USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
J. H. VAN ETTEN Solicitor
June 20, 1882.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA - SS.
County of Pike 7
M. D. Mott, being duly sworn according to law, de- poses and says that he is the editor and publisher of "The Milford Dispatch," a newspaper of general circulation, published in the Borough of Milford, in the County of Pike aforesaid, and the only newspaper published in said County. That the annexed notice of intention to apply for a charter of "The Forest Lake Association" was published therein for three succes- [ 27 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
sive weeks prior to the 12th day of July, A. D., 1882, to wit, in the issues of June 22nd, 29th and July 6th, A. D. 1882.
M. D. MOTT.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this tenth day of July, A. D., 1882. JNO. C. WESTBROOK, Proth'y.
In the Matter of the Application of THE FOREST LAKE ASSOCIATION for Incorporation
And now to wit, July 12th, A. D., 1882, it appearing to me, Charles P. Waller, President and law Judge in and for the County of Pike, that the publication of notice of the intention to apply to me at this time, for a charter of incorporation of The Forest Lake Asso- ciation, has been made according to law, and having perused and examined said instruments in writing, specifying the objects, articles and conditions, and name, style, or title under which the subscribers have associated, and the same being in proper form and within the purposes named in the first class, specified in the second section of the within mentioned Act of twenty-ninth of April, A. D., one thousand eight hun- dred and seventy-four, and the supplements thereto, and the objects, articles and conditions therein set forth and contained, appearing to be lawful and not injurious to the community, and no sufficient reason being shown to the contrary, it is on motion of J. H. Van Etten, Esq., Ordered and Decreed, that the within charter be and is approved, and that upon the record-
[ 28]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
ing of the said charter and this order, the subscribers thereto and their associates shall be a corporation, for the purposes and upon the terms therein stated, and do further direct that this order and charter be recorded in the office for the recording of deeds, in and for the County aforesaid, and from thenceforth the persons named therein and subscribing the same, and their associates and their successors, shall be a corporation by the name therein given.
CHARLES P. WALLER
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA - President Judge.
SS.
County of Pike
Recorded in the Recorder's Office of said County, in Deed Book No. 39, page 441, etc., the 13th day of July, A. D., 1882.
JOHN C. WESTBROOK, Recorder.
Per H. G. W.
BY-LAWS I NAME
This Association shall be known as "The Forest Lake Association."
II OBJECTS OF ASSOCIATION
The objects of the Association are the maintenance of a private park and of facilities for hunting, fishing and other athletic sports, and the maintenance of a club for such purposes, and for social enjoyments and the preservation of forests and the preservation and propa- gation of fish and game.
[ 29 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
III
FORM AND TRANSFER OF CERTIFICATES
Certificates of stock shall be issued in the name of the Association, signed by its President, countersigned by the Treasurer, and sealed with its common seal, and shall declare that they are issued and accepted subject to such by-laws and rules and regulations of the Asso- ciation as then exist, and to the amending, altering and repeal of the same, and to such further by-laws, rules and regulations as may be thereafter adopted.
Certificates of stock shall be transferable only on the books of the Company in person or by power of at- torney duly acknowledged, and only after the trans- feree has been elected a member of the Association, as is herein provided, and only on payment of a trans- fer fee of $10.00 to the Treasurer of the Association; and no transfer shall be made in any case if the person owning the certificate, or desiring to transfer the same, is indebted to the Association for any cause, until such indebtedness is fully paid.
IV ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Candidates for membership must be proposed by two members, who shall file with the Clerk a writing signed by them, stating the name, residence, occupation and place of business of such candidate.
Action shall be taken on such application by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, at a meeting occurring not earlier than fifteen days after the receipt of such application by the Clerk. Notice
[ 30 ]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
of the time and place of such meeting, and of the full names, residences, occupations and places of business, if any, of the applicants to be passed upon thereat, shall be given by mail to each member of the Associa- tion at least ten days before the day of such meeting. All members shall have the privileges of attending such meeting, and of stating reasons in favor of or against the admission of such applicants, but the vote of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall be cast in private and by secret ballot, and the result only shall be announced in the form of "elected" or "not elected." A unanimous vote of all the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors present at such meeting shall be neces- sary to an election.
If any person elected does not within thirty days after notice by mail of his election to the address furnished by his proposers, signify his acceptance to the Clerk and make the payments required by these By-Laws, he shall be deemed to have declined to become a member. The Clerk shall at once notify candidates of their elec- tion, and of the time within which they must accept the same. When a candidate is not elected, the Clerk shall at once send notice of that fact to the persons proposing him.
