CHAPTER 4 TWENTIETH CENTURY

As the decade turned and a cold, hard winter descended on the Island, Winchester Repeating Arms was busy introducing its first repeating rifle with a sliding forearm, one that for years to come would be popular at shooting galleries across the Continent, and one that was a special favorite of a young lady who was busy setting the sharpshooting world on its ear...-Annie Oakley helped, more than anyone else, to establish Winchester's new Model 1890 pump gun.

Without a particular reason, it was March 19th before the Belvidere Gun Club held its next shoot, and with only five members shooting at an uneven number of targets, it ended up more a casual get-together than an organized club event. President Peters tried again a week and a half later, on the 22nd of the month, and this time six gunners arrived at Admiral Street. Peters was discouraged because even the Vice-President was not showing up. An effort was made to enlist some new members, but most of the really active shotgunners in the city either were, or had been, a part of the Belvidere Club, and rural residents, most of whom by their very heritage owned a shotgun, had the transportation problem that faced everyone who lived five or more miles out of town in 1890.

Sidmount was the Peters' family home, located down a lane off the west side of the North River Road, a short distance above Admiral Street. It was there, on April 5th, 1890, that the Club held its final small competition of the season. The five gunners in atten- dance shot at 14 clay targets, in wet and very windy weather. Some shot singles, and others doubles, with the Peters brothers doing their best shooting ever. Arthur broke 13 singles and Fred, 12 doubles. The lane into Sidmount is now Sidmount Avenue, and the home itself still stands on the corner of McGill Extension and Johnston Avenue.

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