More on the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville During the 1870s

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In the autumn of 1874, a group of New York State National Guardsmen who were members of the American Rifle Association (the original name of today's National Rifle Association) secured land for a small rifle range that permitted target shooting at 200 yards.  The group was led by Colonel John T. Underhill of the 27th Regiment Infantry, National Guard of the State of New York.  By the following spring, however, it was clear that the range was too small and a new location would have to be secured.  

Colonel Underhill was charged with finding a larger and more suitable site for a rifle range to be used by National Guardsmen for rifle practice, drilling, and encampments.  In a report he prepared on November 29, 1875, Col. Underhill wrote "[a]fter considerable labor and some expense," a site at Pelhamville "was selected and secured, targets at once erected and practice commenced."

The new rifle range, named "Glen-Drake" Rifle Range, opened formally in October, 1875. According ton one source, Glen-Drake range was "situated two-thirds of a mile north of the depot of the New York and New Haven Railroad at Pelhamville, with a road running in a straight line from the depot to the range."   Source:  "Annual Report of the Adjutant General" in Documents of the Senate of the State of New York Ninety-Ninth Session - 1876, Vol. I -- Nos. 1 to 17 Inclusive, pp. 332-33 (Albany, NY: Weed, Parsons and Company, 1876) (quoted in full below).  This would place the rifle range, very roughly speaking, alongside today's Fifth Avenue roughly at 6th Street.

The rifle range immediately became a popular destination for spectators who wanted to watch the many shooting competitions held there.  Indeed, there is a news story, quote below, that indicates that over 2,500 people visited the range during shooting competitions on a single day in 1875.  

I have written about the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville on several occasions.  See:

Fri., Feb. 05, 2016:  More on the Glen-Drake Rifle Range Once Located in Pelhamville.

Tue., Jul. 28, 2009:  Account of Christmas Shooting Matches in 1875 at the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville.

Wed., Apr. 22, 2009:  1877 Account of Competition for De Peyster Medal at the Glen Drake Range in Pelhamville.  

Mon., Apr. 20, 2009:  Only Known Image of the Glen-Drake Rifle Range Near Pelhamville.

Wed., Apr. 01, 2009:  Evidence of a "Glen-Drake" Rifle Range in Pelhamville During the 1870s.

Only Known Image of the Glen-Drake Rifle Range in Pelhamville.  Note the

National Guardsmen Marching in Formation Through the Gate and the

Canvass Targets in the Distance as Well as Tents on the Grounds of the

Range. The Structure on the Hill in the Distance Just Above the Upper Left

Corner of the Gate May Be the Little Schoolhouse that Once Stood

Where Today's Hutchinson Elementary School Stands. Source: Starr, George

C., The Forest and Stream Hand-Book for Riflemen, p. 7 (NY, NY: J. B. Ford &

Co., 1876).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes several news stories about shooting events held at the Glen Drake Range in Pelhamville during late 1875 and early 1876.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

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"SHOOTING AT GLENDRAKE.
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The second day's meeting of the American Rifle Association took place yesterday at Glen Drake near Pelhamville, Westchester county.  The first contest was a subscription match.  The winners were:  --  Lieutenant Hofele, 20 points; John Gorham, 18; H. Fisher, ,16.  The prizes in the subscription match, at 500 yards, were won by H. Fisher, 23; Lieutenant Hofele, 18; John Gorham, 18.

The Ladies' Match was won by A. W. Peck on a score of 22.  G. O. Starr took the second prize, with 17 points, and Captain E. Cardoze came in third on a score of 10 points.

Shooting for the Westchester Cup was not finished last night.  To-morrow a subscription match, an all-comers' contest and a competition for the De Peyster Badge, valued at $300, will occur."

Source:  SHOOTING AT GLENDRAKE, The New York Herald, Oct. 29, 1875, p. 5, cols. 2-3. 

"THE RIFLE.
-----

The American Rifle Team will shoot off at Creedmoor, on the 29th inst., for the Providence prize won in October last.  

On the 25th inst. (next Thursday) the American Rifle Association are to hold a meeting on their ranges at Glen  Drake.  Five matches are to be shot, namely, the All Comers', a Subscription, De Peyster badge -- team matches -- and 'an old time turkey shoot.'"

Source:  THE RIFLE, The New York Herald, Nov. 19, 1875, p. 5, col. 6.

