by James C. Fulmer | Past President, NMLRA
When Deborah Wehr approached me two years ago to bring the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s reproduction 18th century rifling machine to Union County “Rural Heritage Days” in my home state of Pennsylvania, I had to turn her down. The rifling machine that was built by Ron Greene and donated to the NMLRA by his widow has been used in demonstrations of rifling barrels the “old fashion” way all over the country. Many people have no idea what rifling is or how it was developed. The general public as a whole know shotguns are used for close range and rifles are used for long range, but don’t understand what makes a rifle special. So every chance Mike Wegert, Wes Griest, and I get, we go to events and demonstrate rifling barrels on this hand-powered rifling machine for the NMLRA. My schedule is filled up over a year in advance with numerous shows, so I had to say no for 2014.
Three generations at Rendezvous, right to left, Linda Fulmer with granddaughter Jacqueline, and daughter Jean Barnard.
Deborah is the Chairwoman for Union County Historical Society’s “Rural Heritage Days” and is one of those great people every organization needs — she is persistent. Asking me for the following year and contacting me several times reminding of the date — July 11, 2015 — for the event, I found myself saying yes. My wife, Linda usually attends these events with me, dressed in period clothes, and not only helps with the rifling machine, but also sells NMLRA memberships. The NMLRA is a well kept secret and this rifling machine demonstration gets people talking — not only about history, but the muzzleloading sport.
For the past 12 years Union County has hosted their event at the Dale/Engle/Walker farm. The farm has an old limestone house on it that had a collection of original longrifles made in “Old Union County” on display in the parlor that day. The host of the firearms display was Ed Smeltz, and he could talk all day about the gunmakers of Union County. Many gunmakers that apprenticed in Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, and Lancaster Counties would move to Union County in the late 18th and early 19th century.
It was a great event with all kinds of early American crafts — from soap making, tinsmiths, blacksmiths, horn working, quilting, beekeeping, basket making, and Windsor chair making. In all there were 36 different craftsmen and demonstrators present.
The public could also take in the experience of actually shooting a muzzleloader. Members of the Union County Muzzle Loaders were on hand to guide any age visitor through the steps to load and actually shoot a muzzleloading rifle as it was done 200 years ago.
It was an outstanding event. I was teaching about the history of rifling and demonstrating on the rifling machine, but I was also learning. Several people from the area kept asking, “Did you get the barrel blank [that I was rifling] from the Widow Smith?” I would tell them, “No, I got it from Colerain Barrel Company out by Ft. Roberdeau.” Not one, but several members of the visiting public asked me this. I didn’t know who the “Widow Smith” was, and asked, “Does she sell barrel blanks?” Wow, you can always learn something at any event. The widow Catherine Smith must have been a woman well ahead of her time. I read a little about her after the event. I found there is a roadside marker that says that she owned and operated a saw and grist mill and completed a boring mill during 1776 and drilled many gun barrels for the Continental Army until an Indian raid burned her out in 1779. From what little I have read she lived a hard but interesting life. The historical marker is located in a park off old Route 15 in White Deer, PA.
When I write about events like this I don’t expect you to travel from California to attend an event here in Pennsylvania. What I am hoping is that when you see a heritage day event or an event put on by a historical society in your area, that you will support it by either demonstrating or attending. The knowledge that you can pick up at these local events is amazing and priceless.
There are many events this year that brought light on hazy history such as Northeastern Primitive Rendezvous which is hosted by the National Rendezvous and Living History Foundation. This year the pre-1840 event was held at the French Azilum site on Queens Road, Towanda, PA, July 18-25. This is a historical site that few people have even heard of and many local people only visited for the first time during this event.
French Azilum is located on a bend on the Susquehanna River near present day Towanda. During the French Revolution, it was flee or face the guillotine for the people loyal to King Louis XVI in 1793. This spot provided refuge for the Loyalist French refugees. Some even believed it was possible for the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and her two children to use French Azilum as their new home. In the plans of the old town there was even a house built for the queen. The history of the town was brief, with many refugees only living there about ten years until Napoleon Bonaparte granted repatriation rights to the French citizens who had fled abroad to escape imprisonment or the guillotine.
My wife, daughter and granddaughter were on site at the North Eastern Rendezvous most of the week. I was only able to visit two days because of work. I am also one of the locals – but this was my first time for visiting the site of French Azilum.
You haven’t missed all the great events that 2015 has yet to offer, but the year is beginning to come to an end. In September the NMLRA’s National Championship Shoot will take place Sept. 12-20. This is the largest muzzleloading shooting competition in the world. There are so many matches you cannot even hope to shoot them all, but there is something for everybody who shoots a muzzleloader – from matches that require flintlocks only and period correct clothing to scoped muzzleloading in-lines with shooting jackets — all will compete during this event and you must see it to appreciate it.
At the end of September is the NRLHF Eastern Primitive Rendezvous Sept 25-Oct 3. This year the event is located in Thornton, WV. It’s a pre-1840 event that is great for those who love 18th and early 19th century camping and shooting.
In October is an event that is only in its third year and continues to grow. The NMLRA and Village Restorations & Consulting, Inc. will once again sponsor an 18th Century Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic at historic Fort Roberdeau and Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club, October 9-11, in Sinking Valley, near Huntingdon, PA. Fort Roberdeau was reconstructed in 1976 as a Blair County Bicentennial project on the original site in the Sinking Valley. The “Lead Fort” reminds citizens of the sacrifices that were made in the early days of America. If you are in the area stop in — every year it is getting bigger and better.
The NMLRA will once again host the “Rifle Frolic” portion of the event. The NMLRA will run a large all inclusive schedule of matches. Last year, every type of muzzleloading firearm was fired at this event including scoped in-lines, flintlocks, and over the log rifles weighing over 20 lbs. There was something for everybody. The range is unique in that there is a modern range as well as an area separate from the main range that allows for primitive-style shooting for 18th century firearms and dress only.
The public who attended helped make this event special. The NMLRA has an area for “first shots” at the range where NMLRA range officers give a brief history of the firearm the person chooses to shoot. Those choices range from scoped muzzleloading in-lines to flint and percussion longrifles and half-stock rifles. Nearly 400 visiting public shot during this event. Some were not only shooting a muzzleloader for the first time, but shooting a firearm for the first time. After shooting they were given their targets and many carried them away like diplomas.
Saturday evening we hold a “Come and Meet Your Neighbor” event at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Clubhouse with entertainment, door prizes, and fund raisers to help support the event. The event is terrific and nothing but fun. This year will be no different. If you are in the area in October, stop in and participate. Go to the NMLRA.org website or go to marketfaireandfrolic.com for more information.
As with any event, it takes many volunteer hours to make it happen. If you can volunteer even as much as one hour it would be greatly appreciated. Like many NMLRA events, this event is staffed with volunteers and more volunteer help is always appreciated.
Support your local events; you never know what you will learn, who you might meet, and what kind of fun you will have there! Who knows, I might just see you there.
