PENNSYLVANIA STATE SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION
1890-1920

    Chronology of Historical Events

The Early Years

The Modern Era, 1961 to Present || The Golden Age, 1921 to 1960 ||

c1890.jpg (1449 bytes)

  • On August 22, 1890, the Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association was organized at the Crosby House in Corry, PA. This meeting was set in motion by H. A. Penrose, owner of Corry's Keystone Manufacturing Company, which made clay targets and traps.
  • They agreed to establish an organization dedicated to promoting wildlife conservation and enforcing game laws, as well as to regulate trapshooting in the state.
  • H. A. Penrose elected first President of the PSSA. Elmer Shaner elected Secretary.

c1891.jpg (1422 bytes)

  • The first Pennsylvania State Shoot was held in Williamsport on September 29, 30, October 1, 2, 1891.
  • PSSA incorporated.

c1892.jpg (1509 bytes)

  • The first set of by-laws of the new PSSA were approved on January 20, 1892.
  • Charles Breisford of Harrisburg becomes the first Pennsylvania Singles Champion at the second State Shoot in Reading held during August of 1892.
  • The Wolstencroft Trophy at live birds, valued at $250.00, was contested for the first time.
  • The Harrisburg Trophy (three man team) was awarded for the first time.

c1893.jpg (1480 bytes)

  • William Fiels of Atglen wins State Singles title at State Shoot in Harrisburg in August.
c1894.jpg (1512 bytes)
  • William Wolstencroft of Philadelphia wins the State Singles crown in Altoona in August.

c1895.jpg (1555 bytes)

  • First PSSA Game Commission committee established with H.M.F. Worden chairman.
  • William Burnman of York, PA won the State Singles crown in Philadelphia.
  • PSSA becoming politically active on game laws, hunting rights, seasons, etc.

c1896.jpg (1579 bytes)

  • Elmer Shaner urges PSSA to hold 1897 shoot "West of the Allegheny's". Oil City is selected for 1897.
  • State Shoot held in Harrisburg.
  • J. O. H. Denny starts 8 year career as PSSA President.

c1897.jpg (1494 bytes)

  • Harry Thurman of Philadelphia won the State Singles title in a shoot-off at Oil City, PA.

c1898.jpg (1561 bytes)

  • PSSA records show a balance of $198.25 in treasury.
  • William Stroh of Pittston won the Pennsylvania Amateur Singles crown.
  • State Shoot was held in Reading during March of 1898.

c1899.jpg (1543 bytes)

  • The Independent Gun Club of Reading and the Boyertown Gun Club were dropped from the rolls for non-payment of dues.
  • The PSSA treasury shows a balance of $199.85.

c1900.jpg (1527 bytes)

  • Fred Coleman wins Pennsylvania Live Bird title at State Shoot.
  • W. S. Smith wins Pennsylvania Amateur Singles title with 112x125.

c1901.jpg (1471 bytes)

  • The Reading Trophy, Lindsley Cup and the Harrisburg Cup were all won by the New Castle Gun Club.

c1902.jpg (1543 bytes)

  • Milton Brey of Zionsville, PA won the Pennsylvania Amateur Singles Championship during the State Shoot held at Oil City.
  • The legendary Fred Coleman was one of five shooters who killed 15 pigeons in the regular live bird program, but hit only 5 in the miss and out shoot-off.

c1903.jpg (1532 bytes)

  • The first three days of the State Shoot were devoted to shooting at inanimate targets while the final two days at live birds.
  • Fred Coleman, the flyer shooter from Philadelphia, won the Amateur Clay Target crown of Pennsylvania.

c1904.jpg (1533 bytes)

  • PSSA records indicate a balance of $410.21 in their treasury.
  • H. M. F. Worden elected PSSA President, will serve three terms.

c1905.jpg (1540 bytes)

