The Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club was founded on August 23, 1932, following a supper attended by 35 members of the Silver Lake community. The gathering was hosted by Major Lambourn at Camp Red Cloud on Silver Lake.
During the meeting, Mr. J. Townsend Russell proposed organizing a local hunting and fishing club. The goal was to help landowners protect fish and game throughout the community from “unprincipled persons coming from places far removed from Silver Lake.” The organization was officially named the Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club.
By November 5, 1932, a Constitution and By-Laws had been drafted and approved. The club’s first elected officers were:
- President: J. Townsend Russell
- Vice President: Andrew G. Patton
- 2nd Vice President: Joe O’Day
- Secretary: E. L. Barlow
- Treasurer: C. C. Rose
Directors included Asher Hill, Phillip Wheaton, Ambrose Mahoney, and J. A. Sweeney.
In 1933, the Silver Lake Cottagers Association invited the club to use their Silver Lake Casino clubhouse for the club’s second annual meeting. Discussions were held about building a joint clubhouse, but the groups ultimately decided to construct their own facilities.
In 1934, Michael and Asher Hill offered part of their property for the club to build a clubhouse. However, the land was not large enough for the trap shooting activities that interested many members.
In September 1935, John Horvath offered 5½ acres of land to the club. The club purchased four acres for $300, with a two-year option to purchase the remaining acreage. By 1936, additional land had been acquired from both Horvath and Joseph O’Day.
On July 6, 1936, the Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization. At the time of incorporation, the club had 213 members from Pennsylvania and New York.
The club held its first annual meetings on the newly acquired land in 1937, gathering in a tent while plans for a permanent clubhouse were considered. Several building plans were drafted but were too expensive to pursue.
In 1939, J. Townsend Russell informed club officers that he was selling his Silver Lake properties in lots. As part of the arrangement, the club was offered one of the existing buildings at Camp Red Cloud if it could be removed within 60 days of the sale.
The club selected the dining hall, the largest building available. Mr. Crowley agreed to dismantle the structure for $75, and members transported it to the club’s property near Laurel Lake. The building was reconstructed on concrete pillars with volunteer labor and additional materials. The clubhouse was completed at a cost of $1,029, supported by an $850 loan from the Montrose National Bank, as the club had only $200 in funds at the time.
The new clubhouse opened on May 24, 1940, with a dance attended by 248 people. A hardwood floor was later installed to improve dancing, and the clubhouse soon became a popular social center for the surrounding communities.
Although trap shooting remained central to the club, social events such as dances and later bingo helped support the club financially.
In 1945, a well was drilled by local well driller Martin, providing water for the kitchen and restrooms.
By 1964, poles and lighting had been installed on the trap fields for the first time.
The club continued to expand its property, purchasing an additional 58 acres in 1968 from Carl Hartung.
During the 1970s, community dances and bingo nights began to decline as entertainment options changed. Around the same time, the club’s bylaws were modified, removing the provision that required landowners to post their property to keep out “unprincipled hunters.” Increasing development in the region led many landowners to manage their own hunting and fishing policies.
This period also saw the growing popularity of bow hunting and archery, especially with the introduction of the compound bow. Trap shooting activity declined somewhat during this time.
To support archery enthusiasts, the club established a multi-station archery course throughout its property. The course wound through woods, swamps, and open fields, allowing members and visitors to participate in monthly Sunday competitions and family-friendly outdoor activities.
Early targets included paper animals mounted on cardboard and straw bales. Later, painted targets made from dense styrofoam were used before commercially produced life-size 3D animal targets became available.
In 1987, trap field lighting was upgraded with brighter fixtures. The interior of the clubhouse was also improved with new walls, electrical work, curtains, and paint.
In 1991, the club introduced its 6-Gun Raffle to help fund building improvements and club projects.
Later that year, on August 25, 1991, a memorial flagpole was erected to honor deceased members. The club’s oldest active member at the time, Harry Sternburg, raised the flags during the ceremony.
The clubhouse continued to undergo improvements, including structural repairs to the foundation. When frost damage caused some of the original concrete pillars to fail, they were replaced with concrete-filled barrels.
In 1992, the club approved a contract with G. W. Rounds Construction Company to build a concrete foundation and supporting beams beneath the clubhouse. Members enclosed a portion of the basement using lumber and insulated windows that had been purchased from surplus materials originally intended for a SUNY Binghamton project.
By 1994, basement restrooms and an interior stairway connecting the basement to the main floor were completed.
During the late 1990s, trap shooting participation slowed somewhat, but the club continued to compete in the Susquehanna County League and hosted special shoots throughout the year.
In 1999, trap shooting began to grow again. The club paid off its mortgage and purchased a new Turret Automatic Trap machine, allowing the trap fields to meet ATA registered shooting standards. A trap shooters’ lounge was also constructed, providing shelter and a gathering space for shooters throughout the year.
By 2002, trap shooting had expanded significantly, and the ranges were approved for ATA registered shoots, enabling members to establish handicap scores and compete at state and national events. A second turret trap machine and concrete trap walkways were added.
That same year, the club launched its first website, silverlakerodandgunclub.com, helping inform members and the public about club activities.
Additional improvements followed, including a new tractor for grounds maintenance and renovations to the clubhouse kitchen.
In 2003, the club introduced Cowboy Action Shooting, affiliated with the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). This sport celebrates Old West shooting traditions with period-style firearms, western clothing, and themed shooting stages.
Skeet houses and a 5-Stand Trap field were later added to the club grounds, expanding clay target shooting opportunities with multiple automatic traps surrounding the shooters.
The club also began hosting the Roger Everett Memorial Trap Shoot, an annual event benefiting Susquehanna County 4-H Shooting Sports for youth ages 12 and older.
In 2004, additional improvements were made to the grounds to support cowboy shooting events, including road work and the purchase of equipment and props.
By 2005, the trap lounge parking areas and driveway were improved with additional stone and drainage. Structural repairs were made to the upper trap retaining wall, and a portable restroom was added for convenience.
Inside the clubhouse, air conditioning and air purification systems were installed along with a new wood stove. The popular 6-Gun Raffle was updated to a 12-Gun Raffle with monthly drawings, and a new Lifetime Membership category was introduced.
Youth shooting sports also began at the club through a grant from the Friends of the NRA, which helped purchase firearms and equipment for training programs.
Today, the Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club continues to build on its long tradition of sportsmanship, conservation, and community involvement. The club remains committed to providing quality shooting sports and outdoor activities for members and the surrounding communities.