Founded in 1899 by Archibald Sugarbush, a distinguished proprietor of fine women's garments from Buffalo, NY, our club boasts an origin as intriguing as its founder. During a holiday in Budapest, Archibald stumbled upon a peculiar tome in a hidden bookseller's alley, the "Naturom Demonto." Captivated by its mysteries, he gathered others with similar interests to form a clandestine society named the Sugarbushers.
This secretive assembly quickly attracted influential figures, including Seymour H. Knox I, Charles W. Goodyear, Thomas B. Lockwood, and Louise Bethune. They convened under the full moon at Archibald's Delaware Avenue mansion, shrouded in the mystique of their esoteric pursuits. Rumors abounded: the Buffalo Red Light district mysteriously closed on full moon nights, and the Erie Canal's barges brimmed with unfamiliar faces at each new moon, purportedly to replace those vanished under enigmatic circumstances.
Upon the bizarre demise of Archibald Sugarbush Sr.—an event cloaked in mystery further by the subsequent destruction of police reports—Archibald Jr. assumed presidency in 1936. The club faced dwindling membership following a traumatic incident and the loss of the "Naturom Demonto." To prevent its dissolution, Archibald Jr. sought to rejuvenate the club, introducing new activities such as bowling and skiing, with the latter proving remarkably popular.
Under Archibald Jr.'s leadership, the club wielded significant influence, rumored even to have persuaded Ralph Wilson to establish his new football team in Buffalo. Yet, after his death, the enigmatic lore of the "Naturom Demonto" faded, and under Archibald Sugarbush III, the club transitioned more towards a skiing than a secretive society.
Archibald III, a notorious Buffalo playboy, rapidly squandered the family fortune, notably losing half on a bet for Super Bowl XXV. His subsequent investment of the remainder in Beanie Babies and pets.com prior to the dot-com crash of 2000 necessitated the sale of his Delaware mansion—the club's long-standing venue—along with the domain name and copyrights to the name Sugarbushers.
Archibald III's demise in 2001 marked a poignant end to an era, with his passing attributed to an excess of Bison French Onion Dip.
The Sugarbushers' legacy found an unexpected continuation with a group of ski and drink enthusiasts who unwittingly adopted the name after a trip to a Vermont ski resort. Unaware of the club's storied past, they embraced the Sugarbushers moniker, bringing a new chapter to life.
For those intrigued by a mix of skiing, camaraderie, and a touch of historical mystery, our doors are open. Reach out to our Shadowed Master, Beatrice Esmeralda Worthington, for more information on joining the Sugarbushers.