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HISTORY

In the early years of the 20th century, State Highway 23 was a two-lane road that ran through the Borough of Franklin on Rutherford Ave. Around 1911, a group known as “The Boro Boys” constructed a shooting range between Route 23 and Franklin Pond, behind what is now a strip mall. The range was nothing elaborate but sufficient for practice and an occasional match. The range was in use for more than 10 years.

By 1929, the “Boro Boys” had an opportunity to move to a new location in a quarry located at the intersection on Buckwheat Rd. and what is now Franklin Ave. The quarry had been used previously to supply limestone to an iron smelting operation nearby. When that facility was closed down, the New Jersey Zinc Co. used the quarry as a dump for the ash from their coal fires.

The first range at this location had little more than posts in the ground to locate the shooting positions. Around 1937, the original clubhouse was constructed and the group reorganized as the “Franklin Revolver & Rifle Association”. Regular shooting positions were constructed and target matches were held. Local Sheriff’s Officers and Peace Officers used the range for training purposes. Local groups also held many clambakes at the range. With the outbreak of World War II, activities ceased.

The club reformed in 1955; and in 1959, through the efforts of Chief Herbert Irons, a  member, the club purchased the property from the New Jersey Zinc Co. Improvements have been made over the years and today the Association has 24 covered firing positions and a comfortable clubhouse.

Activities at the range vary. The club runs a Sunday morning league for target shooting. Pistol matches are held during the year that attract a large number of shooters from the area. A “Ladies Day” is held periodically for women who are interested in learning basic handgun safety. The facility is also available for training Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the Junior Rifle Training Program. Many outside police organizations once used the facility for target shooting training, but the emphasis today is on combat shooting training. The Association has close ties with the Franklin & Ogdensburg police departments and these organizations use the range for training purposes. County Search and Rescue Teams have also used the cliffs around the range to practice rappelling up and down and evacuating simulated victims. An interesting sidelight is that the range is one of only two places in the world where purple fluoride is found.

It’s a long time since the era of the “Boro Boys” and a lot has changed, but they would probably be happy with the way the club has grown.