, on the site of the present post office, Ezekiel and Phoebe Dimmit, are buried just to the east of the club’s property in the cemetery across the street from the main entrance to Elks Run Golf Course.
When the land was first being cleared for the club it was described as “almost like a jungle. All grown up in brush, vines, ravines, and ditches. A foot bridge was built and then along came rest rooms. The present club house was built in 1977, part of it from the pre-existing shelter house.
Funds were raised to pay for the work from dues, chicken dinners, and auctions.
The first events held by the club included archery 3D target shoots, carnivals, fishing derbies, bow shoots, dances, fish fries, picnics, and a booth at the county fair. Demonstrations were often given on gun safety, fishing, and archery.
Chris Hageman of Amelia is enjoying his third year as a member of the club. He, too, is an officer and serves as the club’s secretary.
“I love this place. It is a beautiful property and location and these are great people. There is a lot of camaraderie and it is because of the good people that I see keep coming back. And I love the camping, the fishing, and the car shows. I think this place and the club are the best kept secrets in Clermont County.
“This is a tremendous place for me. In addition to the people its is close by my home and it is the most relaxing place.
“Spending the night by the river and hearing the water running is so enjoyable, calm, and relaxing.“
Said Casey Dwyer of Amelia, who is also a member, “I think its incredible how many kids have never been near a river and had all of this fun and enjoyment that we have at this place.”
Anyone interested in attending a meeting of the Clermont County Sportsmen’s Club can attend the monthly meeting that takes place the last Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.