THE SHARPSHOOTER
FORT HILL RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB NEWSLETTER
NUMBER 5 ___ JULY, 2002
KEY EXCHANGE
No key exchange is planned for this year. If the situation changes, we will send you a new key via United States mail and request that you return your old key in like fashion. Again, no key exchange is planned for this year.
NEW MEMBERSHIP CARDS
Your new FHRPC membership card is included with this newsletter.
CLUB OFFICERS
FHRPC officers for the year 2002 are (1) President, Tom Malony, 304-726-4030, (2) Vice-President, Wayne Belloff, 301-722-6859, (3) Treasurer, John Dowell, 301-724-5866, (4) Executive Officer, Frank Snyder, 301-777-1298, (5) Executive Officer, Bill Lewis, 301-777-8180, and (6) Secretary, Marty Harsh, 301-759-2877.
The club officers welcome your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact any of your club officers.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
(by Tom Malony)
I have never been to any Fort Hill Rifle and Pistol Club (FHRPC) event where I didn’t have a good time. The June 1, 2002, work party at Morningside Drive was an exceptionally good time. Bill Bitner gets the MVP award at this event, with Gary Riggleman in there for second place. Bill brought his truck loaded with tools and we used every one of them. That is to say we dulled and dirtied each one of them. We traded them between workers and finally left them scattered around the range much the same as children. While we were busy at this, Bill and Gary were on the club house roof spreading aluminum roof cement – a hot and nasty job that one. The club owes many thanks to Bill and Gary for their hard work. While all this was going on, Ken Fuller was over the hill (be careful) taking out the old iron entrance gate. Ken must have used Bill’s chain saw to do the removal because Bill donated it to the club afterwards. Thanks again Bill. The day just got better and better.
The day began with an outstanding breakfast of sausage gravy, biscuits, fried potatoes and eggs flawlessly prepared by Clayton Blume, also known as the FHRPC chef and master carpenter. Clayton and myself also donated breakfast.
Lunch was served on the rifle range firing line at 1 PM. The menu included X-ring burgers, bulls-eye beans and hang-fire macaroni salad. The FHRPC has a long tradition of sending its working members home in condition to dispel any family member’s objection to the clean air laws! Bob Beck and Bill Gero prepared lunch. Bob was also responsible for mealtime entertainment.
The results of all this effort included lots of fresh paint (some even where it was needed), repaired roof supports at the little end of the firing line, new cardboard on the target frames, removal of the old gate and repairs to the club house roof. The FHRPC owes its appreciation to Ken Fuller, Bill Bitner, Gary Riggleman, Clayton Blume, John Bakaj, Mark Bell, Bob Beck, Bill Gero, Frank Snyder, John Morton, Jay Cole, Wayne Belloff and Chris Bennett for supporting this work party. Thanks also to Vic Merkel for his support. Of interest to big game hunters, Mark Bell knows how to tell a great taxidermist from just OK ones.
Some beer cans and a vodka bottle were found in the Morningside Drive rifle range trash containers. I hope they were just rattling around in someone’s trunk and ended up in our trash rather than consumed on club property. Our club has a longstanding policy of no alcohol or drugs on FHRPC property.
We are well into the league shooting season. All the leagues are doing well but there is plenty of room for more shooters. League chairman are always glad to see new people and will offer every assistance.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Membership applications are available at the Morningside Drive rifle range clubhouse. An envelope containing membership applications is stapled to the bulletin board on the east wall.
The membership application contains a section for two members-in-good-standing to sign for the applicant. This is your club’s check valve to insure that we get members of good character and integrity. Since your officers rarely know all of the applicants, they rely on your signature as a voucher for the applicant’s character and integrity. Ask yourself a simple question before signing a membership application, “Would I like to have thus guy for a neighbor?” Member sponsors are responsible for recovering FHRPC property from individuals who have elected to discontinue their memberships.
We now have 52 names on the membership waiting list.
FIRST AID KITS POSTED AT ALL RANGES
First aid kits have been posted at all FHRPC shooting ranges. The first aid kit at the Morningside Drive rifle range is located in the target shed behind the covered firing line. The Morningside Drive pistol range first aid kit is located near the front center of the covered firing line. The Warrior Mountain range first aid kit is located near the rear center of the covered firing point on the 300-yard line. These kits are for your emergency use. Please notify any FHRPC officer after you use supplies from these kits so that the kits may be replenished.
John Felten of CSX Corporation donated these kits. FHRPC member Jim Painter was instrumental in arranging the generous donation. Many of our members are CSX employees. The donation is evidence of CSX’s commitment to safety both at work and in our community.
NEW GATE AT WARRIOR MOUNTAIN RANGE
A new gate has been installed at the Warrior Mountain range thus eliminating the cumbersome twisted wire rope at the range entrance. The gate is firmly anchored to two, ten-foot sections of telephone poles. These two poles are anchored in the ground with just over one ton of concrete. The cost of this project was approximately $250.
Our thanks are owed to Paul Dom, Wayne Stott and John Bakaj for making this project a reality. These fellows spent many hours digging holes, hauling tools and materials, and mixing concrete. We think this new gate will stand the test of time for many years to come.
NEW COVERED FIRING POINT AT WARRIOR MOUNTAIN
Construction of the firing line cover on the new 100-meter range will begin in the summer of 2002. The Blackpowder Rifle League is managing the construction. If you are interested in supporting this project, please call Fred Kreiger at 301-729-1261.
This project has been slow getting underway, but is finally making some progress. We have completed much of the site preparation for the new firing point including the installation of a 24-inch underground pipe behind the firing line. Paul Dom, Ron Deter, George Sneathen and Eugene Sneathen assisted in burying the pipe. Members will now be able to drive across the pipe and park directly behind the covered firing line. The design of the new covered firing line is being engineered now and must be approved by the State of Maryland before construction can begin.
DO NOT THROW MISFIRED AMMO IN TRASH CANS
The proper way to dispose of misfired ammo is to take the ammo home, disassemble the ammo with hand tools while wearing safety glasses, and render the primer and powder inert by soaking in light machine oil or water. Do not throw your misfired ammo in the club trash cans.
Three people were nearly injured in a recent incident believed to be caused by a misfired 12-gauge round tossed into the refuse barrel along with the trash at the Warrior Mountain range.
TELEPHONE POLES
The FHRPC needs approximately 24 telephone poles for construction at the Warrior Mountain range. If you know of the availability of any surplus new or used telephone poles, please call Marty Harsh at 301-759-2877.
LEAGUE NEWS
The FHRPC sponsored league matches are running smoothly this year. You may contact the following league chairmen for more information about competitive shooting within the FHRPC.
LEAGUE / CHAIRMAN / PHONE NUMBERBlackpowder / Fred Kreiger / 301-729-1261
Highpower Rifle / Dave Thompson / 304-788-1346
Pistol / Frank Snyder / 301-777-1298
Smallbore Prone Rifle / Jim Snider / 301-729-1087
Smallbore Silhouette Rifle / Marty Harsh / 301-759-2877
SMALLBORE RIFLE & PISTOL LEAGUES HOLD BANQUET
On Saturday, June 29, the FHRPC pistol league hosted a banquet for competitive shooters and their spouses. About fifty folks attended the dinner. Everybody had a great time. The highlight of the dinner was a presentation by Norm White describing the first years of the Fort Hill Rifle and Pistol Club. Norm White was the first club secretary. We are proud to have him as a life member. The following picture shows Tom Malony (left), our current club president, standing with Norm White (right) during the post-dinner discussion. The next newsletter article was authored by Norm White.
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FORT HILL RIFLE CLUB
(by Norm White)
It was early 1942. The United States was at war with Germany and Japan and only months had passed since the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Maryland National Guard had been mobilized into the United States Army and a State Guard had been created to replace them on the home front. In April, 1942, Maryland Governor Herbert O’Conor gave orders to organize the Reserve Militia of Maryland to be known as the Maryland Minute Men. Company 842, 8th Battalion was created. Joseph Ansel was appointed captain with John Woodyard as 1st lieutenant and Kirk Lathrum as 2nd lieutenant. Raymond Leighty was 1st sergeant. Others in the company were George Knotts, Jay Stimely, Robert Myers, Joseph McDonald and Fred Roberts. The Company-842 Minute Men trained Monday nights in the Penn Avenue School gymnasium. “Bib” Ranck, from the State Guard, was training instructor. The State Guardsmen were uniformed and were issued shotguns. The Minute Men eventually acquired uniforms and provided their own firearms, which were mostly deer rifles and 22-caliber guns. In event of emergency, the Minute Men were to perform guard duty at sensitive points in the city to prevent sabotage. The unit had field training exercises and marched in Memorial Day parades. I joined Company 842 in the fall of 1942. My firearm was a Stevens, single shot, 22-caliber rimfire rifle and, occasionally, a 45-70 trapdoor Springfield rifle.
We had 22-caliber firing practice at the National Guard Armory on Centre Street.
In June, 1944, Governor O’Conor deactivated the Minute Men and transferred all members to the inactive reserve. I was discharged with the rank of Private, First Class (PFC).
Following deactivation, some members of Company 842 wanted to continue their association and proposed forming a rifle club. For this purpose an organizing group was formed consisting of John Woodyard, chairman, Kirk Lathrum, vice chairman, Blair Ullery, treasurer, and Norman White, secretary.
The name Fort Hill Rifle Club was picked, not because it was named after the high school, but because it was a geographical location close to the homes of the members. Another group had already taken the Cumberland Rifle Club name.
Harry Morgan, of Frostburg, provided much help in organizing the club. A minimum of ten members was required to obtain a National Rifle Association charter and the charter was obtained in October, 1944. Early meetings were held at the home of Jay Stimely on South Street.
Other rifle clubs were being organized also. Leo Leasure was captain of Company 843 which became the Cumberland Rifle Club. David H. Durst was captain of Company 845 which became the LaVale Rifle Club. Henry R. Yates was captain of Company 848. He was also a member of the Frostburg Rifle Club, which was formed prior to the war.
Soon after organization of the clubs, a meeting was held at the Gunter Hotel, Frostburg, and the Western Maryland Rifle League was born. A pre-war group had been called the Allegany Rifle League but it was felt that a new name was needed. The Western Maryland League consisted of the Barton, Frostburg, Cold Spring-Westernport, LaVale, Cumberland and Fort Hill clubs. Later clubs were Avilton, Fort Ashby, Mountain Top-Oakland and Allegany Ballistics Lab. As years passed, these clubs lost their ranges or were deactivated and many of their shooters were taken into the Fort Hill Club, which alone persevered and prospered.
In Fort Hill’s early years a search for a suitable indoor and outdoor range was conducted. One possibility for an indoor range was the abandoned south Cumberland glass plant, but too many problems existed there. A search for an outdoor range had the committee looking for a site along Williams Road at the Stegmaier orchards, but this also presented formidable problems.
A lucky break happened when Charles Simpson suggested that the O’Neal farm on Morningside Drive be investigated. The Cumberland Outdoor Club had been interested there but had given up after some work had been done. The range committee investigated and came to an agreement with the owner, Mrs. O’Neal. Construction commenced. Initially the range use was by permission, but a few years later the tract was purchased, and the rest is history. At the time of purchase, the club had few funds and money for the purchase was raised by members‘ donations covered by non-interest bearing notes. These notes were eventually paid off. At the time of purchase, Mrs. O’Neal had arranged for pulp wood to be cut by a contractor, and the club’s arrangement with her was that specified tracts of trees adjacent to the range would be spared. Apparently the contractor ignored this arrangement and started cutting everything. The club threatened legal action and all cutting stopped.
The Fort Hill Club and Western Maryland League were incorporated with legal work done by attorney Thomas L. Richards at a very reasonable cost.
The Western Maryland League’s first indoor range was constructed in the basement of a bowling alley located in LaVale at the intersection of the National Highway and Vocke Road. After a few seasons there another location was found in the basement of the Bowman’s Addition Fire Hall. A range was constructed there and was used by both rifle and pistol leagues for many years. A final move was made to the National Guard Armory range on Brown Avenue.