History:

Bath Rod and Gun Club was founded in 1886. The first president was Z. L. Parker. At that time meetings were held in the Brotherhood room of the Presbyterian Church. The Club was first known as Brotherhood Rod and Gun Club but the name was officially changed in 1915 to Bath Rod and Gun Club. For many years, meetings were held in the Bath town hall. Records show the Club raised pheasants and quail for release in the area, and bought large quantities of fish for release in Lake Salubria and the Conhocton River.

John White, a member of the Club, who owned a hardware store on Buel Street, donated the use of some rooms over his store to be used as club rooms and a new location for the meetings. Mr. White had a great interest in Conservation and latter became Club president,vice president of the Steuben County Conservation Club and in 1940 and 1941 president of the New York State Conservation Council, an organization with 600,000 sportsmen members. He went on to become New York State Conservation Commissioner with many notable achievements including starting the bureau of soil conservation and considerable research in fish and wildlife…unfortunately he died when only 43 years old. Governor Dewey ordered all flags in State be flown at half mast in John White's honor.