|
Our History OVER
SIXTY YEARS AND STILL
GOING In November 1942, when he founded what was then known as the
"Outdoor Physical Fitness Club," Dr. Andrew A. Gour could not have
foreseen that it would still be in existence over 60 years later. Dr. Gour was
sickly and handicapped in infancy and childhood and at the age of 12 secretly
started doing exercises in a quest for perfect health. The results were so
gratifying that he made the art of healing his life's work. An osteopathic
physician, Dr. Gour was a pioneer in gymnastic, dietary, and nutritional fields,
as well as a lover of the outdoors. He was an editorial writer on the
Chicago Daily News for 5 years and contributed articles on physical training to
various publications. He also engaged in cancer research from the
standpoint of nutrition. In a book entitled "Naturally Stay
Young," Dr. Gour stated that "Youthful old age depends upon what one
has done with his years of youth." Dr. Gour died in June, 1955. On Sunday, Nov. 15, 1942, a group of men and women met at the
Physical Fitness Outing Congress, which was held at the Museum of Science and
Industry. At the time, there was much concern about the physical condition
of young Americans. Half of the first 2 million men called by draft boards
for World War 2 were rejected as unfit. Those who were accepted were only
in good enough condition to respond to the process of becoming physically fit.
The nation was made up of "softies and weaklings, the result of luxurious
living and bodily neglect." The Physical Fitness Division of the
National Recreation Department sent representatives to investigate the movement
with the intention of promoting similar groups throughout the country. The
group pledged to join or support a movement to combine upper body training with
regular hiking. Out of this movement, the Outdoor Physical Fitness Club
was born. The club members followed a
schedule that included hiking to
the site of lunch and 20-30 minutes of upper-body exercise, which consisted of
calisthenics and games employed to supplement the legwork of walking.
Lunch in cold weather was around a bonfire. There was a circle discussion
of a curr When the tide of battle in the second world war swung our
way, members grew less and less concerned with the original goals, and the club
turned into a club that was involved in hiking only. When hikers became reluctant to
perform calisthenics at lunchtime, "being more interested in the contents
of their knapsacks and thermos bottles," the name was changed to
"Forest Trails Hiking Club" (January 1950). In its early years, the club had officers, and elections were
held at annual dinner meetings. Club bulletins were full of news, useful
information, editorial comments, and drawings appropriate to the season.
In early years, members boarded buses and trains to reach the start of the
hikes. This custom slowly evolved into the present system of hikers
driving their cars to places designated in the hiking schedule. Over the years, members have come and gone, but the club has continued to be a source of fellowship and healthful exercise for those who make the effort to come out on Sunday mornings. We look forward to continuing our tradition well into the future.
|
|
Contact Webmaster: Copyright (C) 2008 Forest Trails Hiking Club |
