Description
This rare original photograph captures the annual banquet of the Upton Gun Club on February 7, 1925, held at Hocker’s Hotel and documented by De’ George’s Studio of Bay Shore, Long Island. Measuring approximately 11 inches wide, the large-format image showcases 44 formally dressed men seated and standing around two long tables, many raising glasses in a toast. Rifles hang neatly on the rear wall and a mounted deer head overlooks the scene from the side, placing the gathering squarely within the elite sporting and hunting culture of 1920s Long Island.
Taken during Prohibition, the presence of raised drinks subtly reflects the social norms-and defiance-of the era. Several men wear white flowers on their lapels, indicating a formal or ceremonial occasion. The clarity and composition of the photograph are excellent, with every individual facing the camera in a carefully staged group portrait, making this a historically valuable piece for collectors of early 20th-century Americana, hunting memorabilia, or Long Island history.
The printed text within the image reads:
AN. Banquet – Upton Gun Club – Feb 7, 1925 – Hocker’s Hotel
De’ George’s Studio – Bay Shore N.Y.
This photo likely stands as one of the only surviving images of the Upton Gun Club and is a compelling visual record of regional sporting traditions, community bonds, and social customs from nearly a century ago.
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