DAVIDSON COUNTY SPORTSMAN’S CLUB, INC. HISTORY
Our Club was founded by Mr. C. J. Murphy, Felix K. Grasty, J. A. Kelly, O. C. White and Daniel Boone at the end of World War II in 1946. They were granted a Charter of Incorporation by the State of Tennessee on 1 July 1947 as a non-profit corporation to promote educational work in conservation of all of our natural resources, including the non-pollution of streams; conservation of wild life, fish, forests; timber, minerals and the soil; to organize, support and maintain game reserves, fishing lakes and other developments intended to develop and improve the wise use of the natural resources of the community; to provide suitable and properly equipped club houses in Nashville or other locations to be selected by the club to be used by the membership for their pleasure and entertainment and to furnish them a common meeting place; to purchase and own land for game preserves and conservation and to own dams and lakes for fish preserves.
To carry out these lofty purposes the Club first secured property at Cedar Creek Boat Dock and latter at the Nashville Airport. They became very active as one of the charter clubs in the Tennessee Conservation League. The T. C. L. is responsible for the creation of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission in 1949 and the birth of modern scientific as opposed to political management of wildlife. Club actives included hunting and fishing trips, wild game dinners and conservation education.
A number of factors combined to cause the members to look for a new location suitable for a clubhouse and high-power rifle range. On 31 October 1967, 53-1/2 acres located on Eaton’s Creek Road was purchased from the estate of Mr. J. D. Carrington. The members signing the 6 month note guaranteeing payment were: Mr. Jack Mitchell, President; A. B. Stone, Secretary/Treasurer; W. W. Gray; Fred S. Ramsay; W. H. Leitsinger; Jack P. White; Joe D. Baugus; James R. Gilliam; Logan Arnold; Harold H. Hillford; J. S. Hughes; M. L. Wakefield; Kenneth G. Womack; George W. Dawd, Sr.; Joe O’Neal; Robert A. Powell; Charles H. Welfel; D. A. Yarbough; and, Daniel Boone. The $10,000.00 purchase price included a bam and small four room frame residence, now both removed. Over the next thirteen years the club bought the driveway easement, laid culverts, ran water lines, built parking lots, impounded and stocked the pond, improved the existing rifle range and in 1980 built the 30' x 80' clubhouse. We have improved the facilities as time and money allowed: new concrete floor and roof for the firing line, additional parking, drainage culverts and extensive clubhouse remodeling.
Our Club continues to support the original mission statement of our founders. We have provided the use of our facilities for the numerous hunter safety classes taught by our members and T.S.S.A.A. awards banquets for high school shooters. We maintain club memberships in the Tennessee Shooting Sports Association, The Tennessee Conservation League and the National Rifle Association. We have made major contributions to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (over $5,000.00 so far) for reintroduction of wild free ranging elk to Tennessee, Hunters for the Hungry, National Wild Turkey Federation, T. W. R. A.’s new public rifle range and many other projects. But mostly, we continue to enjoy good fun, great food and lasting friendships!