"THANKSGIVING DAY
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A Day of General Gladmess and Rejoicing.
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The Family Reunions and Family Dinners.
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THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. . . .

The American Rifle Association offers a series of prizes to be contested at Glen Drake Range, near Pelhamville, Westchester county, concluding with an 'old time turkey shoot.'  Company G, Seventy-first regiment, Captain Weber commanding, will hold a friendly contest at the same place with Company B, Twenty-seventh regiment, of Westchester, Thursday.

The American Rifle Association of Mount Vernon have made arrangements for a lively time.  Company G, Seventy-first regiment, N.G.S.N.Y., will participate in the shooting matches to take place at Glen Drake.  At Mount Vernon the company will be received by Company B, Twenty-seventh regiment, and escorted through the village and thence to Glen Drake.  The De Peyster Badge and several other prizes will be contested for, after which some poultry prizes will be shot for. . . ."

Source:  THANKSGIVING DAY -- A Day of General Gladmess and Rejoicing -- The Family Reunions and Family Dinners -- THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS, The New York Herald, Nov. 24, 1875, p. 5, col. 6.

"THE RIFLE IN WESTCHESTER -- A GALA DAY AMONG MARKSMEN AT GLEN DRAKE RANGE.

Under the auspices of the American Rifle Association, a series of interesting matches came off yesterday at Glen Drake range, near Pelhamville, Westchester county.  As some of the prizes to be shot for were open to all sorts and conditions of marksmen, and as the weather was all that could be desired, the attendance was large, it being estimated that not less than 2,500 persons visited the grounds during the day.

First on the programme was a 'Subscription Match,' distance 300 yards; any rifle; trigger pull, three pounds; position, standing and firing from the shoulder; entrance fee $1.  One-half of the entrance money to be for the benefit of the association; balance to be divided among the three highest scores; entrances not limited.  The firing in this match was at a 200 yards target, each competitor being allowed five shots, in addition to two sighting shots.  When the shooting ceased at four o'clock, F. Hyde was declared the highest scorer, having made twenty points out of a possible twenty-five.  The remaining two highest scores were not known when darkness set in.

The next was an 'All Comers' Match,' the distance, targets and conditions being similar to the foregoing, excepting that each man had seven shots.  To the winners in this contest there were offered five prizes, varying in value from $35 to $5.  The following are the names of the successful contestants and their scores out of a possible thirty-five:  --  Frederick Backofen, Company G., Forty seventh regiment N.G.S.N.Y., 26; Philip Crookspire, Company K, Twenty-seventh regiment N.G.S.N.Y., 24; Colonel George D. Scott, 24; Sergeant W. A. French, Seventh regiment N.G.S.N.Y., 24; Ordnance Sergeant T. R. Murphy, Eighth regiment N.G.S.N.Y., 24.

Another and without doubt the most interesting contest was the 'De Peyster Badge Match,' open only to members of the National Guard, in uniform.  The badge is of gold, appropriately designed and richly chased.  Its value is about $400.  This must be won three times before any member can lay claim to it.  The weapons used were military rifles, the distance, position, &c., being the same as in the two preceding matches.  The competitors had each seven shots at the target.  In this match Frederick Backofen took the prize, scoring twenty-five out of a possible thirty-five.

The 'old time turkey shoot,' provided the opposite to lucrative on the part of the projectors.  In the first place, it was intended that the head of a live turkey should be exposed as a target, but Mr. Bergh, having received an intimation of the proposed cruelty to birds, placed his veto on that particular feature of the sport.  Accordingly it was decided to decapitate the turkeys, and then allow the head and neck of each bird to be operated upon by the marksmen at a distance of 100 yards with regulation muskets.  The entrance fee was fifteen cents per shot.  Before the receipts had commenced to accumulate the stock of turkeys rapidly decreased, and when a party took two birds out of four shots there was a hearty laugh given by the spectators, which was changed to a roar as Philip Crookspire, after firing six shots, carried off the last four turkeys remaining, and thus put an end to the fun."

Source:  THE RIFLE IN WESTCHESTER -- A GALA DAY AMONG MARKSMEN AT GLEN DRAKE RANGE, The New York Herald, Nov. 26, 1875, p. 7, col. 2.

