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Our History

                            

"This is without doubt the acme of perfection as regards scenery, no finer could scarcly exist anywhere... 

Our feeble pen can give no semblence of an idea as to the beauty of this scene; appreciation can only be attained by seeing it for oneself." 

J. P. Munroe Fraser, Historian, 1870's,
upon seeing Green Valley...     

  
                                                                                                                          
              
 
  IT ALL BEGAN IN 1949...

  In the Spring of 1949, a group of families gathered to explore the possibility of a family club.  Among them were the O'Donnel's,  
  Willcocks', Mullen's, Petrich's, Chappel's, Coons', Herbert's, Reimers', Kingsbury's, Paul O'Hara's, Kenney's, Wichel's, and "one or
  two" other families.

  These adventuresome families purchased the 500 acre F. Sydney Jones ranch, then the world's largest cherry orchard and on
  March 6, 1950 the first General Membership meeting was held.  The summer months of 1950 found the cherry orchard being
  transformed into a "family playground" that brought hundreds out every weekend.

  The first budget included a cost estimate of $110,000 for the golf course! Irwin Reimers took on the task of clearing cherry orchards,
  leveling land and preparing the property for the residential lots and for the golf course.  "It was some months before it became noticed
  that the original plan for a 9 hole golf course was being abandoned in favor of an 18 hole course."  Thank you Mr. Reimers for your
  bold foresight!

  Our Club's family roots began on day one.  Mrs. Witchel was asked to form a "Women's Division", the basis of today's very active
  women's groups.  Families formed committees to handle everything from saddling the horses to developing the "Little Red Theatre,"
  which now the site of our tennis courts.  The pool, the bath house and the modernization of the Mansion began.  Every Saturday night
  families met in the Mansion living rooms to dance to the lively music played by a small combo with a sexy little singer whose favorite
  number was "Squeeze Me"!  Large parties were served in the Mansion both upstairs and down. Times were good.

  Today, not much has changed.  We've added on to the buildings, renovated here and there; but the family foundation that made this
  a great Club still exists.  Members still jump in to help.  Families still come here to enjoy their leisure time.  And most importantly,
  weekends are still filled with good friends in a beautiful mansion enjoying snazzy tunes and a drink or two.