History
An Historical Look At The Tyrone Sportsmen’s Association
Verbal claims from some of our original founding members have it that area sportsmen had loosely associated as early as 1924. When they had decided to incorporate, forty-six local sportsmen approached the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County, all signing the original Charter.
The Tyrone Sportsmen’s Association, Incorporated, of Tyrone Pennsylvania (TSA) was formally chartered on
17 APR 33. The TSA was “formed for the protection and preservation of our forests, the protection of game, song and insectivorous birds and fish, and the dissemination of information relating thereto; for aiding the enforcement of the laws of the Commonwealth governing the same, and to unite the efforts and influences of all law abiding citizens within the state, in securing such future legislation, upon these subjects, as may be considered best suited to advance the interests of the people of the commonwealth at large.”
We reorganized in 1952. Since we didn't yet have a home to call our own, we held meetings mostly in the
Pennsylvania National Guard Armory, but also on occasion at Moose Park, Boy Scout Camp Anderson, the Citizen’s Fire Company hall, The YMCA, Black Brothers garage, and the residence of a past president.
1952 - The TSA was involved with the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Food and Cover program since it’s
reorganizing.
1952-1964 - Over 10,000 coniferous, and fruit and nut bearing trees were planted on our grounds.
On 22 SEP 53, we approved a bid of $3,026.00 on property of 116 acres owned by the Kiwanis Club, Inc. This tract
was situated at McCann’s Crossing which was the site of the Walter L. Maine circus train wreck. A special meeting on 14 0CT 53 was held where it was announced that we had the winning bid, and our Real Estate Committee had recently purchased this tract.
24 AUG 54, we began work on our rifle ranges.
1955 - The TSA was certified as a member of the American Tree Farm Movement.
17 MAY 55 - We began planning of a clubhouse.
03 0CT 55 - C. E. Dixon, contractor, won with a bid $5,644.00 to construct the original clubhouse.
20 DEC 55 - The TSA property was declared to be alcohol free.
17 JAN 56 - The first regular meeting was held in our recently completed clubhouse. It was one floor 40 x 26 with a 14 x 14 kitchen attached.
APR 56 - The first Big Fish contest was held at Burley Brothers store.
21 MAY 57 - The first Field Days was proposed and the parking lot was constructed.
15 0CT 57 - Out first Field Day competition.
18 NOV 57 - The first Big Buck contest was proposed.
18 AUG 59 - The idea of a pond was first proposed. At the time there was too much red tape, so the idea was set aside.
NOV 59 - The first Big Buck contest was held at the Agway building.
16 AUG 60 - A trap shooting range was proposed. Work began immediately.
16 MAY 61 - An expansion of the clubhouse building was first proposed.
31 MAY 61 - Authorization of clubhouse construction pending mortgage.
20 JUN 61 - Construction of the clubhouse addition began following the meeting where the mortgage was announced. Construction progressed through OCT 61, though most of the building was framed and under roof in just two days through the efforts of dedicated members. It was two floors, adding 64 x 38 onto the original structure.
21 AUG 62 - Concrete steps from the parking lot to the clubhouse were installed.
19 JUN 62 - The first annual membership to reach 1,000 members.
15 JAN 63 - Pond construction re-proposed.
15 JUL 64 - The parking lot was blacktopped.
15 DEC 64 - The possibility of purchasing the Houser tract across the road came up. This adjoining tract was 222 acres and had several out structures.
22 OCT 65 - Construction of the dam started.
16 NOV 65 - The dam was completed.
25 FEB 66 - At a Special meeting, the purchase of the Houser tract was authorized. This brought the current club
acreage to 338.
17 OCT 67 - The last mortgage payment was ordered making us debt free and on our own.
19 DEC 67 - The TSA presents free membership to local active duty servicemen.
19 MAR 68 - The chimney is tom down.
1968 - The second trap station is built.
15 AUG 69 - The first increase in membership dues takes affect. Annual dues increases from $1.00 to $2.00.
15 JUL 69 - Night lighting of trap fields is completed.
20 JAN 70 - Winter archery shoots begin indoors.
25 MAY 70 - The back porch is finished.
OCT 71 - parking lot and road around to the back of the clubhouse are repaved. (Remember how long that lump of
blacktop sat out there?!)
