Researched by: Bill Klotz

Director/Club Historian

 

 

John Scheid

James Hart

Paul Leaser

 

 

Origins and Growth of the Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society, 1959 - 2009

 

 

Over the past half century our club’s origins and evolution have become more shrouded with each passing year. For this reason I have undertaken the project of documenting our growth from our humble beginnings in 1959.
 
Click on the blue links to see the objects or the pages being described.
 

After much research I believe the following history is as close to actual fact as possible.  I personally conducted many interviews and referred to the “Gun Report Magazine” which thankfully documented our monthly meetings and two day shows in each issue!  I hope to continue to update our growth in the future and help from any member will be appreciated.  

1959 - Long, long ago before there was a Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society, (original name was Forks of the Delaware Weapons Association) in the late 1950's, Paul Leaser and James (Chuck) Hart promoted a couple of shows at the Hotel Bethlehem. It was suggested that they try a site in Easton and join John Scheid in displaying 4 or 5 tables at the Easton YMCA on Spring Garden Street, in Easton, Pa.  In December of 1959 they listed a schedule in “The Gun Report” for a monthly meeting on the 3^rd Sunday of each month for 1960. Click here to see a picture of the YMCA.

1960 – Officers were appointed for the beginning of 1960.  The first ever being: John Scheid [President], Jim Hart [Vice President], Jack Walters [Secretary], Louis A. Hart [Treasurer], and Paul Colver [Sergeant at Arms]. In May of that year we promoted our first two day show [May 28 & 29]. 

1961 – On May 1^st the club incorporated as a non profit organization.  The two day show was conducted on May 27 & 28 and held at the WMCA. One week later, a second two day show was held [June 3 & 4] at the Hotel Easton. This marked our move from the WMCA to the Hotel Easton between May and June of 1961. Click here for a current picture of the Hotel Easton.   Click here for newspaper coverage of an early show.

1962 – June 16 and 17, Ed “Kookie” Burns [Star of Television Show 77 Sunset Strip] visited our two day show at the Hotel Easton.  Click here for picture of show bulletin  Click here for picture of show attendee and Actor Ed Burns

1964   Click Here to see Membership Directory of 1964

1967   Click Here to see Membership Directory of 1967

1968 – In November, we had our first meeting at the Moose Lodge in Easton, Pa. Click here for a current image of the building.  See the Members' entrance here.

1969 – In July we hosted our first two day show at the George Washington Motor Lodge [260 tables], in Whitehall, Pa, the present site of Home Depot. Click here for an image of the old George Washington Motor Lodge.

1973 – Howard Hoffman took responsibility of directing a two day show in April, at the Agricultural Hall, on the Allentown Fairgrounds, and was appointed the show chairman. In October we added a second show. As time progressed, with the larger number of tables and public attendance, club membership started to grow at a very fast pace.

1981 – February show was added at the Agricultural Hall.   

1982 – We tried to limit the show at the George Washington Motor Lodge to Friday and Saturday and cancelled Sunday. Life memberships were offered for $125.00.   

1983 – A February storm dumped 25 inches of snow during our gun show. The storm started Friday morning and continued until late Friday night. It prevented many table holders from Virginia through the New England area from arriving on Saturday. 

In August Howard Hoffman and Connie got married and in December, Connie replaced John Scheid as Club Secretary. Our founding fathers got life membership badges. The George Washington July show was moved back to Saturday and Sunday. 

1984 – Howard Hoffman was appointed Business Manager from Show Chairman.  Life Memberships was raised to $175.00.  In November a pistol discharged at the Moose meeting on the lower floor [remember?]. 

1985 – We changed to computers and registered our logo of the Pennsylvania Dutchman carrying antique firearms. Click Here  The decision was made to not allow children less than 10 years of age into our shows. This was done for insurance purposes. By-Laws were amended and went into effect in 1986. All guns had to be secured [boxed in, tied] in 1986. The February show attracted 6,877 visitors. Our insurance was cancelled and there was no October show or November meeting.  

1986 – We moved from the Moose Lodge to the Eagles Home on June 15^th.   Click here for a picture of the Easton Eagles.

1987 – Directors/Officers liability act was added. Directors/Officers got suits to wear at our gun shows, effective 1988. The April show was moved to May.  

1988 – Our red and white annual badges were retired and new badges were enacted for the May show.  Pennsylvania Sales Tax began.  The second worst blizzard in our show’s history occurred during our February show.  

1992 – We had our first December show at the Agricultural Hall, with the idea of replacing the summer show in July, however, we still kept the July show for that year.  

1993 – After 24 years we had our last show at the George Washington Motor Lodge. We elected to continue to have our December show at the Agricultural Hall to replace it. Even though we would eventually move to the Fort Washington Expo Center in 1995, we kept the December show. 

