During the early 1900s there
existed the Cambria Country Club, whose clubhouse
still stands as Bethlehem Steel-owned Ye
Olde Country Club. The golf course covered
part or the area that is now Grandview Cemetery
across Millcreek Road to where Indiana, Geneva
and Hood Avenues are located. Although
the land and facilities were owned by the Cambria
Iron Company, the Club membership included the
business and civic leaders of the day. The
membership was limited to 300 wIth wives
included.
In
late 1920 or early 1921 the Cambria Iron Company
Informed the Club that its properties would be
required within the next two years and that
additional land, known as The Old Farms could be
made available for a new Club.
In
a meeting of the Board of Trustees on April 2,
1921 a new Club was formed and named Sunnehanna.
Henry
Rogers was engaged as architect for the new
clubhouse and the growth of Sunnehanna began. The
scheduled opening was for July 4, 1923 but this
was delayed until early August. It is interesting
to note that for the first major additions to the
clubhouse in the 1950s Mr. Rogers was again the
architect.
The
Club quickly became the center of the
communitys social life. As a result of the
new course, the game of golf enjoyed a period of
notable growth In the Greater Johnstown area.
Less
than 10 years from the opening of Sunnehanna, the
great depression of the 1930s had a strong
negative effect on the operations of the Club.
During a prolonged period of tight financial
operations, Sunnehanna was generously supported
through various services being provided by some
local businesses. Following World War II with
Bethlehem Steels mills going at full
throttle, Sunnehanna quickly established itself
as an outstanding country club for a community
the sIze of Johnstown.
Until
1974 the 147 acres of land incorporated in the
golf course was leased from the Bethlehem Steel
Corporation. The aquilinity of the property with
payment being spread over an extended period of
years was negotiated with Lewis Foy, a native of
Johnstown who was the Chairman of Bethlehem Steel
as that time.
Sunnehanna
is blessed with a magnificent setting nestled in
the hills of Western Pennsylvania. The setup is
unique in that the golf course meanders a full
360 degrees around the clubhouse. Setting on the
veranda provides one with a view as spectacular
as any to be found on this earth.
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