All About Cheshire, CT: From "Honey Pot" to Cheshire Country Club
A Mid-Century Legacy: Research, Records, and "Suicide Alley"
The Pre-Game: A Tale of Two Clubs (1917 vs. 1929)
True history buffs know that "Cheshire Country Club" actually appeared in town records twice. Before the Honey Pot era, a separate venture was launched in July 1917 by Johnson L. Haile. Located near the New Haven-Waterbury trolley line (Route 70), it was a pioneering African American country club—one of the first in the nation—attracting members from as far as Washington, D.C.
However, the "Honey Pot" lineage we recognize today officially began on September 30, 1929.
The Atwater Corridor and the Red Clubhouse
In the spring of 1930, the club purchased an adjacent 1790s-era Federal-style house to serve as the clubhouse.
Post-War Boom: The $40,000 Hand-off
1947: Willard Atwater, a descendant of the original landowners, was hired as the club
professional.He is credited with bringing the neglected greens into "tip-top condition." 1950: The facility was sold to Fred DeLeon and Albert Victor for the then-princely sum of $40,000, covering the clubhouse and all facilities.
1951 (The Match of the Century): Over 150 fans gathered to watch Jimmy Nichols, the world-famous "one-armed pro." Nichols put on a clinic and played an 18-hole match. Teaming with Cable Starlings (the Cheshire Academy athletics coach), Nichols decisively defeated club pro Howard Peck and Waterbury amateur Stephen O’Brien.
1959: The Jaycee Tournament and "Suicide Alley"
By the late 50s, the course was officially the Cheshire Country Club. In 1959, it hosted the prestigious Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament.
This was a logistical nightmare where the 3rd, 4th, and 5th holes shared a single, narrow corridor of fairway. Navigating "The Alley" required golfers to shout warnings and duck for cover as Titleist's flew in three different directions simultaneously.
Deep Dive: The 1929 Founders and the Atwater Lineage
The creation of the Honey Pot Country Club wasn't just a business venture; it was a convergence of Cheshire’s oldest agrarian families and the rising professional class of the late 1920s. While the "Red Clubhouse" is the visible monument, the names behind the incorporation papers reveal the true engine of this mid-century legacy.
The Incorporators: September 30, 1929
While the full list of directors evolved over the 1930s, the primary figures involved in the club's early governance and the Atwater lease included:
George E. Atwater (The Landowner): The silent partner of the operation. A direct descendant of David Atwater (one of the original 1638 New Haven planters), George represented the 10th generation of Atwater's in the region. His decision to lease the "Town Farm Road" parcel was a pivot from the family's 200-year history of livestock "depots" to modern recreation.
The Board of Directors (Circa 1929-1935): In the early years, the club operated on a "membership-run" model. Before professional managers like Willard Atwater (hired in 1947) or Howard Peck took over, the following names were central to the club’s administration:
The Atwater Presence: Beyond George, the family’s reach was immense. Major Lyman Atwater had previously built the section of the Farmington Canal through Cheshire, and his descendants, including Mary Lyman Atwater (who founded Rosemary Hall), maintained a standard of civic leadership that the club board sought to emulate.
The Pro-Shop Shift: While the board initially handled the "business" of the greens, the post-war era saw a shift. By the time Fred DeLeon and Albert Victor purchased the club for $40,000 in 1950, the governance moved from a family-lease model to a private enterprise.
Historical Timeline: Names and Dates to Know
| Date | Person / Event | Detail |
| Oct 7, 1929 | George E. Atwater | Formally signs the 5-year lease for the first 35 acres on Town Farm Rd. |
| May 30, 1935 | 175 Members | The "Red Clubhouse" officially opens with a Memorial Day dance and tournament. |
| 1940 | Board of Directors | Officially drops the "Honey Pot" name in favor of Cheshire Country Club. |
| 1947 | Willard Atwater | Takes the reins as the resident Pro, marking the last major Atwater family role in club operations. |
| 1951 | Cable Starlings | The Cheshire Academy coach who famously teamed with one-armed pro Jimmy Nichols to win the exhibition match. |
| 1959 | Ron Butler | Wins the Jaycee Junior Tournament, navigating the "Suicide Alley" crossfire (Holes 3, 4, and 5). |
| 1972 | Closing Day | The final rounds are played before the land is sold for the Ives Hill development. |
The "Atwater Corridor" Context
To understand why this board was so significant, one must look at the geography. The Atwater family’s holdings were so vast that a two-mile stretch of State Street (then Fleet Street) was historically known as the "Atwater Corridor." Every house was an Atwater house. By placing the country club at 290 Country Club Road, the board was essentially creating a social anchor for this "family empire."
The 1790s Federal-style clubhouse itself was more than just a place for "post-game cocktails." It was a bridge between the 18th-century agricultural elite and the 20th-century suburbanites. Even after the sale to DeLeon and Victor in 1950, the "Red Clubhouse" remained the soul of the club until its closure in 1972.
History Buff's Tip: If you're looking for the original 1929 ledger, many of these local family records are preserved within the Cheshire Historical Society. The transition from "Town Farm Road" to "Country Club Road" remains the most permanent mark the original board left on the town map.
The Sunset: 1972 and the Ives Hill Transition
As Cheshire’s population grew—surging from 6,295 in 1950 to over 19,000 by the early 70s—the demand for housing outweighed the need for a nine-hole "hazard."
1972: The final official rounds were played, and the course ceased operations.
1974: Construction began on the Ives Hill Condominiums.
The developers cleverly retained the natural contours of the course. Today, residents at Ives Hill Court live on the very slopes where Willard Atwater once paced.
The Modern Legacy: Honeypot Redux
While the original "Honey Pot" name was officially retired from the professional scorecard in 1940, it never left the local lexicon. Today, the spirit of those shared 1950s fairways lives on just a short distance away at Cheshire Park.
The park is home to the Honeypot Disc Golf Course, a premier destination that pays direct homage to the 1929 original. While the tools of the game have evolved from forged irons to high-speed plastic discs, the appreciation for Cheshire’s unique, rolling topography remains exactly the same. The "Honey Pot" remains a symbol of Cheshire's ability to preserve its history while adapting to the recreation of the modern day.
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