Gun Clubs Around Meriden....

MarketHunter · 08-31-2021, 08:28 PM

There was at one time something called the Parker Gun Club so I've been told, there was a Meriden Rod & Gun Club, and the Silver City Gun Club. Were there any other clubs around Meriden that were sportsman related?

stumpstalker · 09-01-2021, 07:51 AM

Destry:

I used my "call a friend" option, and reached out to someone that I knew had a good frame-of-reference for organized outdoor activities and the Meriden area.

His answer to me:

"My dad belonged to the Meriden R&G for a time I remember, we left there when I was 10. Silver City and Parker make sense as the Parker shotguns were first made there and International Silver was a big player in town, during the [Second World] war effort my mother was there as they were moved to make surgical instruments. There was also the Blue Trail rifle range in the nearby area, but not sure if it was in the city limits. It was an open range but I don't think it was a membership club although there may have been some leagues etc"

Not dispositive, by any stretch, but it may contribute to your being able to piece together a plausible answer to your question.

I see when looking online that there is a Blue Trail Rifle Range today, with a Wallingford, CT address. There may be someone there that could flesh-out some background detail for you. I know that some R & G clubs have retained their original place names after having moved to a region of less congestion.

https://www.bluetrailrange.com

edgarspencer · 09-01-2021, 08:23 AM

Blue Trail was owned by the Lyman Gunsight Co, and is located in Middlefield CT. In my early days, My dad shot the 600 yard range there. There were 10 stations on that range. I don't believe the 600yard range exists today.

Louis Rotelli · 09-01-2021, 09:15 AM

Blue Trail is still in existence it is in Wallingford Ct. There is still a Lyman shooting grounds in fact the Yale skeet and trap clubs shoot there. Not really sure of the location.

Garth Gustafson · 09-01-2021, 02:10 PM

The Bristol Gun Club, about 10 miles from Meriden was a very successful club in the early 1900s. Back then, the Hartford Courant regularly covered their weekly shoots and tournaments. My great uncle was a member and I’d love to find some memorabilia from that club (now defunct).

Louis Rotelli · 09-01-2021, 04:07 PM

Bristol gun club is still active as a matter of fact it it one of the largest clubs in CT

Garth Gustafson · 09-01-2021, 04:57 PM

Lou, Did they change names? I can’t find them listed.

Autumn Daze · 09-02-2021, 05:51 AM

Wallingford Rod and Gun is right down the street from Blue Trail. Sporting and Trap

Louis Rotelli · 09-02-2021, 08:34 AM

It is now Bristol Fish and Game club with over 2500 members and has skeet trap sporting clays, indoor pistol, outdoor pistol and archery, rifle shooting , fishing and hunting.

There was also a Winchester gun club in Hamden and of course the Remington gun club in Lordship where the great eastern trap shoot was held. Both are closed now

Dean Romig · 09-02-2021, 08:52 AM

I've often read that Remington's Lordship was a Skeet destination of some distinction, this is the first time I've heard of it being a trap destination. Thanks Lou!

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