A LOOK BACK IN IOCC HISTORY
Four local Shabbona men started dreaming over coffee at the Dream Lanes in Waterman of what turned into the Indian Oaks Country Club, in 1963. Information available states the first meeting with 11 people attending, was held at Waterman State Bank to further explore the general ideas. Mr. Hogan of the Golf Foundation of America was present to discuss the size of the undertaking and point out some of the potential pitfalls. He also attended another meeting held two weeks later. This meeting had 18 people present.
The program was underway following a series of several additional meetings and the election of a temporary board and officers. This board had a good response to the plan for selling shares limited to 200. The Articles of Incorporation were filed March 19, 1964.
The Everett Cutsinger farm located at Indian Trail and Preserve Road consisting of 79 rolling acres was determined to be the ideal site. At an organizational meeting held at the American Legion Hall in Shabbona on April 7, 1964 the first officers were elected:
Morry Peterson, President; Daniel Cliff, Vice President; Doug Robinson, Treasurer; Jim Herrmann, Secretary; and Directors: Lane Clapsaddle, Charles Wisted, and Dr. Larson for a three year term, Harland Olson and Marvin Colby for a two year term; and John Swanson and Gene Wrigley for a one year term.
Bids were sought for construction of the course with the contract being let to E. G. Locke of E. G. Locke and Associates of Bettendorf, Iowa at a figure of $35,000 for labor, parts, excavating, landscaping and seeding. A meeting held on August 4, 1964 voted approval for the start of construction.
60 shares of the 200 available were left on October 8, 1964 to sell. Plans were drawn for a 9-hole course, clubhouse – a two-story structure that was then the barn on the property- and a three-acre lake to serve as a water supply for greens and tees.
Utilizing donated labor and materials, the old barn was renovated for a clubhouse with pro shop, bar and restrooms. The course opened for play on June 19, 1965. Many of the traditions still are in effect today with the current membership at 350.
Area History
Indian Oaks Country Club is in historic Shabbona, Illinois. Shabbona is located in Southern DeKalb County in Northern Illinois, about halfway between Chicago & Rockford.
The Village of Shabbona Grove was organized in 1872. Shabbona Grove was a stage coach station on the busy Chicago Road Trail.
As growth of Shabbona Grove slowed down because of the new railroad to the North, the town moved to its present location. It was three miles north of “Shabbona Grove”, and the name changed to Shabbona. Chief Shabbona was a hero to the people in Northern Illinois. He was often called the “White Man’s Friend”.
Chief Shabbona
The information about Chief Shabbona that has lasted through the years makes him seem larger than life, but in truth he was a mighty leader. Some of the stories are just that – stories. There are several contradictions, but we know that he was real. We know that he was born about 1775. We know that history registered that Shabbona was granted land in Illinois, where he rode a pony to death, after being in the saddle for forty-eight hours, on his mission to warn settlers in Bureau county, as well as those along Indian Creek. His warnings averted many white settlers from annihilation in the massacre planned by Black Hawk.
History further tells us of his shabby treatment by the very whites he considered to be his friends, the neighbors whom he had befriended. And his last days have been documented by members of his own kin, now on a reservation in Kansas.
There is a monument of Chief Shabbona located in front of the Shabbona Elementary School which encourages the new generations to learn about him. The town of Shabbona also honors Shabbona and his tribe by naming the streets with Indian significance – Nokomis, Illini, Cherokee, Comanche, Pontiac, Navaho, Hiawatha, etc – preserving the Indian theme.