"THE RIFLE.
-----

The American Rifle Association has proposed a series of matches that are to come off to-morrow at the ranges near Glen Drake, Pelhamville, N.Y.  The following matches will be contested:  --  

SUBSCRIPTION MATCH.  --  Distance, 300 yards; any rifle; trigger pull, three pounds; position, off-hand; entrance fee, $1.  One-half of entrance money to be for benefit of association; balance divided between three highest scores.  Hours of shooting -- 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M., and 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M.  Entries are not limited.

ALL-COMERS' MATCH.  --  Conditions  --  Distance, 300 yards; any rifle; trigger pull, three pounds; position, off-hand; entrance, $1 to members, $1 50 to others.  Hours of shooting -- 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M., and 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M.  First prize, $20 value; second prize, $15 value; third prize, $10 value; fourth prize, $5 value; fifth prize, $3 value.

DE PEYSTER BADGE MATCH.  (Presented by General J. Watts De Peyster; value, $300.)  --  Distance, 300 yards; open to any bona fide member of the National Guard; military rifles only; position, off-hand; trigger pull, six pounds; seven scoring shots, two sighting shots; contestants must shoot in uniform.

LADIES' MATCH.  --  Prizes, three in number, valued at $15, $10 $6.  Conditions  --  Distance, 300 yards; any rifle; trigger pull, not less than three pounds; position, off-hand; entrance fee, $1.  Hours of shooting -- 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M., and 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M."

Source:  THE RIFLE, The New York Herald, Dec. 24, 1875, p. 6, col. 5.  

"WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. . . . 

The American Rifle Association have made up a series of rifle matches to be contested on their ranges at Glen Drake near Pelhamville.  The boys are wiping out their old Antietam muskets and making ready for sharp practice. . . ."

Source:  WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, The New York Herald, Feb. 19, 1876, p. 10, col. 3.

"AMERICAN RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
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The American Rifle Association have made arrangements for a meeting on their ranges at Glen Drake, near Pelhamville, on Tuesday next.  The programme embraces three matches.  The first is a subscription match; distance, 300 yards; any rifle; off hand; entrance fee $1; one-half of the money to be divided among those who make the three best scores.  Entries not limited.  The second is an all-comers' match; distance, 300 yards; any rifle; off hand; entrance fee $1 to members, $1 50 to all others.  First prize a $25 badge, second prize a $15 badge and third prize $3 in value.  Third match -- Distance, 300 yards; military rifles only; off hand; open to bona fide members of the National Guard in uniform; entrance fee $1 for members, $1 50 for all others.  First prize a $25 badge, second prize a $15 badge and third prize $3 in value."

Source:  AMERICAN RIFLE ASSOCIATION, The New York Herald, Feb. 20, 1876, p. 6, col. 5.  

"SHOOTING AT GLEN DRAKE.
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The spring meeting of the American Rifle Association at Glen Drake range yesterday was very poorly attended, owing, doubtless, to a misunderstanding, arising out of the inevitable postponement on account of the weather, of the programme arranged for the preceding day.  There were fifteen entries for the All Comers' match, the conditions of which were:  --  Distance, 200 yards; position, off hand; rifle, any within rules; military rifle allowed five points.  The first prize in this match was a pickle service, valued at $25, which was won by Major F. Shonnard, who presented it to the association with the understanding that it be shot for at a future day on conditions to be named by himself.  The second prize, a silver cruet stand, was carried off by Henry Grohman.  Next on the programme was a military match, off hand; distance, similar to the foregoing, five shots with military rifles.  This was won by Frederick Crookspeare, who scored 21 out of a possible 25.  The prize was a handsome gold military badge.  A subscription match at the same distance and under corresponding conditions with the two former followed.  The entries numbered eighteen.  In the contest one-half of the entrance money went to the association, the residue being divided among the three highest scorers.  The first and second prizes were awarded to D. F. Davids, who scored 21 out of a possible 25, the third prize being secured by Major Shonnard, whose score numerically equalled that of the first named.  A subscription match, distance, 500 yards; position, any; rifle, any within rules; military rifle allowed five points, closed the day's proceedings.  For this match there were seventeen entries.  It was won by Major Shonnard, who scored 21 points out of a possible 25, and which, with the allowance of five points on his military rifle, carried his score ahead of that of F. F Davids, who made 23 points on the target.  The De Peyster badge, valued at $300, will be once more contested for to-day."

Source:  SHOOTING AT GLEN DRAKE, The New York Herald, May 20, 1876, p. 3, col. 6. 

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