V BOARD OF DIRECTORS
There shall be a Board of Directors composed of thir- teen members, which shall have the care, management and direction of the business of the Association, in- cluding power to grant licenses to members to erect cottages on the grounds of the Association. It shall
[3]]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
also have power to appoint such committees as may seem proper, and to frame and adopt rules and regula- tions for the control of hunting and fishing on the grounds of the Association, and for the government of members, guests and all other persons thereon; and it shall fix the fines and penalties to be paid or suf- fered for infringements of such rules, and may at any time alter such fines or penalties, or amend or repeal existing rules and regulations, and adopt new ones.
Such Directors shall be elected by ballot from the number of stockholders at the latter's annual meet- ing, to be held as herein provided, and shall hold office for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualify.
A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the Club House of the Association immediately after the adjournment of the annual meeting of stock holders, and stated meetings shall be held thereafter on the third Monday of February, May, August and November in each year.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or Clerk at any time; and it shall be the duty of either one of such officers to call the same upon the written request of any two direc- tors. Notice of the time and place of such meeting shall be mailed to each director at least three days prior to the date of meeting.
The presence of seven directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but two or more directors, in the absence of a quorum, may adjourn meetings from time to time.
[ 32]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
The following shall be the order of business at meet- ings of the Board of Directors :-
I. Roll Call
2. Reading and approving minutes of previous meeting
3. Reports of Officers
4. Reports of Standing Committees
5. Reports of Special Committees
6. Unfinished Business
7. New business
VI
OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Clerk, Treasurer and Counsel.
They shall be annually elected by ballot by the Board of Directors at their first or any subsequent meeting, and shall respectively hold office for one year and un- til their successors are elected and qualify. The President, Clerk and Treasurer must be elected from the number of Directors for the time being.
All officers shall report at each annual meeting of stockholders and to the Board of Directors at each stated meeting, and oftener if required to do so.
VII VACANCIES
Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, or among the officers of the Association, shall be filled by the remain- ing Directors on election by ballot, and the person so elected shall hold office for the unexpired term of the person he succeeds, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
[ 3 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
VIII
DUTIES OF PRESIDENT
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of Direc- tors, to sign all certificates of stock; to sign and exe- cute all contracts and instruments in the name of the Association and by direction of the Board of Direc- tors, and he shall have general supervision of the af- fairs of the Association.
IX DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENT
The Vice-President shall discharge the duties of Presi- dent whenever and while the latter is unable to act through sickness, absence or otherwise, and no longer.
X DUTIES OF CLERK
The Clerk shall take the oath required by law; he shall keep the minutes of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders' meetings and record their votes in proper books to be provided for that purpose; he shall attend to serving and publishing all notices of meetings or other matters required by law or by these by-laws. He shall also attend to the correspondence of the As- sociation, under the direction of the President and the Board of Directors.
XI DUTIES OF TREASURER
The Treasurer shall give bond in the penalty of $1,000.00 with the one or more sureties, the form of
[ 34 ]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
the bond and sufficiency of the sureties, to be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. He shall have the care and oversight of all moneys of the Asso- ciation and the collection thereof, including the collec- tion of dues, fines and penalties; he shall deposit the same to the credit of the Association in such banks or moneyed institutions as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors; he shall sign all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money; he shall countersign all certificates of stock; he shall have the custody of the corporate seal and shall affix the same to such certificates and to other instruments only by special authority of the Board of Directors; he shall immediately report to the Board of Directors the names of all members who fail to pay dues, fines or penalties within the time limited for such payment by these By-Laws or the rules and regulations relating to the same, together with proof of service of required notices on the persons in default.
XII DUTIES OF COUNSEL
It shall be the duty of the Counsel of the Association to attend to such of its legal affairs as may be referred to him, and to advise the Board of Directors from time to time of any alteration in the laws of the Common- wealth affecting this Corporation or its management, or affecting the taking of game or fish in the localities covered by the Association's property; he shall also take such action toward enforcing such game and fish laws as may be directed by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Association.
[ 35 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
XIII
GUESTS
I. Guests may be introduced to the privileges of the Association grounds and house by members. The Board of Directors may limit the number of guests to be admitted by each person in case it may, in its judg- ment, be necessary to do so.
2. Any person introducing a guest is responsible for such guest's decorum and observance of the rules of the Association while on its grounds; and if there is any lack of accommodation for both member and guest, the latter shall have the preference.
3. Section one shall not apply to the families of mem- bers who shall, as such, be entitled to the privileges of the Association under its rules and regulations.
4. The expenses and board of all guests shall be charged to the persons introducing them, who shall be directly liable to the Association therefor.
XIV ANNUAL DUES
Every member shall pay to the Treasurer of the Asso- ciation such annual dues as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, not exceeding however, $25.00 per annum.
