Club History

The Beginning

In the year 1903, several professional men and business executives from the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA formed and organization called the McFarland Club. Once each year, these men would board a train in Pittsburgh for ‘parts unknown’ in Canada to relax and to enjoy fishing and companionship.

In 1906, Frank Klump, Joe Meade, Sam Grenett, Jacob Soffel and a number of others made plans for a new Club. Soon arrangements were made with the Canadian Government to purchase Duquesne Island and three smaller islands now known as Cocky Robbin, Wasson and Taft located in the Parry Sound, near modern day Britt, Ontario.

The original Duquesne Hunting and Fishing Club was officially chartered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 10, 1908. In addition, In 1931, Certificates of Ownership under the Land Titles Act of Ontario were issued as follows transferring ownership of each of these four islands from four individuals to ‘Duquesne Hunting and Fishing Club, a corporation of the State of Pennsylvania, City of Pittsburgh.’

Construction and Growth

The original Clubhouse construction was started in May of 1906 by Club member Mr Frank Klump who had agreed to supervise the building of this project to its completion. Most of the wood used was cut from timber from the local region. One of the near-by islands was the site of a substantial steam-powered sawmill operation for a number of years.

Over the years, many improvement projects were undertaken. These included purchasing club boats, building an icehouse, tool shed, purchasing generators for electric, modern indoor plumbing, a mess hall and full kitchen, refrigeration and cooking equipment, installation of walks, beds, club reading areas, and furniture to name a few. To some members, the most important improvements include the cocktail area and custom bar and coolers. Rumor has it that the Club has been referred to as “a fishing club with a drinking problem,” however many members would contest and say that Duquesne is a “drinking club with a fishing problem.”

The Fire and The Rebuild

After more than a century, the saddest day for the club came on the night of June 25, 2008 and into that next morning. As was written in the June 27, 2008 issue of Parry Sound’s Beacon Star Newspaper, who reported the loss of the clubhouse to fire the night of June 25 and morning of June 26. The cause of the fire was reported to have been a faulty propane refrigerator.

Membership

Over the years, our memberhip has expanded georgraphically across the USA representing the following states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Vermont, to name a few. Since the beginning, our membership base has evolved from one of relative wealth to one for regular business and professional people, with many spanning multiple family generations.

The Club is made up of approximately 80 members and is lead by the Club President and Board of Directors. Primary Committees include House, Membership, Finance and Endowment, all chaired by a Board Member, but open for members-at-large to serve on these committees.