The history of the Saskatoon Bridge Club is the story of the impossible dream that came true. It was in the early 1930's that the first group of bridge players in Saskatoon got together and decided they should play competitive bridge with and against other and at the same time for some kind of a club. There was no American Contract Bridge League, there was no matchpoint score, it was simply teams of four, scored on a cumulative basis, with games being played twice a month, alternate Mondays.

It never occurred to anyone that people should get paid - everything was done on a co-operative basis. That is the way the club has operated all through the years and still does today. Our certified directors take turns at running games, we have on player as a stand by every game so if someone turns up without a partner they are assured of a game. If two players arrive without partners they play together. It does happen sometimes our standby goes without a game, so they get a free play next game.

The first club rooms used were the Canadian National Railway club, which actually was the back room of a curling rink. The rink has long since been demolished to make room for a power plant. When we could no longer use these club rooms we had no where to go, but finally made arrangements with the YMCA and the Bessborough Hotel to rent space on alternate weeks. We had now progressed to playing once a week and card fees were raised from 25c to 50c. Our rent at the C.N.R. had been $2.00 per night but our new arrangements were costing more. It was not too satisfactory as we had to move our tables from one location to the other each time and frequently we couldn't find them when we went to get them at either place.

It was not until 1958 we learned about the ACBL and corresponding with Margaret Harris we learned all about ACBL and masterpoints. At a general meeting of the members the whole procedure was outlined and the club voted unanimously to join the ACBL. Ours was the first club in Saskatchewan to be properly organized and join the League although it was not long after other clubs followed in our footsteps.

At the time of joining the ACBL we decided nobody in our club would live long enough to become a Life Master, but it would be fun trying. Incidental to this story, after a few years we had half a dozen Life Masters in our club and the executive decided these players should be honored by having their pictures on the wall. It was a rash decision as pictures do not come cheap. Today we have 45 pictures on the wall with two or three more to come yet. Here is a club with over 20 percent of its members, Life Masters. Our club has been described by visiting officials of the ACBL as unique, one reason being that all our top-rated players play with beginners and juniors throughout the year.

It was in 1963 we took a major step forward: we rented our own club rooms. The space had previously been a paint warehouse and it was central with reasonably good parking space. The door opened onto a black lane but we had encountered greater hardships and at least we finally had our own space. We draped the walls, one wall was panelled, we tiled the floor and installed adequate lighting. For the first time we had to buy chairs and fortunately we had been making money all the time so the major expense of about $1,000 was no great hardship. It was not long after that we spent about the same amount on new tables.

Our club was getting better and as it got better it got bigger. Since we had our own club rooms we were playing more often and card fees went up again to $1.00. Then came the crisis. We were next door in the same building to a beauty supply house and they wanted our space. The landlord said we had to move. After much searching for space we finally found a place that had been remodelled from a bowling alley -- not quite so central but still bigger and better than we had before and a good parking area. There was just one sad feature because our cost of operation was now going to be about $600 per month. Could we afford it? We had built up a good bank balance and decided if we had to dip into our capital we would do so. Now we had a real bridge club, the landlord had remodelled to suit us and games were being played four and five times a week. We were on a five year lease and as time for renewal drew near we were apprehensive about the increase in rent as space was scarce in Saskatoon and rents were skyrocketing. We anticipated an increase to possibly $1,000 and once again could we afford it? What a shock was in store. When the contract was presented for renewal our cost of operation was going to be $1,600 per month!

There was no way we could stand the kind of financial pressure, so once again we were face with a crisis. The search was on once again for space, but it was fruitless. Space that was suitable was beyond our financial ability to pay and space that we could afford was not suitable.

An emergency meeting was call with almost one hundred percent attendance of members. There was much discussion and it was obvious we were going to be faced repeatedly with these situations every time our lease expired. It was agreed almost unanimously we would build our own clubhouse if we could finance it. Enquiries had been made in the meantime and we were told such a building would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. Special fund raising committees were formed. The city was contacted re: property, architects and contractors were contacted. We had a smorgasbord dinner with an auction sale, sold tickets on a prize draw. The whole club was zooming with excitement.

In six weeks we had raised enough money to take out a mortgage and we had our $100,000. The contractor was given plans and promised speedy service. The city sold us property, put in water mains, built a road and put in sidewalks. The Saskatchewan Power Commission put in a power line and by the first of September we were in our own building with wash rooms and storage space, heating and air conditioning, an completely furnished kitchen, 4000 square feet of playing space completely carpeted and all of this cost us less than if we had kept our previous location!

Our official opening was attended by representatives of the provincial government as well as many visitors from other clubs. The president of District 18 flew in from Calgary for the occasion. As far as we know we are the first club in Canada to build its own clubhouse. For Saskatoon bridge players all the lights are green, all the signs are go.