XV DUES, FINES AND PENALTIES
All fines or annual dues imposed by the Board of Directors shall be paid to the Treasurer within thirty
[36]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
days after notice thereof by mail to the address of the person upon the books of the Association, and in case any person shall neglect to pay such fines or dues within such time or shall neglect for fifteen days after like notice by mail to pay any other indebtedness or to discharge any other pecuniary responsibility to the Association on proof of service of notice thereof, the certificate or certificates of said person may be for- feited to the Association by a majority vote of the Board of Directors to that effect, and said person shall then cease to be a member of the Association.
All forfeited certificates may be sold at such price as the Board of Directors shall determine, and persons purchasing such certificates shall, after election by the Board of Directors, receive notice of their election and that the certificate will be delivered on payment there- for, together with the annual dues and regular transfer fee.
The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the expenses thereof and all fines and dues, if any, of the person to whom the share belonged, shall be paid over to such person.
XVI PROCEDURE TO ENFORCE BY-LAWS AND RULES
If any member of the Association or any guest thereof, shall violate any by-laws, rules or regulations of the Association, or be guilty of any act or acts unbecom- ing a gentleman or prejudicial to the interest or prop- erty of the Association, at any time, a complaint thereof setting forth with particularity the facts may
[ 37 ] -
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
be laid before the Board of Directors by any member of the Association.
A copy of the complaint shall be served upon the per- son complained of or who introduced the guest whose conduct is complained of, either by delivering the same to him personally or by mailing the same to him pursu- ant to the by-laws. Such complaint shall be investi- gated by the Board of Directors at their next regular or special meeting, occurring at least five days after ser- vice of a copy of the complaint is made as aforesaid. Such person shall be entitled to submit a written de- fense and he may be heard thereon. Upon the com- plaint being declared proved by the vote of seven directors, such guest, if the complaint be concerning a guest, may be excluded from the grounds of the Asso- ciation thereafter, and such fines may be imposed on the person who introduced him, as would have been imposed on such person had he been guilty of the act complained of; or, if the complaint be against a mem- ber, such fines and penalties shall be imposed on him as shall have been declared by the Board of Directors to be the penalty for the offense.
In case by a vote of seven directors the conduct of such member shall be deemed to deserve suspension or ex- pulsion, a resolution to that effect may be passed and executed.
Meetings under this by-law may be adjourned from time to time, as a majority of the directors may de- termine.
[ 38 ]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
XVII REMOVAL OF PROPERTY-SALE OF CER- TIFICATE UPON EXPULSION
If any member owning property on the grounds of the Association, or more than one share of stock, be ex- pelled from the Association by reason of his infraction of its rules, regulations or by-laws, such person shall, within six months from the date of his expulsion, sell such property and shares (all but one share, which may be forfeited to the Association), to any member of the Association, or to any person whose election as a member has been secured; or such person shall within like time remove his property from the grounds of the Association, and in case he does not, within the time limited, make such sale or remove such property, such property and shares may be sold at auction by the direction of the Board of Directors at such time and place, and in such manner as they shall appoint. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the expenses thereof, and all fines and dues, if any, of the person to whom the property or shares belonged, shall be paid over to such person.
XVIII NOTICES
All notices provided for by the by-laws, rules or regu- lations of this Association, to be given to members, directors or others, may be given through the mails, directed to the post office address furnished as herein provided by the person to be notified. It shall be the duty of each member at the time of joining the Asso- ciation, to furnish the Clerk with a post office address to which such notices may be sent, and to thereafter
[ 39 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
promptly inform him of any change of address. The Clerk shall keep a list of such addresses, and notices mailed to any person directed to the last address so furnished by him shall be valid and effectual for all purposes.
XIX STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
There shall be an annual meeting of stockholders for the election of a Board of Directors, and the transac- tion of any business which may lawfully come before them, to be held on the second Tuesday of July in each year, at the Club House of the Association in Pike County. The attendance either in person or by proxy of eight stockholders shall constitute a quorum at all regular and special meetings except where otherwise provided by law. Each share of stock shall be entitled to one vote, to be cast by the person in whose name the same shall stand upon the books of the Associa- tion, or by any person holding the written proxy of such stockholder. Any stockholder, or his representa- tive by proxy, may cast the whole number of his votes for one candidate, or distribute them among two or more candidates as he may prefer. Such election shall be held under the supervision of two inspectors, who shall not be officers or directors of the Association, and shall be annually appointed by the Board of Directors. Before entering on the duties of their appointment such inspectors shall take and subscribe the oath re- quired by law. All such elections shall be by ballot, and the person or persons having the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected. The President and Clerk of the Association shall respectively act as President and Clerk of all Stockholders' meetings.
[ 40 ]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the President or Clerk at any time, and it shall be the duty of either or such officers to call such meetings upon the written request of any three stockholders. Notice of the time and place of such meetings, and of the mat- ters to be brought before the same, shall be mailed to each stockholder, at least five days before the time fixed for the meetings.