  • Fred Coleman of Philadelphia won his second Wolstencroft Trophy in three years, emblematic of the State Singles Championship. He broke 47x50.
  • The PSSA and the Pennsylvania Game Commission continue to push state legislators to establish a $1.00 fee for a state hunting license.

c1906.jpg (1542 bytes)

  • H. M. F. Worden elected to his third term as President of the PSSA.

c1907.jpg (1497 bytes)

  • The State Live Bird Championship was held in conjunction with the state inanimate target event for the last time. The live bird title went to Fred Coleman, winner of the State Singles crown back in 1905. Coleman killed 25 flyers plus 12 more in a miss and out shoot-off over three others.

c1908.jpg (1544 bytes)

  • The Bradford Gun Club held their first of six State Shoots from May 25-28, 1908. They threw 75,000 targets over the entire classic. The club would host shoots in 1917, 1931, 1936, 1941 and 1948.

c1909.jpg (1511 bytes)

  • George S. McCarty of Philadelphia took the State Singles Championship with 186x200.
  • Years later, McCarty would establish the ATA home grounds in Vandalia, Ohio.

c1910.jpg (1482 bytes)

  • During the four day run of the State Shoot, Charles Mink won the bronze medal for the champion of Philadelphia County, the Hanover Trophy for having the second highest average over the final three days of the tournament, the White Trophy, two Marlin guns and a Fox shotgun, besides many other awards.

c1911.jpg (1437 bytes)

  • George "Kelsey" Painter of Pittsburgh won the DuPont Trophy as the Pennsylvania State Singles Champion of 1911 by breaking 437x450.
  • Allen Heil leads the Interstate Association in doubles averages with .8666 average.

c1912.jpg (1497 bytes)

  • The 1912 Pennsylvania State Shoot was the Harry Kahler show. He won the DuPont Trophy, emblematic of the Pennsylvania Singles Championship with 434x450, shot over the three days of the tournament.
  • He also won the Wolstencroft Trophy for the Pennsylvania Doubles Championship, breaking 43 out of 25 pairs.
  • Kahler, a former world's trapshooting champion from Philadelphia, broke 146x150 on May 22 to win the first day's event by two targets. He won the singles on the third day of the classic, breaking a 145, winning by two targets again.
  • Elmer Shaner was elected PSSA Vice-President, the first of two terms he would serve.

c1913.jpg (1494 bytes)

  • E. N. Gillespie won the In the Open Trophy, a solid silver pitcher, donated to the State Shoot by the publishers of In the Open, an outdoors magazine published in Pittsburgh.

c1914.jpg (1497 bytes)

  • The PSSA now has 120 member clubs on their roll.

 

c1915.jpg (1507 bytes)

  • Charles Newcomb, who would, during his long career, win over 1000 trophies, won his first Pennsylvania Amateur 16 yard championship.
  • Newcomb wins Grand American Clay Target Championship in Chicago.

c1916.jpg (1464 bytes)

  • J. S. Speer of St. Mary's, PA was again elected President of the PSSA.
  • Allen Heil wins Grand American Doubles Champion.

c1917.jpg (1383 bytes)

  • Shooting under which were perhaps the most disagreeable weather conditions possible, the shooters at the 1917 State Shoot at Bradford braved rain, cold and wind.

c1918.jpg (1467 bytes)

  • Five Ideal Leggett traps were used in the tournament at Lancaster.
  • Hindered by strong winds, former national champion Charles Newcomb of Philadelphia won the State Singles title.

c1919.jpg (1461 bytes)

  • The Interstate Association ordered all state 16 yard championships to be at 300 targets for 1919 and 1920.
  • The star of the big show was Ed "The Village Miller" Hellyer of Alexandria, Huntingdon County, PA. He won the Singles crown with 294x300.

c1920.jpg (1474 bytes)

  • The 1920 State Shoot was held in Harrisburg under the auspices of the Harrisburg Sportsmen's Association.
  • Harrisburg Mayor Hoovertor gave the opening address to the huge turnout.