The Firefighters Postal Lake Club, which traces its roots back to the 1940s, won best lake club in a new category this year. The club, originally known as the Lake Springfield Postal Club, opened in 1948 after local postal service workers and their families fundraised for a clubhouse they constructed themselves over the course of eight years at a cost of $15,000. New members were invited to join over the years and the club expanded to include many tradespeople, such as plumbers and electricians, who could help with maintenance of the club.
As Postal Club membership numbers continued to decline, a merger with Firefighters Local #37 took place in 2000 and it was renamed the Firefighters Postal Lake Club. The Springfield Fire Department used the building for training exercises and eventually burned it down to allow for construction of a new facility, completed in 2002 at a cost of $3.6 million.
With a strong history of community service, the club is managed by a board of directors and frequently hosts family-friendly events such as fish and chicken fries, holiday celebrations and more, often incorporating career-exposure opportunities for young people who are interested in becoming firefighters. The clubhouse facilities, located on Lake Springfield, have a seating capacity of 300 occupants and are available for event rental to the general public.
