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About UsFounded in 1944, Stemmers Run Rifle and Pistol Club is a member club of the National Rifle Association and charter member of the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore. Members of Stemmers Run meet monthly, on the third Sunday, at 6:30 PM. If not for WWII, there would be no Stemmers Run Rifle and Pistol Club. During that war, citizens exempt from military service for various reasons formed the "Minutemen." Their function was to protect, or in the event of an enemy attack on the home front, destroy strategic installations, such as bridges and overpasses. After the war, the "Minutemen" disbanded, however their friendships and interests continued and in 1944 led to the formation of Stemmers Run Rifle and Pistol Club. The club was incorporated on September 7, 1944, while Arne Blasche was serving as the first president. The second president, Don Sheeks served from the latter part of 1947 through 1954. He was followed by Sol Diamond in the mid 50’s. During these years, the club grew at the Orems Rd. Range, which was then the property of the U.S. Government at the cost of $1.00 per year. Sometime around 1950, The Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore came into being. Its purpose was to bring all the local gun clubs under one roof, so to speak. Since Stemmers Run already had its own range facilities, it was argued that joining the Associated Gun Clubs held no advantages for them, aside from the inconvenience of traveling across town, the question was, why should we? But eventually, Stemmers Run did become a charter member of the AGC along with twelve other local gun clubs, which later turned out to be a good move. Although Stemmers Run had its own facilities, it soon began using AGC’s newly opened Patapsco Range on Marriottsville Rd. in Baltimore County, participating in and soon conducting the bulls eye pistol matches. The small-bore rifle sports were still popular at the Orems Rd. Range, but the range soon fell under the heels of progress and was torn down to make way for construction along Martin Blvd. The last official club meeting was held at the Orems Rd. Range on May 15, 1959. For various reasons, some of the membership was unable to make the transition to the Patapsco range facilities and membership declined. For a short period of time, there was no active president and few members. Affiliation with the AGC soon led to an interest in the high power rifle shooting sports and membership began to grow, with Stemmers Run sometimes fielding as many as three rifle teams during a high power match. Stemmers Run was very active in the building of the 50 yard pistol range and the 100 yard small-bore rifle range at the Patapsco facility. With the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, the 200 yard high power range was completed and Stemmers Run began actively participating in the high power matches. In the late 60’s, Stemmers Run started a junior program, located a dealer in Philadelphia selling M1 rifles, subsequently bought 15-20 M1s for an average cost of $85 each, obtained free ammo form DCM and fielded some junior high power teams. Interest in the bulls eye national match course for pistol was still high among a few members of Stemmers Run and bullseye matches were regularly conducted at the Patapsco Range, with some members going on to Camp Perry for the National Matches. In 1978, Stemmers Run and the AGC began holding hunter’s pistol silhouette matches. The matches soon became so popular that shooters from as far away as North Carolina and New Jersey began showing up with some regularity. The reputation acquired by Stemmers Run in conducting a good hunter’s pistol silhouette match attracted a good number of shooters, many of whom soon became active members. Stemmers Run has conducted state and regional championship matches and counts national record holders in the silhouette games among its membership. Thanks to the foresight of its club presidents, Stemmers Run has grown in both size and stature, and is well known and respected among the shooting fraternity. With interests in Silhouette, Bullseye, High power, Shotgun (trap) and IPSC and as new shooting disciplines develop, The Stemmers Run Rifle and Pistol Club will continue to be the leader in the shooting disciplines. |