Echoes From The Attic and Poems, OAK KNOLL, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Jan. 2001 Typed by Belford Carver Written by by Edna F. Campbell Copyrighted by Edna F. Campbell With special thanks to her family for permission to use her works. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ IN HAMMOND OAK KNOLL COUNTRY CLUB HAS EARLY BEGINNING Oak Knoll Country Club in a setting of moss-draped oaks had its early beginning in 1921. The location is about four miles east of Hammond on highway 190. A quarter of a mile turn frm the main highway leads to the spacious wooden structure, basking in a rustic setting. The club began under the name of Hammond Country Club Development Company in March, 1921, organized by Col. James H. Corbett, a retired business man and Hammond citizen. First officers were Col. Corbett, president; Frederick W. Reimers, vice- president; and William H. Carter, secretary-treasurer. Among the original subscribers were Messrs. W. H. Nalty, H. P. Mitchell, James M. Fourmy, W. M. Mitchell, M. B. Wright Sr., R. D. Fellows, L. D. Nalty, B. M. Harvard, and John E. Guess, Sr. In November 1921, the organization purchased 129 acres of land from Col. Corbett, and appointed Harry Turpie of New Orleans, a professional golfer, to design the golf course. He constructed a number of the greens and Everett Spraker supervised the reminder of the nine greens. A change was made in 1922, when the original club sold its property to the Hammond Country Club which was organized in July 1922. These officers were Corbett, president; V. A. Stibolt, and C. D. Summy vice-president(s); W. H. Carter, secretary, and J. H. Richard, treasurer. There were 36 charter members, most of whom had been charter members of the original group. It was in 1923, the club house was built by Albert Tolle, a local contractor. It consisted of a ballroom, kitchen, ladies power room and three porches. It was the mecca for social life. To attract the young membership a lighted tennis court for recreation was added. In 1945, the club was greatly revived when Oak Knoll Country Club was organized. The Hammond Golf Club, a separate corporation rented its property to the new club. Oak Knoll which began with a membership of 100 in 1945, now has gone well over the 350 mark. Among the improvements were a wading pool, a swimming pool, men and womenís locker room, ladies power room, enclosed porches, barbecue pit, and caddy house. Other improvements include interior decorating, complete air conditioning of main club areas, sprinkler system in main club house and caddy house, remodeled entrance carport; modernization and relocation of ladies powder room near ballroom entrance and conversion of tenant house to a storage room. Rebuilding of all tees and most of the greens, a practice range and driving range have been added to the golf course. Oak Knoll presidents are listed with Harold A. Forbes, E. A. Herring, Sr., Winston Bradley, Ford M. Graham. A. F. Thompson, H. D. Himel Jr., W. S. Morrison, Edward Amar, W. J. Hugo, Clifford Webb, W. L. Billups, Charles E. McConnell, Harry H. Starnes and Frank Cazanove. Frank Cazanove is the current president. (From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, III, 1968, by Edna Campbell) (Note: The presidency typically changes yearly. Some additional presidents have been Jack Hite, Dickie Lamp, Dr. Sam White, William "Bill" Milburn, and today, the first woman president, is Mrs. Rosalie Tubre. The Tubre's own Crest Meats. Present membership is approximately 500 according to Bill Milburn, long time member. The General Manager is Don Baker. Mr. Milburn further stated that one of the big improvements both from a membership and financial standpoint was the opening of Oak Knoll Estates nearby which has golf cart access to the club, with guaranteed consideration for membership even if the membership is frozen by virture of a membership cap. BEC 1/11/01)