HISTORY:

Original Club Site and Layout The club was formed in 1990 by a small group of people fromthe Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, and Sobieski area. The original idea was one of the members was going to put up a small pole building for a club site. Ron Hoffman had just closed the Stiles General Store and Gun Shop. He offered the site of the former store to the club. That became our first home.

There were several names for the club before the we settled on The Machickannee & Splinter Creek. One of which was Minneapolis & Eastern Grand Trunk. That was the original name for the now former CNW line from Oconto to Oconto Falls. The most interesting name came from a variation of the Green Bay & Western. Ron owned a GUN shop; Chic Hartert, another member owned a LIQUOR shop. We were kicking around calling the club the GBW&T (Guns, Booze, Women, & Trains). Needless to say we went with the Machickannee & Splinter Creek. The Machickanee forest is near by, and the Splinter Creek ran through the back yard. The club was faced with finding another home or fold up when the general store put up for sale. Chic Hartert offered the use of his old shop to the club.

This site has a colorful history. Chic had owned the Liqour shop and in later years a hobby store was added to the front of the store. Sadly it was gutted by fire. But out of the ashes came something good. Chic rebuilt and remodeled the inside of the building. Using the back half for his SN-3 layout. A meeting room and workshop were also added. The club was able to use the front of the building.