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Weekly News October 17, 2005Description
What was it like to attend a trapshooting tournament at Yorklyn? This experience was available to shooters in the decades of the '20's, '30's, and '40's. Trapshooting was always considered an expensive sport, and very few people were able to shoot (or to practice) as much as they'd like because of the cost of it. So shooting for 4 or 5 days at Yorklyn was beyond the means of many trapshooters, but the event had such a reputation that some saved for years in order to come a great distance and "shoot the program". Many others, however, took part in one, two or three days, and many shot only in the night shoots, which were at 50 targets and were much more affordable. Since no shooting took place at Yorklyn on Sundays, Saturday was always the final and largest day, when the "T. C. Marshall Handicap" was held. In handicap trapshooting, a shooter's average and ability were taken into account, and the best shots were stationed 25 yards behind the traphouse (in present-day shooting, the maximum is 27 yards). The poorer shooters were at 17 or 18 yards, and "average" shooters somewhere in between. The object, of course, was to give all shooters an equal chance to win. For many years the Marshall Handicap was at 150 targets, but in 1940 this was reduced to 100, as attendance had grown to the point where there was not enough time between 10 A.M. and 5 P.M. to complete the program with the larger number of targets for each shooter.
On the first day of the week's "shoot", Tuesday, there was usually an introductory program, and sometimes the doubles championship. In trapshooting, "doubles" does not mean two shooters teaming up, but rather each competitor shooting at two targets thrown from the trap simultaneously. On Wednesday was the "Marshall Marathon", the 500-target world's amateur championship (from the normal distance of 16 yards), and on Thursday and Friday the "Brandywine" and the "Auburn Special" respectively, both 200-target* 16-yard events. (*Prior to 1938, these events were shot at 175 targets; in 1940, the "Auburn Special" was reduced to 150). The 2 night shoots, the "Twinkling Stars" on Wednesday and the "Silvery Moon" on Friday were always well-attended, with nearly 300 shooters counted on several occasions. The next installment on trapshooting at Yorklyn will deal with where the shooters stayed, where they came from, and who they were.
This past week, Steve and Jim repaired the smoke box leak on Locomotive 401, and Steve and Steven fired it up on Sunday to test the repair. It appears to be 100%. Several members struggled to mount an under-sized clincher tire on the right rear wheel of the Model H-5 Stanley, but this effort must be tried again, as the tire does not hold air. I have a second new tire on a stretcher, which should make it easier the next time. Steve did some track work, and four of the insulated sections are now in place preparing for our R.R. signals project. We prepared 5 cars to go to either Newtown Square on Saturday or the HCCP Fall Meet on Sunday. Saturday's event was postponed at the last minute, and is rescheduled for this coming Saturday, October 22. Four Stanleys started on Sunday, and three made the 50-mile round-trip successfully: Bill Schwoebel and Anne Cleary in the 1905 Model CX, Jerry Lucas in the '13 Model 78 roadster, and Butch Cannard and Emil Christofano in the '13 Model 76 touring. The fourth car, the '08 Model K, was doing fine but its operator was not, and he turned around 10 miles from home. His excuse was that he couldn't keep his cap on (the wind and no windshield) and couldn't turn it around as he was blinded without a visor. The museum at Newtown Square would still like us to have at least one Stanley there on 10/22, so please let Bill Schwoebel or me know if you can go. They want us there quite early, but will be glad to have us arrive as late as 10:30 or 11:00 A.M.
Local Yorklyn resident Brian Woodcock, along with his wife Linda, have invited all volunteer members of F.A.H.P. to a picnic at their home, 1/2 mile down Route 82 from Auburn Heights, on Sunday afternoon, October 23, from 12 noon until dark. The Woodcocks (a.k.a. the Douglas MacArthurs), want to honor our efforts to improve the Yorklyn community. It is a very casual affair, as you can tell by the generous hours, but Ruth and I suggest that those who would like to accept might want to go as a group about 1:30 P.M. The food will be good, and the pond in the Woodcocks' back yard is worth seeing. Ed Hoffmeister helped build this pond. They would like an approximate count by Thursday evening, 10/20, at our electric car and work session.
Emil Christofano has consented to acquaint those interested in the operation of our Rauch & Lang electric car at a special session on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 in the Museum. He will talk a little about it and demonstrate its operation. Any who would like to practice will have a chance to do so back and forth in the Museum. Only 10 days after that, our October "Steamin' Sunday" will be upon us, and we encourage those of you who can help that day (October 30) to sign the sheet posted in the shop. We are very hopeful of improved attendance, as we've tried to make many aware of where we are and what we have. John McNamara made up a special release just for October which has been circulated, and the Kennett Paper has offered to run a feature article before the event. Halloween is the theme. The British Car Club expects to have about 10 cars on display in the front yard, and Arlie Lane hopes to show off his almost-completed full-sized carousel horse, hand-carved during the past 5 years. Remember there is also a house tour on this date. Talk it up to your friends, and pick up more flyers to distribute!
We are happy to report that Bill Rule was discharged from Temple Univ. Hospital last Friday, and is delighted to be home. His therapy will continue there. Go see him or call at (302) 475-3752. Finally, I must report that a rather mysterious person who is sometimes called "Fanny" was caught running a red light in our '32 Packard on September 26. The citation was issued to me, as I am the car's owner. It was rather unusual as the passenger in the back seat resembled Governor Minner. It's good to have friends in high places, and I've been informed the $75 fine has been waived. The photo of this event, recorded in the citation, is well worth looking at. Come see it! Best wishes to all. Tom
