The first mention of checkers appeared in 1869. The game board was set up at The Lodge (the Store on the Corner). This is the one iconic photo of how intense these games were. From left to right: Standing: Charles Martin and Charles Erne. Sitting: Erastus Huntington, Charles Carpenter, J. Woodford, Oscar Dean and Titus Hamilton. “The Lodge has got checkers on the brain, though customers can be waited on between the games. It is reported that one game was actually broken up at the most interesting point by the late fire, but this needs confirmation, as it is taxing the credibility of the public too much to expect any reliance to be placed in such improbable sensational yarns.” So important was the game, Jacob Rush immortalized it in verse! CHECKERS ON THE BRAIN Oh no, it is not with checkers that I while away the day. It is only to the Lodge I go, to see the others play They come from all directions; North, South, East and West. ...