Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    31
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Did/Do you hunt near Punxsutawney? Did you know my grandfather?

    I have the same post over in the hunting forum - I'm posting here as well just to get it in the right region area as well!

    I'm looking for my grandfather's hunting buddies. My grandfather - William Sharpe - was part owner of a hunting camp near Punxsutawney PA. When I was 8 or 9, he'd take us there in the summer time to explore the woods, and practice our cub scout knots. The thought was that he'd pass along his love for the woods to his grandkids, as none of his kids seemed to take interest.

    Unfortunately, he had an 8 bypass heart surgery done when I was only 10 or 11 years old. It took a lot out of him, and he was never able to hunt again, until he died in 2000.

    He did teach us to shoot, at the state gamelands in Wexford, but when he died, my mother, the executor of his will, gave his guns to his hunting buddies instead of hanging onto them for us.

    Without a hunting influence, the desire to go in the woods left, until recently when I started hunting with my soon to be brother in law. I tried to follow up with my Mom and see if I could track down his friends, but the only name I knew was Date Bell, and he passed on before my grandfather did.

    SO, long story short, I'm hoping I could reconnect with his hunting buddies here on the site. Stranger things have happened right? I'm interested in reconnecting with his friends and hearing stories about him in the woods and finding his guns - they may have been passed on to a new shooter, or used as a camp gun, but I'm holding out hope. He had:

    Savage Arms .270 bolt action rifle
    Marlin .22 bolt action rifle
    Unknown Make double barrel shotgun

    If you knew William (Bill) Sharpe or Date Bell, I'd appreciate getting in touch with you!

    Thanks in advance!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    The Midwest for now...
    Posts
    131
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Did/Do you hunt near Punxsutawney? Did you know my grandfather?

    Bump for a good post. Sorry about your grandpa.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    31
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Did/Do you hunt near Punxsutawney? Did you know my grandfather?

    Toorop,

    Thanks for the bump. I guess I forgot to come back and update this thread (I had it posted in a couple of places on PAFOA).

    I was able, through a series of phone calls, to find the recipients of all of my grandfather's rifles. I was able to recover the .22 and the .270, unfortunately the shotgun had been traded away some years ago, but I had a nice conversation with my grandfather's friend.

    Even better, the .270 was being used annually by my grandfather's friend and his family. By his count, it had harvested deer every year since he died. And to keep it going, I took a doe on opening day with the gun. It was a very happy ending, and I'm glad to have re-connected with his friends, and have important family history back home.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    dubois, Pennsylvania
    (Clearfield County)
    Posts
    15
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Did/Do you hunt near Punxsutawney? Did you know my grandfather?

    That is a great story and glad you were able to keep the tradition of harvesting a deer with you grandfather’s rifle!! Truly awesome you were able to track it down!!

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 6
    Last Post: October 3rd, 2010, 08:26 AM
  2. Grandfather law
    By joeybagadonutzz in forum General
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: March 30th, 2009, 10:41 AM
  3. Grandfather gifted me my first gun!
    By StealthBeast in forum General
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: January 2nd, 2009, 07:21 PM
  4. Grandfather
    By rev214 in forum General
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: December 29th, 2008, 01:27 AM
  5. Springfield XD45 5" Tactical Punxsutawney, PA
    By Mxrider346 in forum General
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: November 22nd, 2008, 08:35 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •