Encyclopedia Dubuque
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DUBUQUE GUN CLUB
Being written
DUBUQUE GUN CLUB. In 1901 members of the Dubuque Gun Club offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of anyone POTHUNTING quail. (1) This was something of a new activity for the club which was primarily concerned with trapshooting competitions. The first record of the club's existence was in January, 1885 when a notice appeared that the club would have a contest with the Greely club. (2) The next mention appeared in April as a reprint from the Burlington Gazette.
The Dubuque Gun Club does its glass ball
shooting on Sunday. This is much better
than drinking and carousing. (3)
Sites for the trapshooting varied. In August, 1885 a newspaper account reported that the club had used Hooper's Island. (4) In November of that year, the last shoot of the season was held at the foot of Third Street. (5) Equipment was important in trapshooting. In September the newspaper reported that the club would be using its new Knoxville trap. (6) The club also had a rifle range.
The club attracted the attention of C. W. Budd, the world champion wing shot, in April, 1887. He used the occasion to display the guns of four companies he represented. Using a shotgun, Budd was able to kill twenty released Blue Rock pigeons in a row without a miss. (7)
Individuals began being named for their expertise in 1887. In May of that year, James W. CONCHAR led the contestants with 43 out of 46. (8) "Mr. Stennett," a member of the club, in competition at New Hampton took third place money in the first shoot, second in the second shoot, and first in the last two. (9) W. W. WORMOOD scored 205 out of 250 and Francis JAEGER scored 171 on the rifle range to defeat C. W. Budd who scored 147. (10)
Members listed in 1889 included George W. WUNDERLICH, David B. HENDERSON, James Forester, John GLOVER, Frank Jaeger, William S. MOLO, Frank Glab, Henry B. GLOVER, and William Jaeggi. (11)
A new club by the same name was organized around 1923 and by 1924 had a membership of around sixty members. In April the membership was invited to a shooting contest at the Frank Fincel farm along Peru Road. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fincel were experienced trapshooters and modern equipment had been installed for the sport. (1)
In June, 1924 the club hosted its first annual registered trapshooting tournament near Center Grove. There were expected to be from 75 to 100 entrants with many having state or national reputations. One of those was Fred Gilbert of Spirit Lake, Iowa who was nationally known as a "98% shooter." Some professional shooters representing arms and ammunition businesses were also to participate. One of the local favorites was J. A. Stipp who had recently won the Iowa state competition breaking 47 targets out of 50. Another favorite was Frank Fincel. The club only had two traps with one of these held for use in case of emergency. (2) Mrs. E. L. King of Winona, Minnesota and Charles Hummell of LaPorte City tied for high honors with records of 142 out of 150 targets. Mrs. King's high run was 42 targets without a miss. (3)
On June 28, 1925 the club had a special Wife Day at the Center Grove trapshooting site. The inexperienced shooter was said to have the advantage. (4)
The second annual registered trap shoot at the Center Grove Traps was held on July 12 1925. Shooters from Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota were expected with a special invitation to women who wished to participate. Membership in the club has risen to forty-five. (5)
Practice times were offered club members at the Fincel farm or the Center Grove range between competitions. On September 13, 1925 members of the Dubuque Gun Club hosted shooters of the Hilltop Gun Club from East Dubuque at Center Grove. (6) In a similar event held in September 1926 Frank Fincel won top honors breaking 383 targets out of a possible 400 at an event held in East Dubuque. (7)
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Source:
1. "Is a Good Move," The Dubuque Daily Herald, October 3, 1901, p. 8
2. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald, January 18, 1885, p. 8
3. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald, April 3, 1885, p. 8
4. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald, August 8, 1885, p. 4
5. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald October 16, 1885, p. 4
6. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald September 12, 1885, p. 4
7. "Good Shooting," The Dubuque Herald, April 7, 1887, p. 4
8. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald May 8, 1887, p. 8
9. "Caught on the Fly," The Dubuque Herald May 20, 1887, p. 4
10. "Good Shooting"
11. "Dubuque Gun Club," The Herald, August 17, 1889, p. 4
12. "Dubuque Gun Club Holds Shoot Today," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, April 27, 1924, p. 14
13. "First Registered Shoot to Attract Big Crowd Today," The Telegraph-Herald, June 29, 1924, p. 15
14. "Second Registered Event to Attract Big Crowd Today," The Telegraph-Herald, July 12, 1925, p. 13
15. "Sunday is Special Wife Day at Traps at Center Grove," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, June 5, 1925, p. 12
16. "Second Registered Event.."
17. "East Dubuque to Oppose Dubuque Gunners Today," Telegraph-Herald, September 13, 1925, p. 21
18. "Local Man High Gunman at Shoot," Telegraph-Herald, September 27, 1926, p. 2