Notice of the time and place of the annual meeting shall be printed in one or more newspapers published in Pike County, at least once a week for two weeks successively prior to the date fixed for such meeting.
XX
SEAL
The seal of the Association shall be circular in form, and shall have engraved in a circle thereon the name of the Association, with a device in the center showing to the right and left sloping banks with growing trees and bushes; between them the waters of a lake; a sportsman on the left bank in the act of firing at a bird flying in the upper right hand side and on the upper left hand side clouds.
XXI
ALTERATIONS OF BY-LAWS
These by-laws may be altered, repealed, or new by-laws made by the stockholders at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called as herein provided.
Besides the changes in the by-laws relating to dues and initiation fees which are noted in another chap-
[ 41 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
ter, there have been a number of revisions since 1885, the most important being as follows: In 1889 the stated meetings of the Board were changed to read "third Tuesday" instead of "third Monday" in No- vember, February, May and August; the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum was changed from seven to five; the Landscape Engineer added to regular officers; and the date of the Stock- holders' meeting was changed to the second Tuesday in October instead of July.
In 1907 the duties of the Standing Committees were set forth in detail under separate articles and Membership and Entertainment Committees were added, and a Nominating Committee, appointed in August of each year, for the purpose of nominating directors to be balloted upon at the annual Stock- holders' meeting, was created.
In 1920 the following changes in the by-laws were made: The Board was divided into three classes; two classes of four members each to serve one and two years respectively and one class of five members to serve three years: The stated meetings were changed to the third Friday in February, May, August and November: The Annual Meeting was changed to the second Saturday of October for the year 1920 and thereafter to the third Friday of August: Provi- sion was made that thirty-five members constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting: A Finance Commit- tee was added to the Standing Committees: A rule was adopted that no boat propelled otherwise than
[ 42 ]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
by oars, paddles or sails shall be allowed on the lakes of the Club: It was enacted that an applicant for regular membership shall have been an Associate member for at least one year, and that any person of good moral character shall be eligible for member- ship. The last amendment allowed women to be- come members and the old paragraph relating to the rights of a widow or next of kin was omitted as un- necessary.
In 1923 the stated meetings of the Board were again changed to the third Friday of February, May, August and October.
The most recent by-laws which were published in 1926 are substantially those of 1920.
From 1926 to the present time there has been but one amendment. Article XXII formerly read as follows: "The playing of games, shooting or fishing on Sunday is prohibited." This was amended to read: "Shooting and fishing on Sundays is prohibited. The playing of games on Sundays is prohibited, other than the games of golf and tennis which games may be played on Sundays between the hours of two and seven o'clock p.m." This amendment was adopted at a Special Stockholders' Meeting on July 18th, 1931.
The earliest recorded meeting of the Directors of the Association was held on August 7th, 1882, at New York, at the residence of Doctor Alexander Hadden, for the purpose of perfecting the organiza- tion, the election of regular officers and the ap-
[ 43 ]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
pointing of Committees for managing the various activities of the Association.
The following officers were elected:
President: Dr. Alexander Hadden. Vice President: Mr. Edward G. Black.
Clerk: Dr. J. V. S. Wooley.
Treasurer: Mr. Robert Betty. Counsel: Mr. J. H. Van Etten.
The following standing committees were formed to hold office for the ensuing year. Viz .:
1. A committee on Buildings and Grounds.
2. A committee on Forestry.
3. A committee on Game.
4. A committee on Fish.
5. A committee on Membership.
Each committee consisted of three members ap- pointed by the President, the President to be ex- officio a member of each committee.
The President, Vice-President, the Clerk and the Treasurer constituted a Committee on Membership. At this meeting a superintendent of the property of the Association was engaged in the person of Mr. John M. Williamson at a salary of not more than forty dollars a month dating from August 1st, 1882, with an allowance of fifty dollars for services ren- dered prior to that date. An authorization was also given to expend twenty-five dollars for repairing the
[ 4 ]
STONE WALL AND GATE, ROAD TO MAST HOPE
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
road running from the grounds to the village of Mast Hope. One can well imagine how inadequate this small sum must have been to repair the Mast Hope road of fifty years ago.
In the fall of 1882, several months after Camp Williamson was erected, the Directors decided to build a club house and to set aside sixteen acres of land to be enclosed and known as the Club House Site.
About the same time, Mr. Edward G. Black was inspired to build a cottage for his own use, and, hav- ing elected to build within the proposed club house enclosure, he was allowed by the Directors to pro- ceed with his plans with the understanding that plots be set aside outside the enclosure for any prospective future builders; and at a Directors' meeting on No- vember 20th, a resolution was passed to the effect that a proper license be executed to Mr. Black for the erection of a cottage on the Association grounds. Mr. Black's cottage in May 1890 became the property of Charles R. Gregor and is now owned and occu- pied by his son, Charles S. MacGregor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.