This being the 100th Anniversary of Phoenixville Country Club, a few of us were spurred to dig deeper into understanding the history, architectural and otherwise, of the club. As such, we reached out to the club, to the local historical society, to old newspapers, and to a specific older member.
While we do not yet have the evidence in hand, I'm really pleased to state that we're virtually certain that Hugh Wilson was indeed the architect of the nine hole Phoenixville course.
A bit of history first...
Phoenixville Country Club was the outgrowth of Phoenixville Golf Club, which was founded in 1900 by members of the Phoenixville Bridge Co, and the first President was Samuel Whitaker, a prominent state politician who lived in town. There were about 40 members and they played on farmland leased from A.W. Kley, a well-known baker who had a shop on Bridge Street, the former course having been on land which is today the site of the Schuylkill Elementary School.
In early April 1915 it was reported that Kley wanted the club to vacate as he wished to utilize the land for real estate but it was also reported that "A Committee of the Club have therefore been looking for available location for some time and this morning they decided to purchase the farm of Samuel Britton..." who had given them an option on 56 acres.
Moving swiftly, it was determined to hold a meeting to generate interest (and membership) in solidifying this purchase as well as proposing the establishment of a "Country Club" because "Almost every town the size of Phoenixville supports a country club and in a very short time it becomes an indispensable feature of the social life of the community." ..."A well managed country club with its attendant golf links and tennis courts, means not only healthy enjoyment to the many who play, but it would raise the tone of what is sometimes considered by those who do not know us, a dull manufacturing town."
At that final meeting of the "Phoenixville Golf Club" on 5/2/1915, it was announced that a committee composed of Federal Judge J. Whitaker Thompson and Samuel A. Whitaker had prepared a charter for the new Country Club which was read and accepted. A Capitalization plan was presented and a Board structure were announced and it was determined that the club would be a dry one.
The "Golf Club" then adjourned and proceeded with the organization of the "Country Club". Hon. J. Whitaker Thompson was unanimously elected President and the following men were elected directors: - Samuel J. Reeves (who headed the Green Committee), Norman R. McLure, Joseph Byrne, Malcolm Farmer, Sumner Gowen, Clyde McCormack, Frank L. Moister, J. Clarence Parsons and Judge Thompson.
The article reporting on the meeting continues; "It was decided by the Club to take up the option on the Brittain farm, obtained by the committee from the Golf Club, and to complete the purchase. The course has already been laid out by a professional, and it is expected that it will be in fair condition to play on by next spring. All of those present last evening signed the charter for the Phoenixville Country Club, thereby becoming charter members of the new organization."
I would not read too much into the mention of a "professional" as discrediting Hugh Wilson because the newspaper reports were in the general news section on the front page and it certainly could simply be understood as someone who was expert in that field like Wilson. Furthermore, these guys were extremely frugal (re: cheap) and in reading the accounts it's difficult to imagine them paying someone for that service, especially in a town with a history of amateur architects. It was also several years before the club hired either a club pro or a superintendent.
The following year it was reported on 6/9/16 that "Brittain Farm becomes Golf Links" and states as follows; "The Greens Committee, with Samuel J. Reeves as chairman, have had all the interior fences removed, have cleared a large part of the farm of bushes, have cut down and blown out many trees and have sowed the fields with rye and grass seed. Hundreds of tons of stone have been picked, many members of the Club spending their Saturday afternoons at this work. Trees (sp) and greens have been graded out and sowed in grass."
A picnic was organized that month for the purposed of showing the members the progress. On 6/27/16 it was reported that the picnic was held and "During the afternoon the members and guests wandered over the course which, at some points, affords a marvelous view up and down the Schuylkill Valley. The Handicap Committee arranged a tournament for the golf-playing members and while the course is not yet in good condition, the match was much enjoyed by about thirty entrants."
More to follow...