Our Story

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

      The Community Club of Dubois wasn’t always part of the town of Dubois. The town itself had very few organizations, if none. Most of these were organizations from surrounding towns. The town board of Dubois began talks on June 3rd, 1954 about creating a civics club for the community. This led to the formations of committees to hold discussion afterwards with various clubs from neighboring towns for advice and information. This would lead to another town meeting on August 3rd 1954. At this meeting, it was decided that instead of a national club organization, the town would form a new local club. This club would be called Dubois Community Club, and would be dedicated to community betterment.

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      During the first two months of existence, the club would garner 67 charter members. By the time 6 months had reached, it had jumped to 89. The first officers of the club were: Albert Schepers – President, Ralph Seger – Secretary, and Hilbert Kalb – Treasurer. The Board of Directors were: Ted Heeke – Chairman, Howard Lottes, Ralph Bar, Floyd DeKemper, and Odillo Beckman.

ESTABLISHING LAND, LAKE, AND COMMUNITY

      Not long after the club formed, a Lake Site Committee had formed due to the decision to purchase land in the Columbia Township. They would end up with a total of 40.84 acres of land, 11 which consisted of water, from various community members: 21.64 acres from George Friedman , 21.2 acres from Tony Rasche, and 17 acres from Arthur Ziegler. Dubois Community Club, Inc. was established, and the work could begin.

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      After beginning the construction on the dam to form the lake, it was decided that a recreation area would accompany it. This led to the newly established Shelter House Committee, whose task was to plan the building of a shelter house with an accompanying parking lot. Construction began September 23, 1957 with the pouring of the structure’s footings. They also stocked the pond with fish, planted more trees, and added picnic tables to bring the recreational area to life.

In 1956, the club’s Road Committee had worked on a road project for the town of Dubois. This led to the roads around the town greatly improving. In April of 1956, They also sponsored an appreciation banquet for the basketball team. 

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      By 1964, the club had expanded beyond what the original building could hold. To add the appropriate space for the new activities, an addition to the northwest corner that more than doubled the capacity and facilities was funded, costing nearly $20,000.00.This addition would be a 2 – story concrete block structure. It housed a meeting room, storage room, and restrooms in the basement with a ramp for access to the top and bottom floor. The upstairs would incorporate a new wooden floor to attach to the old concrete floor. 

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      In the spring of 1969, a concrete block shelter house, matching the building, was completed south of the main structure. There were also additions added around the club area such as steel ovens with concrete bases.  Finishing the first long build for the club’s recreational lake area.

In the summer of 1971, the upper parking lots to the east of the club were rocked, and the road around the lake was formed. This was able to be accomplished by the work of Knies Construction Company of Jasper, and several members with equipment.

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      Sadly, on March 6, 1972, due to uncontrollable circumstances, the Dubois Community Club, Inc. club was forced to disband.

CLOSE CALLS AND NEW HALLS

      Not long after disbanding, just 24 days, papers were again signed to established what it is known as of today, the Community Club of Dubois, Inc. All work and legal was finalized by the June 5, 1972 meeting and a new board was established to include: Gerald Terwiske – President, Dan Kluesner – Secretary, Dal Looney – Treasurer, and Directors Edwin Matheis and Larry Looney.

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      Expansions were planned intermediately in the summer of 1972, leading to a new north side that featured a measuring room, storage room, and bar, as well as a porch that would serve as the shooting range for shooting matches.  It also led to the purchase of an additional 50 acres of land from George Friedman in 1973, and the later selling of 29 of those acres. The 29 acres sold was converted to present day residential area. More alterations would be upgrading the shelter house to be more enclosed in 1974, a rifle range northeast of the club building, and a reconstructed road on the south-side of the lake to allow access to a new swimming area.

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      In the spring of 1978, the Community Club of Dubois set out on a project that would end up costing $130,493.00. The need of a Medical Building within the town of Dubois became apparent. The members came together to discuss, and by fall they had voted to begin the project. The Dubois Development Commission sold the Community Club of Dubois half the old high school property they purchased and cleared. The other half going to Thomas Gaylord for a new U.S. post office. On November 16 1978, a special meeting was held where bids were let and accepted for the building. The club would receive a 40 year loan from the Farmers Home Administration to help pay for $128,000.00 of the $130.493.00. The open house and dedication for the Medical and Dental clinic building was held on September 23, 1979.

A LITTLE SPONSORING GOES A LONG WAY

      Helping out the community has always been the main mission of the Community Club of Dubois. Not every project for helping out needs to be a giant project spanning years for new roads, buildings, or lights. Sometimes, helping out means donating to where it counts and sponsoring those who would seek to become greater.

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      The club has sponsored many in the past. This includes: the Ground Observer Corporation, the first Boy Scout troop of the town of Dubois,  a little league baseball program, a Christmas program, Halloween Party, All Sports Banquet, Boy’s State Representatives, and 4-H Queen Contest Representative. They also were the first to put up Christmas lights and continue to uphold that tradition to this day with the help of the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department, Ladies Auxiliary, and Dubois Ruritan.

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      Current era club contributions don’t just include the Christmas lights. The Community Club of Dubois also hosts the Halloween Parade along side the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department. The Community Club takes care of the costume and home decorating contest and party section of the events before the parade begins. Another sponsorship includes the yearly Sponsorship of a Karl E. Kelly camp kid.