21 AUG 73 - An oil furnace was installed.
21 AUG 73 - The Running Deer station for our Field Days Competition was changed to the dam area.
21 AUG 73 - Construction of the covered firing line.
18 SEP 73 - A new road was cut to the barn.
NOV 73 - The Big Buck contest is held at the clubhouse for the first time.
FALL 74 - Construction of the two-bay garage adjacent to the clubhouse.
NOV 75 - A new small bore rifle team was formed for indoors.
20 JUL 76 - The Disappearing Bear station for our Field Days competition was constructed in its current location
across the road from the clubhouse.
20 APR 76 - A club record for the number of shots during a single Turkey Shoot season was announced at 19,670
shots.
18 DEC 79 - Shoulder patches were first distributed to entries in our Big Fish and Big Buck competitions.
18 MAR 80 - A steel beam backing was installed for our turkey shoots.
02 MAR 82 - By unanimous vote, there will be no right-of-way granted for anywhere across club property.
11 MAY 82 - An increase in membership dues takes effect. Annual membership increases from $2.00 to $3.00 and Life memberships from $25.00 to $50.00.
16 AUG 83 - We started a silhouette shooting league.
17 JAN 84 - The recently formed Basmasters is granted use of the clubhouse for their meetings every second Tuesday.
20 MAR 84 - Work begins on installing steps at the rifle range.
17 APR 84 - We place our Honor Roll plaque in the front foyer.
18 SEP 84 - Running Deer shoots begin separate from our Field Days competition.
20 NOV 84 - Inter-club Running Deer shoots proposed due to the success of the activity.
15 OCT 85 - The TSA hosts the Pennsylvania State Silhouette Shoot for the first time. The event had 595 shooters
compete in State Shoot sanctioned events. This was 6 shooters shy of the national record set in California, even though that shoot had competitors in extra events.
19 AUG 86 - Our muzzle-loader range is installed.
16 SEP 86 - Newly created junior memberships are 25 cents.
17 FEB 87 - After obtaining the advice of legal counsel, all of the TSA club shares are decided to be liquidated.
21 JUL 87 - A dues increase for Junior membership takes effect and rises from 25 cents to 50 cents for all members
fifteen years of age and under.
20 OCT 87 - TSA stocks will no longer be redeemed.
17 NOV 87 - Hawbaker of State College won the bid to complete the dredging of our pond.
16 AUG 88 - The TSA pond is made available for the Penn State scuba club.
NOV 92 - The Keystone Sportsmen for Youth is formed by local sportsmen’s clubs. The TSA will host the first annual
Youth Field Day.
MAY 93 - Fifteen grass carp are purchased for algae control in our pond.
JUL 93 - Silhouette shoots are suspended.
17 MAR 98 - Wheelchair access to trap ranges installed.
21 APR 98 - The TSA experiments with a seasonal news-letter.
18 MAY 99 - The State College Police Department requests the use of our ranges for their annual training and firearms qualification. This was approved provided that the Department sponsor regular memberships to their officers.
18 JAN 05 - The Big Buck contest is suspended.
15 NOV 05 - The clubhouse roof is re-shingled with 30-year shingles.
20 JUN 06 - The new bio-degradable clay birds are purchased for our trap shoots.
17 AUG 10 - A new set of voice-activated trap pullers was purchased for the club’s trap shoots.
18 JAN 11 - Due to safety and liability issues, the TSA disallowed ice skating on the pond.
15 NOV 11 - Small bore shoots at our indoor range are suspended.
17 JAN 12 - Gates were installed at the road to the barn and at the parking area for the pond.
08 SEP 12 - A 48” carp was caught and released at out pond by eight year old Corbin Lego.
16 OCT 12 - Lead reclamation from our trap range yields over 100,000 pounds of lead.
JAN 13 - The TSA hosted the Penn State Archery club’s Invitational Archery Tournament.
21 MAY 13 - The ditch from the dam to the railway was piped and covered.
21 SEP 13 - A dry hydrant was installed at the pond for use in fire department training and easier firefighting
capability for our club.
15 0CT 13 - The TSA sets up an internet website at www.tyronesportsmen.com.
** A special thanks to Mike Fink for the time and effort to create this historical timeline!!