The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 39l
i
Leaf for many of the community
groups such as the Maple Leaf
Sewing Circle, the Baseball Team
and the Rifle Club.
Today this community, more
commonly known as Town
Line North, is a mix of family
farms, retirement bungalows and a,
few commercial businesses, looking
across large apple orchards down to
the prominent white water tower in
Thornbury. Farther to the east are the
Blue Mountains which gives their
name to the newly -amalgamated
municipality. The baseball team, one -
room school and country church are
now only memories of earlier times
but the Maple Leaf Rifle Club is still
thriving and its members are
preserving one of the few remaining
rural traditions.
While awaiting their turn to shoot,
several members recount one story
During WWI and WWII
the government provided the
rifle clubs with bullets
from earlier years about digging the
lead from spent bullets out of the
bank behind the target. Those were
times when folks did not have money
for ammunition, so the lead would be
melted down on the forge, the
impurities skimmed off and the shells
reloaded.
During WWI and WWII the
government provided the rifle clubs
with bullets with the idea that they
would train men to handle and use
rifles in preparation for joining the
army or acting as the Home Guard.
Following the last war the army sold
its BSA training rifles as surplus and
some of the members are still using
them today.
Art Mackey, the senior member of
the group, recalls his grandfather
being one of the original members of
the Maple Leaf Rifle Club. Today
two of Art's grandsons are on the
roster, taking their turn shooting and
helping their father with the shared
duties.
Most of the club members were
raised with guns which have long
been an integral part of rural life. The
consensus among this group is that
the youth should learn to handle and
use firearms in a safe, supervised
situation such as the Rifle Club
provides. Safe handling of the
firearms is strictly adhered to and it is
Harvey Edwards responsibility to
ensure that members, guests and
visiting shooters understand and
abide by the rules. In the many
decades that the Rifle Clubs have
been organized, no one can recall
there ever being a mishap.
Shooting off a rest, and under the
watchful eye of their father, Matt and
Reid Wilson obviously have a good
understanding, and respect for the 22 -
caliber rifle, and take pride in their
marksmanship.
Although this weekly tradition
has remained much the same
for many decades, the club
has adapted to the changing times. A
few years ago they joined the Ontario
Federation of Hunters and Anglers so
the group could obtain liability
insurance. Also, with the changing
attitudes and regulations concerning
firearms, the club wanted to have the
support of a larger organization
which has a similar attitude towards
guns should there be attempts to close
the rifle clubs.
There was considerable discussion
about the confusion surrounding the
new legislation on gun control, and
which permits and licenses were
required. Information that was
downloaded from the internet
regarding the safe storage of various
classifications of guns was
distributed. The club is obviously
committed to practicing and
promoting the responsible use of
firearms.
The Maple Leaf Rifle Club has
played an important role in this small
rural community for many years and
this is perhaps most evident at the
traditional Good Friday potluck
supper. Bob Mackey. the club
president, points out that this
gathering is now the only time whert
the community gets together to
socialize and share a meal. Infants,
grandparents, members and
neighbours spend an evening at a
local hall visiting and watching the
presentation of the club trophies for
marksmanship and sportsmanship.
Times may be changing but the
Maple Leaf Rifle Club is looking
forward to celebrating its 100th
anniversary.0
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MAY 2000 35