By: Tim Layman OFFICERS

Transcription

1 Volume XV Issue II February, 2019 OFFICERS President: Norm Pinard Vice President: Tim Layman Secretary: Harry Whitney Treasurer: Frank Knowles Sergeant at Arms: Bob Hartford ADVISORY BOARD Richard Gorman: Thru 2020 Ed Knowles Thru 2019 Wally Paige Thru 2019 Mike Plourde Thru 2019 Earl Sweet Jr. Thru 2019 COMMITTEES Archery: Claude Levesque Boy Scouts: Rob Lopez By-Laws: Ed Knowles Building: Frank Knowles Grounds: Richard Gorman Hunter Ed: Brian Quist Kitchen: Norm Pinard Newsletter: Tim Layman Range: Eric Rivard Spacetown Beagle Club: Richie Houde Town Fair: Tim Layman Ways & Means: Elected Officers Web Site: Brian Handley By: Tim Layman With the recent issues of granting an easement for electrical service to a local builder, I have been presented with numerous questions surrounding club property and why we value it so keenly. I wrote the story below in March 2015 that presents a chronicle of events leading up to our current holdings and the commitment we made for its use. Up until November 2015, if I had asked each of our 290 plus members how Raymond Sportsman s Club came to own the land that we operate on today, there wouldn t be more than a handful that could even make an attempt explaining it. As it turns out, even members that have been associated with RSC for the lion s share of our 55 years in existence, were not sure about some of the details. As in most small volunteer organizations, historical record keeping seldom take priority over issues of the day and our club is no exception. Much of what we learn about the The fee for RSC membership renewal is due between April 1st and April 30th. This newsletter is your official notification and there is no grace period beyond 4/30. If your dues are not received by April 30th, your membership will end. To rejoin, you will be considered in the order your application is received. Regular /Associate dues are $96 and Senior Regular/Associate dues are $48. As RSC members, you are also subject to a $100 surcharge if you did not log 12 work hours during the current membership year and that is due early years of our beloved club is more a result of folklore and speculation than of any sort of documented activities. I personally heard so many different accounts of how Raymond Sportsman s Club acquired the land we call home, I decided to commit some time to researching its origin. It is common knowledge that Raymond Sportsman s Club was founded in 1960 by a group of individuals who at the time had no apparent holdings but shared the common interest of pursuits in the out of doors. For the better part of twenty years this fledgling organization held their meetings at the local VFW hall. Early in the club s development, probably through an association with one of the founding members, a local family by the name of Guyette offered Raymond Sportsman s Club use of some of their property. (Continued on page 2) along with your annual fees. Harry Whitney, the RSC Secretary, maintains the official list of hours worked. If you mail your dues to PO Box 725 Raymond, NH and do not meet the following criteria, your check will be returned to you. Along with your payment you must include your current mailing address, current phone number, current address (if you have one) and a copy of your current NRA membership card. Please send a 55-cent stamp with your dues and your card and key will be sent to you.

2 At the time, Willis and Lesley Guyette lived in the little house just east of the club entrance, where six of their seven children were born, and all were raised. Willis Guyette was employed as a cobbler in a shoe shop in Derry and was the proprietor of several parcels of land that had been in the Guyette family for generations. The sections of land that we now use for our archery and firearm ranges as well as much of the area Spacetown Beagle Club operates on, were particular favorites of Willis Guyette. Since most of the land I refer to was either sand and ledge or under water part of the year, it wasn t a likely candidate for tillable acres. What this property did offer was a waterway, formally named Mountain Brook, that fed into Fordway Brook that eventually feeds into the Exeter River watershed. More importantly, the land was rich with timber, fish and wildlife. Willis Guyette spent much of his life fishing, hunting and cutting timber from this property that he believed to be a sportsman s paradise. It was his hope to someday preserve the integrity of this land so it would serve the purpose he believed it was created for. In August 1964 Willis and Lesley Guyette deeded a parcel of land, approximately 88 acres in size, to Raymond Sportsman s Club in exchange for a commitment to use it for the purpose of fostering Good sportsmanship. This original parcel of land begins about 155 feet beyond the little bridge, just past the clubhouse as you head to the ranges and progresses west beyond the ranges all the way to Todd Rd, south to the Chester line and back to the first spot I sited. At the time of the transfer of ownership, there was no bridge, no road and no real access to this landlocked parcel. It wasn t until Walter Paige Sr. finished college at Jacksonville State University and returned to Raymond to work at the family restaurant, that this property began to evolve. Walter Sr. married the daughter of Willis and Lesley Guyette and eventually built the house on the hill at our club entrance to serve as a camp while he and his family lived in Billerica, MA. In the early 70 s, Walter Sr. and his family moved from Billerica to Raymond and established year-round residency in the home that we pass every time we enter our club. In the process of developing his new homestead, the RSC entrance, as we know it today, began to take shape. Not too much is known about the activity of Raymond Sportsman s Club members developing their newly acquired land until the early 70 s, even though people living nearby remember the property did see use. It appears that sometime during those first few years following the first gift of real estate, there was discussion with the Guyette family surrounding the land, east of Mountain Brook, that separated the club property from easier access to Chester Road. I say that because in the summer of 1968, the Guyette family offered to let Raymond Sportsman s Club purchase an additional parcel of land that would establish the club s property line no more than a few hundred yards from Chester Road (Route 102). In August 1968, Willis and Lesley Guyette deeded an additional parcel of property to Raymond Sportsman s Club, approximately 25 acres, for the total sum of $600. Market value in Raymond and surrounding towns for undeveloped timber land ranged from $175 to $400 per acre in Even if you calculate the value at the low end of the range, Raymond Sportsman s Club acquired an important piece of property worth nearly $5000, for $200 down and $10 per month until the debt was paid off. This second parcel of land is the area where our clubhouse, pavilion, garage and pond are located today. At some point along the way, the driveway leading to the Paige homestead was designated a Class 6 (not maintained or repaired by town) road and named County Line Road. The road that we use as our club entrance still appears on the Town of Raymond tax map today as County Line Road. The name was later changed to Branch Road, because the addresses that are issued by the US Post Office in Raymond and approved by the local fire department has identified the address for both Raymond Sportsman s Club and Spacetown Beagle Club as #20 Branch Road Raymond, NH

