GUN CLUB: “One of sportdom’s oldest landmarks in the area – the
Bradford Gun Club in Foster Brook – will soon be razed, with many
memories literally going down the drain.”
That was the lead in a story in the June 14, 1968, Bradford Era
about the old gun club that was torn down 40 years ago to make way
for the Bradford Mall.
Since many of our readers remember the old club, we thought we’d
bring back a few memories by reprinting a few paragraphs about the
old club and its history in Bradford.
“Clay-pigeon shooting in the Foster Brook area has been in
existence since Aug. 4, 1880, when a group of oil producers formed
the Bradford Shooting Club. According to the incorporation papers
of the association, the objects were for ‘the protection of game
and fish and the culture of its members in marksmanship and social
intercourse.’
The first site of the club was near the area now housing the
Motel DeSoto. The land was apparently rented from Joseph S.
Seaward, great-grandfather of Mckean County Recorder of Deeds Ralph
Caverly. Seaward Avenue in East Bradford was named after the late
Joseph Seaward.
The articles continues: “However, on May 13, 1910, the Bradford
Gun Club came into existence with the key men being the late L.E.
Mallory Sr., L.E. Mallory Jr., C.D. Henline and George A. Bodine.
On Feb. 3, 1911, Mr. Mallory Jr., father of Tom D. Mallory and
Lewis E. Mallory the 3rd and Mrs. Marjorie Mallory Habgood,
president of the club, met with 19 other members in Hotel Holley
for the purpose of voting for a new clubhouse at the present site,
soon to be torn down.”
Many of the club founders were also in the oil business.
The article also notes that the membership secured Andy Graham
of Bradford to prepare the architectural plans. The cost to build
the structure was ,3,600. The stone used in the building was stone
cut at the Mallory lease and hauled by teams of horses to the
Foster Brook site. Shooters from all the United States and Canada
partook in the various tournaments over the years.
Back in 1950-51, the club received 30 percent of an ,11,000
realized from the sale of lead recovered from spent shells taken
out of the ground -almost as much as was invested by the local club
back in 1911.
