A Brief
History of the Canton McKinley Rifle and Pistol Club Inc.
Club Inception (1926) thru 1965
Adapted from the history section of an application
submitted in 1966, for an N.R.A. Club Achievement Award. This application was
submitted based upon activities for 1965.
The Canton McKinley Rifle Club was formed in 1926, by a
few rifle shooters. For some time they shot among themselves and were first
chartered by the N.R.A. in 1928. Later, in 1937, the club was incorporated under
the laws of the State of Ohio and another charter was granted.
As it grew, the Club changed the locations of its indoor
shooting activities several times. Initially the shooting was done in a garage,
then in a basement, and later in an empty storeroom. Finally, in 1946, a
location for a complete, twelve point indoor range was acquired. This was
situated in the center of the business section of the city of Canton.
Similar history is applicable with respect to outdoor
facilities. Existing National Guard Ranges were used initially, then leased
property was put to use, and finally in 1946, the Club purchased approximately
twenty acres of farm and woodland for a permanent outdoor range.
Activity was immediately started on the property with the
installation of a small bore range of sixty (60) firing points and the
construction of a fifty (50) point pistol range. Progressive alteration and
improvement was carried out as more and more successful pistol and rifle
tournaments were held on both the indoor and the outdoor ranges. Such
tournaments included the State indoor pistol tournaments held from 1947 to 1962.
In 1952, the Club opened its membership and undertook a
drive to particularly attract additional pistol shooters. Also, at that time,
the scope of Club events was widened to further accommodate the needs of pistol
shooting members.
A program was established in 1955, such that seedling trees
would be planted on the outdoor range each year. Thru 1965, in excess of eight
hundred (800) trees had been planted on Club property.
With the coming of 1965, the name of the Club was changed
to The Canton McKinley Rifle and Pistol Club, Incorporated, with the design and
acquisition of a new brassard marking the change. Also came changes in policies
as somewhat younger officers and Board members were installed in office. This
new group was aggressive in addressing improvements such as range lighting, and
the installation of new pistol and police range facilities. In addition, it
fostered the institution of a one day, 2700 Pistol match as well as successfully
applying for and operating the first Police Combat Match in the state of Ohio.
During the years of formation and growth, Club members were
highly competitive shooters, but always with the rules of firearms training and
safety as a basis. For instance, during WWII a Basic Rifle Pre-instruction
course was presented, and certification was made in November of 1943.
The club instructor in 1965 was an N.R.A. Training
Counselor who held N.R.A. Instructorship Cards in all categories including
Police Firearms Instructor. The Assistant Instructor also held similar ratings
with the exception of Training Counselor. N.R.A. awards had been given to both
the Instructor and Assistant for their activities which included training in the
categories of Basic Rifle and Pistol, Shotgun, Police Firearms, Hunter's Safety,
Home Safety, and Rifle and Pistol Instructor. Awards of merit were presented to
the Club by the N.R.A. in 1960, 1963, and 1964 for having trained in excess of
one hundred (100) students in each of those years. Again, in 1965, the Club had
qualified for this award.
Such training and members' firearms skills manifested
themselves during the many years that the McKinley Rifle Team competed in the
N.R.A. Registered, Summit County Three Position League. Long records of wins
were established. The 1959/60 season saw twenty two (22) consecutive match wins,
and this performance continued throughout the 1960/61/62 seasons with thirty
four (34) consecutive wins and the 1963 to 1965 seasons with thirty five (35)
consecutive wins. In 1965, the Canton McKinley team was the only team in the
United States which had won the W.R. Hearst Trophy twice, once in 1942 and again
in 1943. The team and its individual members had also won many indoor and
outdoor titles as well as State and National Champions.
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Canton McKinley Rifle & Pistol Club
