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Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet
I don't think that's a dead end at all, I think you found as much of the Spokane story possible.
Sounds like H. Dean was what we might call today a "tabletop ffl", which as you note back then was so common place for anyone who any number of things would also deal in guns, even if it was just occasional.
I may also be able to come up with some more information, I have plans this summer to head back to my family's town in Fertile, MN, which is just about 40 miles south of Thief River Falls. I'll see if I can't find some folks who may be related to, or know/knew A.F. Jones.
It does seem that A.F. Jones was a bit of a trap shooter, at least according to this Fresno Bee news paper: The Fresno Bee The Republican from Fresno, California on March 14, 1948 . Page 38
and the Missoulian:
The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana on August 18, 1946 . 13
and the Winnnipeg Free Press:
Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives | Jul 17, 1940, p. 12
" iigh gunner of the championship however, was A. F. Jones. Thief River Falls, who broke 100 straight yesterday, which gave him .99 out of 200 in the two days of shooting."
Hmm, apparently he was a very *good* trapshooter.
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Interesting bit of information that adds historical background. I'm muzzle loading representative at the Spokane Rifle Club, we've been chartered with the state for over 100 years, before that the organization was referred to as the Spokane Rod and Gun club. They used to shoot trap in the area adjacent to Natatorium Park at the end of Boone Ave. in Spokane. I have a postcard from that era. We moved to our present location on 40 acres along the Spokane River right in the middle of Riverside State Park in the mid 20's on the site of railroad right of way and lead smelter property.
Its interesting to note the popularity of trap shooting back then and even to this day at a rifle club. We only have three traps today having closed those that shoot out over the river because of lead contamination. There is a larger Spokane Gun Club that specializes in trap shooting and was located out in the valley, they sold out to the school board for around five million and have relocated to the West Plains area which abounds in rocky open spaces, perfect for a trap range.
We have some historical pictures from the early days where in a group of a dozen characters that were members of a pistol team there are guys dressed like professionals in bowler hats alongside guys dressed in current military style clothing with campaign hats. I like the pictures showing the original North clubhouse with its attendant ******* and Model A's parked outside.
I had found most of the information on Mr. Dean through Google, which has the article referring to his gift of photographs to Washington State University in Pullman, Wa. I would imagine most of them were in regards to Spokane and Washington States railroad history. I think I mentioned his work with the railroad and the push through the Cascade range which took place before his interest in automobiles. He never got too far away from the railroad, his business was located in Hillyard which was named after a James Hillyard who was a local railroad magnate.
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