The excitement of the future after High School is high for Robert Anderson & Donald Reed, two Sparta High School Students. As they have lived in Sparta most of their lives, and been friends for a long time, both boys reflect on their years in Sparta growing up as graduation nears.

Coach VanHuizen may be the shop teacher in school, but on the Football Field, VanHuizen coaches the Sparta Football team. Sparta has taken the Kenowa League championship for the last 11 years. VanHuizen may be a winning coach, but as Don and Robert are well aware, he can be strict with the team. They hear that Coach VanHuizen will be retiring soon from coaching football at SHS, and wonder how long it will be until the next Championship Victory for the future Football teams.

The High School Building

The Old Red Brick High School, as Robert and Donald refer to their school sits on the corner of Union and Alma. The building holds a lot of memories for them including the popular superintendent Balyeat and “Fred”, the teacher from Agriculture Class.

A big part of growing up in Sparta for these 1947 graduates was stopping by Jacksons Blacksmith Shop. Any kid who walked around with the metal horse shoe nail that had been pounded into a circle to wear as a ring had recently been to Jacksons Blacksmith Shop. Phoebe’s Candy Store also holds many memories for the graduating class as a popular place to hang out.

Sparta Hunting & Fishing Club reforms around 1948

As the North Kent Rod & Gun Club dissolved shortly after WWII, Don & Robert hear about the club restarting again in 1949. The club meets in the Police Station and will continue to do so until the new Bank Building is constructed. The club owns the property on W. Division (where current day Toro Distributors is located). The club is talking about selling this property and will begin looking for new property. It’s heard that Mrs. Bebe may be interested in selling her property in Sparta Township to the club. Current members of the club include upstanding citizens in the Sparta area such as Dave Johnson, the current Village President, Clare Finch, Chuck Saur, and Donald & Robert.

The Korean War in 1951

After returning from the war, Donald is planning to work for Spartan Extrusion Tool & Die. The pay is $1.05 per hour which will bring in an honest living even if it may be hard to feed a family each month. Robert is looking forward to moving to Grand Rapids after the war and working for the Kent County Treasurer.

As 1953 comes, the club of 19 people will be going to the bank to sign personal notes to purchase the property. Each one of the 19 members know the personal stake of purchasing the Hunting & Fishing Club property but believe that membership will grow and prosper throughout the years.

Building a Club House in 1954

This year, the club which consists of 20 members will be building a pole barn to store equipment and eventually a new club house. The club is starting with 1 trap field and continues to clear property for the club. Laurence Bodell is building a running deer target that runs back and forth through bicycles that are upside down and tied with ropes. When it’s finished, the target will look like the deer is galloping. People from miles around are coming to check out his deer target contraption.

The Future for the club

The club will eventually grow to the strong size of 329 members that will enjoy the 79.5 acre land. The club will look forward to BBQ chicken & Ribs dinners, picnics, and reunions on the property, as well as involving the Kent City and Sparta School kids in educational programs. The Club will become well known as a family club with extensive archery courses with 3-D targets, woods walk, clay tours and trap fields. The heart of a few men who took out personal bank notes to invest in a project they believed in has grown to benefit hundreds of nature loving residents throughout the area.

The full interview of Robert Anderson and Donald Reed will be available on DVD through the Sparta Township Historical Commission in Sparta Township Offices.