3 So, if you re keeping track of the time, Raymond Sportsman s Club, 8 years after its inception in 1960, now has deed to approximately 113 acres of undeveloped land, a handful of members and a contract to teach and develop good sportsmanship within the community. Now 59 years later, our membership has grown, and the club has chosen to maintain our headcount to no more than 250 to 300, to preserve the feel and advantages associated with a smaller close net group. RSC still holds the deed for the original 113 acres and maintains it with the assistance of its long-time tenant/comrade Spacetown Beagle Club. In late 2015, our voting membership decided to officially recognize and pay tribute to the individuals responsible for both the acquisition and for the early development of the Raymond Sportsman s Club. The membership unanimously approved creating a plaque to be dedicated to the efforts and to the memory of those who were truly responsible for the land and the facilities we have the privilege to enjoy today. After hearing about this movement, two of our long-term Life members took upon themselves to skillfully craft the text to be inscribed on the plaque. Don & Anne- Marie McCormack, now retired and living in New Hampton NH, worked with our leadership group and authored the text that appears on the plaque hanging upstairs on the south wall in the clubhouse today. I presented this plaque, on behalf of Raymond Sportsman s Club, to Walter Paige Jr., at the 2016 Annual Game Dinner and it will continue to hang in our clubhouse as long as the building stands. Below is the inscription as it appears on the plaque. Please read it and give thanks to those who contributed to what we enjoy today. For the acquisition of our property and recognizing the people involved in the donation, sale and care of this land. The Raymond Sportsman's Club Charter Members; For their foresight and investment in the future. Willis and Lesley Guyette; For the gift of land in 1964 and for generous financing on our land purchase in The Spacetown Beagle Club For our building foundation and for being good tenants. The Membership since 1980 For that has been accomplished in the last 35 years. We, the current membership do hereby recognize and appreciate those that came before us and we pledge to continue to promote Don Anne-Marie McCormack December 2015

4 June 02 Clay Target Shoot July 21 Open Pistol Shoot Aug Rimfire Rifle Shoot -25 rounds total -25ft. & 50ft. -10 rounds total -50 yds. - moving target -20 rounds total -No.22 Mag calibers Sept 8 Running Deer Shoot -50 yards w/shotgun Slugs only - 5 rounds total Sept 22 Bench Rest Rifle Shoot - 50 yards // 10 rounds - iron sights only yards // 10 rounds - optical sights allowed Oct 06 Muzzle loader Shoot -50 yds. - 5 rounds total Oct 13 Turkey Shoot -Shotgun // birdshot -5 rounds total - Factory ammunition only A Pair of UMBERTI Model Cal. Revolvers Never fired Cap & Ball Revolvers! Two Extra Cylinders Round Balls 200+ Caps #10 Three pounds Triple 777Powder Cylinder Reloading Swaging Tool Total Cost New was $850+ For Sale Both guns for $475 Contact Arthur Isaksen in person or at

