The South End Gun Club of Reading, Pennsylvania is the oldest active gun club in the United States. Founded in September 1886, South End has had 5 different locations: the original site at Boyer's Island;  Jacksonwald;  Carsona Park; Spring Township; and finally, in 1930, their present location in Reiffton. The current clubhouse was built in 1939 and is still in use.

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South End has hosted 13 state shoots, 4 ATA Eastern Zone shoots, 61 Middle Atlantic shoots, and numerous state zone shoots, along with many state and national flyer shoots. It has also hosted the Berks County Championship shoot for 95 years. The preeminent officer in club history was George Nuebling, who served as secretary and manager for many years. Nuebling was also secretary of the PSSA for 15 years.

The first state shoot held at South End was in 1892, and the club hosted the event as recently as 1967. ATA Eastern Zone shoots were held at South End in 1949, 1952, 1954, and 1961. In 1934 Walter Beaver won his first state singles title at Reading with a 199 x 200. Beaver also won the doubles and HAA and HOA titles that year. In 1939 Steve Crothers won his 12th state singles title. John Rigg won the handicap and the HAA with a 392 x 400.

 

At the 1949 ATA Eastern Zone shoot, M.D. Clark won the singles title with a 198 x 200. Clark also won the HAA in 1952. In 1949, Walter Beaver won the HAA. This was late in his career and was the last major championship he won. The club hosts registered shoots the second and fourth Sunday of each month from March to September and is a member of the Berks County Amateur Trapshooting League. With 12 trap fields, South End Gun Club ranks as the second largest trapshooting facility in Pennsylvania.

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President - Brian James

Vice President - Zach Eshbach

Secretary - Robin Pinch

Treasurer - Mark Shearer

Trustees - Dewey Paolino, Scott White, Calvin Hess

Office Manager - Jeremy Missimer

Ground Committee - Frank Guest, Dewey Paolino, Scott White, Calvin Hess, Ted Noll, Joe Crooks, Ernie Delong

PSSA Delegate - Brian James

Classification - Jeremy Missimer

Trap Setting Committee - Frank Guest, Marty Stover, Calvin Hess, Zach Eshbach

Program Manager - Robin Pinch

Membership - Joel Crooks - joel506@aol.com

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If you're interested in volunteering at an event or have questions about helping out with some of the jobs around,

please email us at southendgunclub1886@gmail.com.