The Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club has been located in Upton for many years, but as the article below states, it was formed about twenty-five years before it found a home there. I couldn’t find the dates of these articles, but I think they were published in 1949.
Hopedale Gun Club Rents Fiske
Place, In Family 8 Generations
HOPEDALE – Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club in meeting last night voted to accept the generous offer of the Draper Corporation to rent the Fisk Mill property in East Upton and the directors were empowered to cooperate with the Draper Corp. in arranging the details.
The opportunity to procure permanent headquarters for the club is of great interest to the members, many of whom have been active in the organization since it was founded in 1923. At present the membership is 200
The Fisk Mill property includes a large barn constructed of hand-hewn lumber mortised, pinned and mitered. The large house, for eight generations the home of the Fisk family since 1700 was recently razed. There is a fine stream and mill pond on the property.
In all there are 136 acres on the place which was last occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gibbs. Mrs. Gibbs was a daughter of Chandler Fisk.
The club voted to accept as the official insignia the design worked out by Arthur LaRhette, which has been worn on the jackets of many members for the past few years. It is an Indian head with club monogram. Milford Daily News, November 16, ?
Hopedale Game Club to Incorporate
HOPEDALE – A busy meeting was held last night by the Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club. The usual monthly supper was omitted on account of the approaching holidays. Many matters came up for discussion and action. An amendment was proposed for action at the next meeting to appoint an investigating committee comprising two permanent members who will work with the sponsor of an applicant in checking up on all new applications submitted for membership.
An agreement is to be signed between the club and the Worcester Suburban Electric Co. for the purpose of extending power lines to the new clubhouse at Fisk mill which is to be renovated by Draper Corporation next spring for the club’s use.
The club will be incorporated and a committee, comprising Burleigh W. Lapworth, chairman, of Hopedale, C.W. Bouck of Milford and Nicholas A. Narducci, secretary, of Hopedale, will have papers drawn and filed in connection with incorporating the club. It was voted to stock Lake Nipmuc with $100 worth of trout in the spring. The largest number of applications in the history of the club was submitted for action, and the club voted to accept the entire lot of 59 new members. The club membership has reached a new high of 307. The next meeting will be held in the Community House, Jan. 17, preceded by a supper catered by the Couples Club of the Methodist Church, and followed by a motion picture program shown by Percy Orrell of Hopedale. Milford Daily News, December 21,?
While the article above states that the club was formed in 1953, the “Rents Fiske Place” article says it was started in 1923.
The Nipmuc Rod & Gun Club is at the center of this Google Earth view, taken August 24, 2013. Fiske Mill Pond is to the right of the club building and parking lot.