1994 – George Washington Motor Lodge was torn down. There was a February snow storm. There was no summer show in July. We considered the possibility to conducting a show at Fort Washington in August.  

1995 – The first Fort Washington Show occurred in July at the Expo Center, a very large Air Conditioning facility.  [The lack of air conditioning was the main factor that prevented the club from running summer shows at the Agricultural Hall].

1996 – The Fort Washington Show's date was changed to August.  

1997 – We amended our By-Laws to allow anything legal in Pennsylvania to be allowed at our events.   

2001 – In June the club had its first web site created. It was a very basic web site consisting of 4 pages. The original site used the following domain, which is no longer active:  www.theallentownshow.com  A few years later the domain will be changed.

After 7 years we conducted our last summer gun show at the Fort Washington Expo Center. After the tragedy of 9/11, the Fort Washington Expo Center owners banned many types of events, including gun shows.

2002 –  We moved the summer show back to the Agricultural Hall, in July, with rented portable air conditioners. Sergeant Bill Guarnere [Band of Brother] attended our show for the first time.  Sergeant Bill Guarnere, one of the servicemen whose WWII history made up the Home Box Office series Band of Brothers, first attended our show as a guest. "Wild Bill" was happy to discuss WWII with teenagers, provide autographs, and pose for pictures with the public. His occasional attendance continues today. Click here for a picture of Bill Guarnere at our show.

2003 – Portable Air Conditioning was again brought in for our July show. In the fall the new annex was opened at the Agricultural Hall, providing more room for more tables at our October show. With the ability to provide more tables for members, the club eliminated the old "3 table limit" rule. This resulted in members having the ability to get as many tables as they needed/desired. The name of the new facility, which was known as Agricultural Hall, was changed to The Agri-plex, which included the new annex and the older but newly air conditioned Agricultural Hall.

2006 - In June the club web site was changed to the current domain: www.allentownshow.net
In December the club web site was expanded to include more pages geared to both the general public and members.

2007 – We moved from the Eagles Home to the Moose Lodge in March, and were kicked out of the Moose in October, after 5 meetings. [The Moose heart is Anti-Second Amendment]. The November meeting was cancelled.

In appreciation of Mothers Day our May show allowed ladies of all ages to enter FREE on Sunday. This will remain in effect for all future gun shows occurring on Mothers Day.   

By mid year the club's web site was starting to be the first return on a Google Search of Forks of the Delaware.  By December the club was the first return on a Google Search of The Allentown Gun Show.   It remains number one as of this writing.

The Allentown Show, a different Google search, often varies slightly depending upon the time of year. As our show approaches, The Allentown Show is the first return. Other times in the year it may be number two.

In August the club adopted a second trade mark. As the club grew in membership, more members had interest in modern collectibles. To try to counter act the false reputation that we were strictly an antique club, we had a former club member draw up a 101st Airborne Paratrooper. This logo replaced a different paratrooper we had been using. This one is our property. Paratrooper Logo.  You will find both logos in our printed ads, our web site, and on our letterhead.

2008 - We moved to the Palmer Township Fire Company to hold our Monthly Meetings, the first one being our "January Free Breakfast for Members". The facility is well lit, has a friendly staff, has full kitchen capacity and remains our location of choice. Click here for a picture of the Palmer Township Fire Company.

On May 14^th Howard Hoffman, the Club Business Manager, passed away from a long illness.  The club has a memorial page dedicated to Howard Hoffman. Click Here

The Board of Directors eliminated a previous rule and all children of all ages were allowed to attend our events.  No Strollers, Children in Backpacks, Roller Skates, Roller Blades, or Heelies allowed.

The Board of Directors appointed John Lawson as Show Manager, effective January 1, 2009.

Tragedy struck our October gun show. State Senator James Rhoades was scheduled to attend Saturday, October 19th to give a talk on the status of legislation in Harrisburg. The evening of Friday, October 18th Senator Rhoades will killed in an automobile accident. Senator Rhoades was active with gun organizations, was a gun owner and an avid gun collector. He was more that just a representative, he was one of us. Click to see the late Senator Rhoades.

2009 - John Lawson started in the position of Show Manager.  The club rented an office for use by Board Members and now has one address for all mailings, and one phone number for all calls.

FUTURE HISTORY:  We plan to celebrate our 50 years of club existence at our October show of 2010.  Watch for announcements of the details.

A Note to Members or Relatives of Deceased Members:  If you have any written information about dates, locations, or events that can be added to our history, please contact the club historian, Bill Klotz.

To Mail Information:                               To Send Bill An Email:

Bill Klotz 50 Wayne Avenue Tamaqua, Pa. 18252

CLICK HERE

 

Copyright 2008-2009
FHDAS