by Jerry Watkins
(1993)

In 1952, a small band of dedicated, adventurous young men sat around John Kindred's kitchen table drinking Marie's fine coffee, and discussing the forming of a muzzle loading gun club. So it began, that night in Atlanta Illinois, when 10 young men set forth to form the Kickapoo Muzzle Gun Club. As I remember being told, Paul Carver was elected to lead them forward; so the following 10 names appear on the original club charter with the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association.

Official Charter Date - February 10, 1952

The club name was derived from the Kickapoo Indian Tribe which was located in central Illinois, and the first club emblem was of a Indian Chief in full feather headdress. The first range site was located about 4 miles west of Armington, Illinois on the Fred Eckhart farm. Many a good time was had at the monthly club shoots, good clean family fun with many of the wives joining into the competition.

In 1960 the "Watkins" family was recruited into this fine membership of which I still remain one of as Secretary-Treasurer.

John Kindred, President at that time, took us under his wing and guided us into the mainstream of the club activities.

Dick Anderson was a club member at that time and a hard worker for the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders. He joined in with his hustle and hard promoting and soon the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders founded and sponsored the first Illinois State Muzzle Loading Championship Matches. If I remember correctly this was around 1963. My father was very active also promoting Bench Rest Shooting, and soon the name "Mel Watkins" was prominent among muzzle loading shooters. Also about this time I took my place along side of President John Kindred as his Vice-President.

The state shoot was a huge success with 150 shooters from Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin competing for some very beautiful trophies. This shoot was hosted by the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders for over a decade and always a huge success.

The Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders stayed in Armington, Illinois until 1972. John Kindred and Mel Watkins had gone to the big range in the sky; Fred Eckhart, landowner, joined them also and his family soon sold the land the range was located on. However all was not lost, for with the help of club member Don Curry, a new range site was located about 5 miles west of Bloomington, Illinois just south off Route 9. This piece of ground was an old Boy Scout camp ground which had been abandoned. It was owned by Jamie MaGirl, and we soon had a workable lease which would benefit us both.

The ground was rough, with shrub, water and huge horse weeds. I remember those horse weeds were so high Jim Murphy had to use his heavy duty weed mower. Jim would be lost completely until he would mow around to where we were working digging the drainage ditch to drain off the water. With many hours of hard work, the range was soon in usable condition and so we got back to the most important part, shooting black powder.

Don took over again several years later as club president and with his guidance the range had a complete face lift. The firing lines were put parallel under a covered firing line shelter, a 100 hard line range was added, as was the electric trap and trap house for the new trap range. I remember now all the members worked their hearts out, some got burned out and walked away, but the hearty, devoted members stuck it out to reap the fruit of their labor, a beautiful shooting range. Joe Miller, Alan Sylvestor, Ralph McCown, Dave Embry, Jon Housour, Don Curry, just to mention a few, there were many more, all deserving, all devoted; Barry Condor putting in cement walks, all deserving.

Jamie MaGirl sold the ground after many years and we wondered where it would leave us. Our doubts and fears were  quenched as new land lord Fred Carlton took us under his wing like family. Once again lady luck was with the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders. Fred and his fine lady Pam were always there, always wanting to improve the range and help in any way they could. How lucky the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders have been since that small band of 10 young men in 1952 in Atlanta, Illinois.

So friends, if you have a strong desire to shoot the firearms of your forefathers, feel the excitement and adrenaline rush at the firearms discharge, the crack of the shot and the smell of burnt black powder; I urge you to join the ranks of the Kickapoo Muzzle Loaders. You will be taught and coached by some of the finest people and shooters in Illinois. Flintlock, Percussion, Off-hand, Bench Rest, Trap, Primitive or Pistol. The Kickapoo muzzle loaders offer them all to you for your enjoyment for years to come........