The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-07-07
WILL. THRASH
OUT COUNTRY
CLUB TOPIC
Warm Meeting OF Members
Planned For Next tuesday
Over Proposed Sale.

UEGi lupu0Cu GuiUs
There promises to be hot session
Of the members Of the Hammond
Country club at the club house ne1s
Tuesday evening at which the member
ship VIII make an erort TO protect
it's right under lease from the Ham
mond Country Club association from
forfeiture as result Of the prospec.
that the country club grounds Will be
sold to the Cook County Forest Pre-
serve.
When the Hammond Country CLUB
was organized the land was purchased
for $3.50 an acre by what il known as
the Hammond Country Club associs-
tion. This association comprised thir-
ty membe who. from motives Of civic
pride, each put up 100000 with which
the country club grounds were pur-
chased from the H. 6. Chase estate.
Then instead Of organizing the club
on the basis OF the membership owning
the land so that the Increment would
go to the membership and enhance its
value; the original thirty built the club
house and leased it to another organi-
zation. entirely separate from the hrst.
known as the Hammond Country club.
Give Twenty Year Lease.
The club membership demanded that
Il be secure in its rights for rea-
sonable period OF time and accordingly
a twenty year lease was executed with
the Country Club association as the
lessor and the Hammond Country club
as the lessee. This was ten or more
years ago.
IN the meantime during the war
period. the interest in the Hammond
Country club waned the ground rental
remained unpaid. bills piled UP and the
club was threatened with insolvency
In this emergency B. J. Steelman was
elected president
With characteristic vigor he set
about to get the club out of debt. Pub
lic-spirited citizens were appealed 20
from the standpoint OF civic pride and
were asked TO make liberal donations
so that the club could pay its debts
and be saved as a priceless civic as
set.
When Steelnan had finished with the
Job the balance due for rent had been
compromised and paid. every dollar OF
Indebtedness had been paid off and the
credit OF the club had been restored
1t then took a new lease on life.
Interest Greatest Ever.
This year the support of the CLUB
has been enthusiastic. Record crowds
have thronged the links. The admin
istrations that succeeded Steeiman
have followed his policy of keeping the
club debts paid.
There is. however. some question as
to the true status of the lease Now
that the Hammond County Club asso-
citation has given the Cook County
Forest Preserve an option TO purchase
the club grounds, the membership nat
urally desires to know to what extent
their rights under the lease have been
safeguarded.
one story is TO the effect that at the
time the club compromised with the
association in the payment OF back
rent that the lease was terminated and
that the club has been going on since
that time on year to year lease.
If this is the case and membership
in the club IS but year TO year propo-
ton. the next question that arises IS
what right has the club TO accept initi-
q
: dozen new members recently. when
the rights of the club under that lease
may be terminated at the pleasure OF
the association?
And if the recently paid initiation
fees were to DC refunded. what about
the scores of n mbers who have not
only paid initiation fees when the club
was organized but who have paid their
dues for months at a time when there
was no activity at the club and they
got nothing for their money?
Club Pays Carrying Charges.
AS things now stand the Hammond
Country Club association has made
deal with the Hammond Country cluo
by which its investment in land ha
been carried for ten years by the club
members looking forward TO the time
when the members OF the association
could get out from under at q hand
some profit TO themselves
The civic aspects Of the situation
iwindle into insignihgance in the face
of the opportunity Of the members Of
The association 10 sell It is stated
hat year or two ago the members
# the association would have beer
wiling 10 take par for their stock or
1000 for each one thirtieth interest.
on the basis Of the present deal It is
understood they are to get $4,000 TO
5000 for each share
The object Of the meeting Tuesdav
: to learn The facts and take steps.
IS legal action if necessary. 10 rro.
ect the interests Of the club
"