A Heilwood Match Rifle

HEILWOOD RIFLE CLUB

On February 5, 1933, the Heilwood Rifle Club opened its new 75-foot, small-caliber, indoor rife range in the basement of the Town Hall. Entertaining the Ernest Rifle & Pistol Club, the Heilwood shooters lost by a score of 768 to 690. Shooting for Heilwood were: John Conerby; Jack Davidson; Gene Elliott; Gene Elliott, Jr.; Charles Hodges; Alex Jusko; George Lunn; Harry Lunn; Harry McCardle; and Mike Wanchisn (see clipping at left). In subsequent matches, additional men shooting for Heilwood included J. Churella; H. Dinsmore; F. Ganoe; J. McCormick; and men with the last names of Abbey and Davis.

Records indicate that Heilwood shot competively against Ernest, Rossiter, and Indiana. As was the practice at these matches, the home team would furnish a light lunch after the match, followed by the teams having a little “off-hand” shooting. One such engagement with the Ernest team didn’t last too long. A member from Ernest shot out the lights at the indoor range and the evening came to an early end.

The Heilwood team continued to compete until March 1941, which is the last time a newspaper report can be found. The Heilwood team evidently disbanded for some reason or reasons*. However, individual members from the team continued to shoot competitively as members of other teams within the county.

*The disbanding of the team may have been directly related to the Town Hall being cited for unsafe conditions. The building was taken from the tax records in 1940, which suggests its possible demolition.

HEILWOOD TENNIS TEAM
1940-41

The Heilwood Tennis Team made their debut in the Cambria County Tennis League in June of 1940. Team members included: Gene Elliott; Bob Judy; ? Lindsay; A. Marzhauser; Harry McCardle; and P. Moschanko.

Competing in the Northern Section of the CCTL, Heilwood’s competition included Nanty-Glo, Loretto, Spangler, Hastings, and Carrolltown. Singles and doubles matches were held at each event.

Heilwood finished the 1940 season in second place behind Nanty-Glo, compiling a record of 23 wins and 17 losses.  Elliott, McCardle, and Moschanko were selected to the league's All-Star Team.

The Heilwood Tennis Team played on the clay courts adjacent to the baseball diamond. The courts were enclosed by netting suspended between telephone poles and a locked gate. The boundaries of the courts were outlined by a rubber-type tape fastened to the ground.

Records indicate that the team was also a member of the Cambria County Tennis League during the 1941 season. However, the results of their matches could not be located. For 1942, no records about either the Cambria County Tennis League or the Heilwood team could be located. It's possible that the country's involvement in World War II curtailed local athletic activities.

Newspaper headlines documenting the 1940 Heilwood Tennis Team season.

Bowling score from the April 28, 1930 issue of the Indiana Gazette.

HEILWOOD BOWLING
1930

Although there are no records that indicate an organized league, it's quite possible that Heilwood had an organized bowling team. There is a mention in the April 28, 1930 issue of the Indiana Gazette that the Heilwood bowlers defeated Barnesboro by a score of 2126-2075, over three games.

The following players were bowling for Heilwood that day: J. A. Donahue; F. Ganoe; B. Judy; C. Ratay; and J. Ratay. In all likelihood, this bowling match involved the use of duck pins.

No other records can be located to indicate other matches, but it's quite possible that as with tennis, Heilwood participated in team play against various teams in the Cambria County area, and that these matches were either unreported or not published.