Liberty Gun Club in Ohio?

Was close to Bucyrus, OH. Anyone know the exact location were it was?

 

Shot there mid 70s.
Right off rt.30.

 

Gerald, do you remember the exact location of the club?

 

Any chance that the current gun club at the Crawford County Conservation League was named Liberty Gun Club back then? This club is located right at the intersection of US Rt. 30 and St. Rt. 98 in Bucyrus. Address is 3477 OH-98, Bucyrus, Ohio. Just on the north side of Rt. 30. It always looked to me like the gun club portion of this club was older than the rental/bingo hall. The first time I shot there I thought I was pulling into the Grand parking lot. Cars parked everywhere. Then I found out that half the cars were there for the rental hall (bingo night I think). Great trap club with very good lighting for nighttime shoots.

 

Only shot there once.
I had to ask directions. If I recall it was not too far out of town which was either N or E. of town. On the right side.
Right off Rt. 30. They had Reg. shoots as well as I think a Fri. or Sat. nite Calcutta which might of been a Buddy shoot.

Regards.....Gerald

 

Cogan has it correct. If its Crawford County now. They had a good money program on Fridays. Now they have new management, still run the Friday program, have a protection shoot and have added Sunday ATA shoots. Its one of the forst places I shot trap.

 

Anyone know for sure if the Crawford County was called the Liberty Gun Club back in the 70s?

 

Found out that the Liberty gun club was north of the Crawford County. Anyone know what road it was on. Gangloff from attica had something to do with it.

 

It was located on Beechgrove Road, Liberty Township. One mile north on State Rt. 98, left at sign. Next to Sharon Christian Holiness Church.

The club was destroyed by fire on February 10, 1981.

 

Once again HistoryBuff comes through for us! Thank you HB for taking the time to research this for us. Looking at the satellite map of the area I see Beechgrove Road does indeed run right beside Rt. 30 for a stretch. I know some shooters in the Bucyrus area. Maybe one of them will have an old photo taken at the club.

 

I believe that the Liberty club was run by an individual named Les Gangluff at some point in time which would have been sometime in the 60's- 70's. He lived in and owned a bar in Attica, Ohio, and he later lived in Port Clinton.He shot quite a bit at Findlay. He had a small camping trailer that he would stay in during the state shoot and he would bring along 100 new shells and after each 100 he would reload them before the next 100. I never actually shot at that club, but my brother Ned said that he shot the Ohio State American Leigon shoot there one year. If my memory is correct he shot a lot with Bob Hawk, Jim Baumgartner, and Paul Fiegel. Possibly they could give some information on the Liberty Gun Club.

Dave Berlet

 

From the Telegraph-Forum (Bucyrus, OH), Feb. 11, 1981.

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Dave, recognize any of these guys? This pics hangs on the wall at Mt Blanchard gun club.
Doug

 

Doug,
I’m pretty sure Paul Fiegel is third from the left. Willie Is second from the right and Merle is third from the right. Hopefully Dave will see this and let us know who the others are.

 

I don't know the presenter or the first shooter (Ray Fields). The other 4 shooters from left to right are Paul Fiegel, Loren Hare, Merle Decker, Willie Anderson, and Darlod Loveridge. Darold Loveridge was the OSTA president in the middle to late 60's. I shot with Paul, Loren, Willie, and Darold. Many times with Willie. I believe I was squadded with Merle when I shot my 200,000th singles target at Jaqua's

Dave Berlet

 

I noticed that in the 1968 average book a man by the name of Heffelfinger was the contact person for the Liberty club.It also gave the address and when they were open.

Dave Berlet

 

Dave,

Mr. Robert E. Heffelfinger served as manager of the Liberty GC a couple of times. To honor him, a Heffelfinger traveling trophy was shot for each year. I wonder if anyone remembers it or who the last winner was?

Some Triva as it relates to Mr. Berlet, Liberty GC and Mr. Heffelfinger.

Dave Berlet made a world record in September 1971.

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It was reported in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, of August 1, 1977 that Dave's record was broken at the Liberty Gun Club in the summer of 1977 by Jerry Teynor, of Marion, OH. Mr. Teynor broke 1,735 of 2,272 in one hour.

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Mr. Heffelfinger was one of the patentees of the timer used to throw the targets for Mr. Teynor.

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Enjoy Our History,

HB

 

I would like to thank all the shooters for the comments about the Crawford County Conservation League in Bucyrus, Ohio. The CCCL is shooting every Friday evening. Mostly just practice, but some of the shooters want to start 3 & 2's, and 10 bird portections. We have 3 traps up and running currently, with trap 3 throwing practice doubles. Club house is closed because of CORVID-19, but hope to reopen soon. As for registered targets, We are abiding by the rules set forth by the Crawford County Health Department and Gov. DeWine. Than you all again!