Page 180

 
180 
                               PASTIMES and ACTIVITIES 
          Life was not all scratching for a livelihood in those early 
     days. They enjoyed an occasional relaxation period. However, it 
     was not spent listening to a radio or watching television, nor even
     listening to a talking machine. These inventions were unknown at 
     that time.  In those days people participated. 
          The Grignon Gun Club for instance. This was and still is a 
     closed corporati~on of 12 shares. Earl Calhoon is the current Presi-
     .dent (1974). The club was first ofgnfii .'n 1890 or 95. Members 
     were local village trigger-happy enthusiasts. Duck hunting was their
     specialty.  In December of 1915 newly elected officers were President,
     W.W1 Noble; secretary, F.W. Stanley; treasurer, E. Gensch; trustee,
     George Clark. The club voted to build a large screetled-in p'ih for
     their club house for use during the summer months. Other members 
     at one time or another were E.D. Calhoon, H.B. Patch, JohnSheerar, 
     Leon Shelp, A.J. Marble, Fred Charlesworth, GCorge Stea-ns, u     oll(pJfa
          The club house is located about 31 miles down the Fox river 
     from Omro on the west bank and across from what now is the settle- 
     ment of Rivermoor. At Rivermoor was located the former early trading
     post of Robert Grignon. The Grignon family burying grounds are locat-
     ed near Rivermoor which undoubtedly influenced the choice in the 
     naming of the club. The Gun Club tract contains 106 or so acres of 
     mostly marshland. It is located in the townmship   of Viinneconne, with
     a small portion in the town of Omro. 
          Omro Rifle and Pistol Club was in existence during the 1930s. 
     Club meetings were noted in the local paper.(,.H~i/ii/ 3Y) J       2
          Card Clubs of all kinds were popular pastimes. Meetings were 
     held either afternoons or evenings.   Games played were Bridge, 500,
     Sheephead or Schafskopf, Flinch, Smear, Bunco, Rook, Whist--you 
     name it. The clubs went by various names, supposedly one was the 0'%
     Tuesday Bridge Club; ,it met onThursday! 
          To belong to a club must have been the "in" thing, for
1933 
     was blessed with them. Alphabetically they were: 
          Bide-A-While club; Get-taGether card club; Laf-A-Lot bridge 
Wu  club; Leisure Hour Club; Merry-Go-Round club; Mysterious Birthday 
     club; apparently there were all kinds. To continue there was the 
     Pinochle club; Pleasure club; Priscilla Bridge club; Smile-A-W\qhile
     500 club; SunshineClub which is still functioning. There was the 
     Teachers Bridge club; T.O.U. bridge club; Tuesday P.M. Bridge club;
     Widow's club; T and T club, and at the end of the year, 1935, 
     naturally, a Depression club L   Poker?  at least no newspaper clip-
     ping mentioned it. But--there was gambling in the village?     Shades
     of Caesar i--Apparently. An incident of such goings-on of many years
     ago is supposed to have happened. A young Attorney liked to indulge
     in the pastime.   One time in the back room of one of the local 
     business places 24 were arrested for gambling I However, it was never
     aired in public--believe it, an Attorney is of help on occasions. 
     That was one. 
     Chatauquas were held during the summers for a number of years. 
A huge tent was erected in the athletic field east of the High School, 
now Middle. Usually there would be matinees and evening programs