5 PAGE 5 50 / 50 Drawings 50/50 Drawing: January 2nd, 2018 Won by: Tom Faunce 50/50 Drawing: January 16th, 2018 Won by: Gerry Marchant ALERT! All members leaving the shooting ranges MUST lock the gate behind them if you are the last one out. Bob Hartford will lock the gate open when the snow is too deep to easily maneuver it during plowing. FUTURE EVENT DATES VOLUME XV ISSUE II RSC Regular Club Meeting February 6th, 2019 RSC Wild Game Dinner February 16th, Wild Game Potluck Dinner & Huge Raffle -Please refer o the flyer in this newsletter. RSC Regular Club Meeting February 20th, Vote on granting electrical easement on club property RSC Annual Meeting & Elections March 6th, 2019 RSC Regular Club Meeting March 20th, 2019 RSC Regular Club Meeting April 3rd, 2019 Member Private Party (clubhouse) April 7th, 2019 Boy Scout Leadership Training April 12th-14th, Clubhouse & immediate grounds only RSC Regular Club Meeting April 17th, 2019 RSC Regular Club Meeting May 1st, 2019 Boy Scout Spring Camporee May 3rd-5th, Ranges closed 8am-1pm on May 4th Les Houston Hunter Ed Shooting May 4th, Ranges closed 1pm-dusk on May 4th Above left is RSC member Don Crete, his daughter Julie and his grandson Jacob. Below left is grandson Jacob looking intently down range at objects Grandpa wasn t sure about. Above is grandson Jacob dialing in on Grandpa s target and counting the holes.

6 Committee Reports January 2019 Officers: President: Norm reminded attending members of the dates for the 1/26/2019 RSC Holiday Dinner and the 2/16/2019RSC Game Dinner. He also mentioned that the 2019 annual elections were coming up. Norm asked for a volunteer to purchase raffle items for the Game Dinner raffle and James Wilson offered his services. Vice President: Tim announced to attending members that he recently spoke with Pat Sabia, who was recently hospitalized with an chronic ailment, but has been home since Christmas and is working hard on his recovery. Also, Tim spoke to Mike Korpak, another Senior Regular member who recently moved to North Carolina. He and Pat are now in their new home and Mike sends his greetings to everyone. Secretary: Treasurer: Harry mentioned that his official list of hours were up to date and reminded everyone who has work hours not yet reported to him, to be sure and contact him directly. Frank mentioned he had several magazine subscriptions available to members at the front table. He also mentioned that the NH F&G was holding a class on cottontails on January 21st from 8:45am to noon. Info is available on the F&G website. Sergeant at Arms: Bob said he was working on bad spots in the road whenever he has the opportunity. Advisory Board: Nothing to Report Committees: Archery: Boy Scouts: Building: By Laws: Grounds: Hunter s Ed: Kitchen: Newsletter: Range: Spacetown: Claude checked on the cook shack at the archery range and moved anything that would freeze. He also requested $800 for a few new targets as well as new plugs for some remaining targets. The motion was approved. The January GSB meeting takes place at RSC on January 17th. Nothing new to report The next project will be replacing old windows Absent Richard warned that the road is rough, but plowed. He also thanked Bob for keeping it plowed. Les Houston, who holds traditional hunter s education courses at Raymond Baptist Church, requested the use of the ranges on the afternoons of May 4th and September 7th for the final chapter of his courses. A motion was made and passed. Norm mentioned he needed to do a little shopping before the winter dinners. Tim thanked Tom Faunce, Richie Houde, John Lighthall and Josh Perone for their recent submissions of 2018 hunting adventures and photos for the newsletter. He told attending members that it was not too late to submit a story and/or pictures of the last season s as well as current winter hunts. Tim also mentioned that supplying him with details and pictures surrounding their member outdoor adventures is a good way for members to become familiar with each other firearm shoot dates coming soon. Richie Houde mentioned that little was going on right now, with the exception of members that were trapping rabbits, all over the state, to replenish SBC s population. He also mentioned that Jim Bilodeau would be purchasing the Game Dinner raffle items donated by the beagle club. Town Fair: Tim announced that the Town Fair Committee would be on sabbatical until March Ways and Means: Nothing to report Website: Brian Handley has assumed the role of chairman of the website committee and is slowly establishing a new club website as a.com site. Harry Whitney will maintain much of the weekly/monthly additions to the site going forward

7 Committee Reports January 2019 Old Business: Nothing to report New Business: James Wilson requested the use of the clubhouse and pavilion on June 15th for events surrounding the marriage of his daughter. A motion was made and approved for James. The Final Choice RSC member and owner of Pawtukaway Trading Post Dale Cote is hosting another informational seminar at his store location. Details are included at left.

8 2019 ANNUAL GAME DINNER February 16th At 6P.M. At RSC Clubhouse This is a potluck dinner with entrees that are prepared by members and guests from wild game. If you are not fortunate enough to have wild game to prepare. we still want you to attend and enjoy a wide variety of wild game dishes. Simply bring your own favorite entree or dessert. This event includes a big raffle (following the dinner) sponsored jointly by Raymond Sportsman's Club and Spacetown Beagle Club. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Admission: $5 for Adults Children under 16 Free Admission Funds 50/50 Drawing