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 Riverview Country
Club was founded in 1898, just ten years after the game
of golf
came to America from Scotland. It began with a five-hole
course which was expanded to nine holes in 1899. The
development of Riverview has been consistent with the original
intent that it be a "family" club thereby retaining much
of its early charm. The Club is the oldest in the state
and is dedicated to preserving the unique character that
has developed for the past three-quarters of a century. This
tradition is fostered by its families, who are members, whether
for a short time or for several generations.
One hundred years ago, armed with a scythe,
tin cans and a mashie, four young friends gathered on a bluff
overlooking the Fox River and played the first game of golf
in Appleton.
One of the young men, John Stevens, had been introduced to
golf during a visit to Milwaukee. Golf was new to the
United States - having come to New York from Scotland only
ten years before. Mr. Stevens was immediately taken
with the sport. On August 24, 1898, he and his friend,
Howard Reeve, gathered a group of sportsmen together at Foster's
Drug Store, at the corner of College and Oneida in downtown
Appleton. At this meeting they formed the Appleton
Golf Club. Membership dues were set at $10 for men
and $5 for ladies.
When a total of 40 members had been reached, formal organization
of the club followed with A.L. Smith named President, John
Stevens, Secretary, and Paul Cary, Treasurer. Members
of the Executive and Membership committees included H.G.
Freeman, George Peabody. Howard Reeve, H. Pearson and G.W.
Jones.
 In
September, 1898, the name of the club was changed from Appleton
Golf Club to its present name of Riverview Country Club.
Riverview has been located on that same bluff overlooking
the Fox River throughout its existence. Initially,
the grounds were rented from the farmer who owned the land,
Mr. Seymour, for $35.00 per year. The grounds, approximately
120 acres, were bounded by Oneida Street, Seymour Street
and Cherry Street (now Memorial Drive) and the Fox River.
In 1906, several members contributed $1,000 each and acquired
the property. These men, George Peabody, Bertin Ramsey,
John McNaughton, Captain N.M. Edwards, John Van Nortwick,
M.A. Wertheimer and G.W. Jones, held the mortgage until 1916
when Riverview Country Club became incorporated and purchased
the property from them.
From 1924 to 1957, the land owned by Riverview was reduced
as the city's needs for improved bridge access on Memorial
Drive and Oneida Street resulted in property being deeded
to the city.
The transfer of property for the relocation of Oneida Street
bridge eliminated the driving range and caused the reconfiguration
of the golf course. Because it left a triangle
of property unusable for the golf course, this property was
sold for condominium development. At the same
time a strip of nonessential land along the north side of
hole #7 was sold for homes. Other transfers of land
for residential development occurred in the early depression
years, when lots on Seymour Street, Memorial Drive, Riverview
Lane and River Road were sold to members to meet club obligations.
 Riverview
was formed to provide recreational activities for its members,
and it grew to include not only a golf course, but a tennis
court for a period of time and a swimming pool from 1960
to present.
It also grew from a golf club into a social club, hosting
important events in its members lives, and providing the
setting for social interaction.
From the start, Riverview has been a "family" club and much
of its present charm is due to the continued adherence to
this ideal.
A statement of policy adopted in the early
'50's stated the Riverview:
- shall continue its operation at the
present location
- be content with a nine hole course
- be satisfied that any major additions
to the clubhouse facilities be located in the vicinity
of the present clubhouse
- be convinced that improvements must be
such as will foster our family club
- be vigilant that the unique character of Riverview be
preserved
This statement serves us well today as it
did back then.
Riverview has been
fortunate to have strong leadership and excellent staff
personnel throughout its history,
but, it is the members themselves - the hundreds of families
that live in our community, for only a short time or for
generations, that have made Riverview what it is today. A
country club that is located in the middle of a fine city,
a country club that is dedicated to the wholesome recreation
of the entire family, a country club that means warmth and
friendliness to young and old alike.
History of the ClubHouse
The founders of Riverview
were a hardy group who initially thought a clubhouse wasn't
necessary. After
all, the golf course was only a ten minute walk from the
center of the city! Work, however, was begun in September
on a small caddie house. The building was 12 by 20
feet in size and had a 10 foot piazza on the front end of
the building. It cost $120 and was located near the
site of the current number 2 tee. In 1900, the caddie
house was moved west to the bluff above the number 1 Canal
Lock overlooking the river. (Close to the current clubhouse
location.) A small clubhouse was built next to it,
and in 1903 replaced by a second clubhouse to accommodate
the social life that was beginning to develop around the
golfing activities.
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Postcard
from RCC. Dated 8/20/1914 |
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In October 1907, the Executive Committee
approved a $650 addition to the clubhouse, which included a
hall, stairway, cloak room,
pantry, kitchen and serving room. This arrangement left
the original clubhouse at approximately 34 by 32 feet free
for dancing and dining purposes. Several more small additions
took place up until 1922.
In 1922, a third
clubhouse was built on the site of the second. This clubhouse was built
for a cost of about $25,000, raised entirely by subscriptions
of members. J.C. Kimberly was President at the time
and T.W. Orbison helped with the construction supervision. The
building contained a spacious ballroom, a dining room which
seated 200 people, a lounging room, ladies quarters, a
large kitchen and a splendid screened porch. The
neighboring caddie house was also enlarged and equipped
with lockers and shower facilities.
In 1958 , an
addition was made to the clubhouse. A social room,
named River Room, plus mens' and ladies locker rooms,
a new entrance hall and lounge facilities were added. Two
years later, the club by-laws, which strictly forbade
alcoholic beverages in the clubhouse, were changed and
a bar was constructed in the River Room, eliminating
the necessity of members "bringing
their own bottle" for social affairs.
After the River
Room was finished, members began working toward the construction
of a swimming
pool for entire families to use. This was opened
in 1960.
In 1965, a
portion of the clubhouse, the dining room, lounge and
the kitchen were winterized
enabling the Club to stay open for its first New Year's
Party. In 1970, air conditioning was installed in
the River Room and dining room, and, in 1973, Riverview
became a year-round club, except for January when it was
closed for maintenance; a tradition that continues today.
In June, 1991,
tragedy struck the club when an arson fire destroyed
a major portion of the
clubhouse. Following a series of meetings, the members
voted to raze the burned out clubhouse and the old pro
shop, a portion of which was the original clubhouse, and
build a new clubhouse. The new clubhouse was
designed to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere and
includes a pro shop, clubroom, dining room, meeting rooms,
offices, a loft, a beautiful entrance hall, a large kitchen,
locker room facilities for men and women, a deck and a
beautiful screened porch that takes full advantage of the
view of the Fox River.
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