About

JRBPC History

Also, learn more from our NMLRA representative,

Raymond Johnson

The James River Black Powder Club was founded in March of 1975 in Prince George, Virginia by Bob Lee, Dee Lee (his wife), Ed Lee (his son), and Marilyn Lee (Ed’s wife). The Club was chartered with The National Rifle Association on September 5, 1975. On February 26, 1976, the Club was chartered with the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.

Early meetings were well attended and were held in Bob’s home. After the meeting, Bob would bring out a bottle of Tennessee sipping whiskey, and we would proceed to pass the bottle and toast the good health of all present. Then came the food! Dee would always prepare a spread of coffee and fabulous homemade goodies.

In 1975, the Club associated itself with Fort Lee – a US Army installation located in Prince George County. This action provided the Club with a shooting range, a building for equipment storage, and a place to hold meetings in the summer.

The year 1975 was a busy one for the Club. With the upcoming Bicentennial (1776-1976), the Club had the opportunity to take part in several celebrations. One was the Bicentennial Quartermaster Assemblage at Fort Lee, Virginia which took place on June 14-15. Another event was the Bicentennial Festival at Prince George Courthouse, October 11. On September 28, Club members took part in the Chesterfield County Bicentennial Celebration. And, finally, the Club hosted the First Fall Invitational Muzzle Loading Matches at Fort Lee, Virginia on October 25-26.

The next year (1976) was just as busy with Bicentennial Celebrations and other special events occurring with uncommon regularity. Some of these events were:

South Hill, Virginia – February 25

Fort Lee, Virginia – April 5

Prince George County, Virginia – May 8

Fort Clifton (Colonial Heights, Virginia) – July 24 & 25

In addition to the Bicentennial Celebrations, the Club hosted the Second Fall Invitational Muzzle Loading Matches at Fort Lee, Virginia in October.

From 1977 onward, the Club has participated in several yearly events in addition to hosting the Virginia State Offhand Championship Matches. The Club marched in Christmas Parades in Colonial Heights, VA and Veterans Day Parades in Hopewell, VA. Members setup camps and gave demonstrations at Fort Lee, VA for Armed Forces Day and worked with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day at various locations throughout the state.

For several years, the Club setup working camps and held Turkey Shoots at Fort Clifton, site of a Confederate strong hold prior to the Siege of Petersburg. The Club also participated in every Prince George County Heritage Fair every held at Flowerdew Hundred Plantation on the James River.

The Club’s association with Fort Lee ended in 1983 when the range was closed due to the upcoming construction of Interstate-295. At the same time, changes in Federal Government needs caused the Club to lose its meeting place and storage building. Although several attempts were made to secure another building, in the end, the Club was left with no place to shoot, store equipment, or hold meetings.

It was then that Jim Boldridge graciously offered to let the Club use a building on his farm for storage and land near “No Name” Creek for a shooting range. After members cleaned out trees and underbrush, the new range was able to accommodate targets at 50 yards. From that point on, the Club held monthly shoots at the new location while meetings were held at the homes of various members. Eventually, the Club secured the use of a conference room in the Human Services Building at Prince George Courthouse.

Deciding where to hold the Virginia State Offhand Championship matches presented another problem. In 1984, the Club paid $300.00 to use land at Berkeley Plantation, and the Championship was held there April 7 & 8 of that year.

One day in early 1985, Jim Boldridge and Raymond Johnson were talking about the need for a more permanent site for the Championship – particularly one that would not be so costly for the Club. Jim mentioned that he and Bob Lee had talked about using a piece of land on the south side of his farm for a range and campground.

The offer to lease 5 acres of land was brought up at the next Club meeting. Several members expressed interest in looking at the land, and the next Saturday several men were seen walking over the area. There was no road, just the remains of one, and it was all over grown with brush and trees. What had once been a plowed field was now covered with briars, vines, honeysuckle, and saplings. Knowing full well that they had a lot of hard work ahead of them, the members decided it was just what was needed.

The lease was signed in March 1985, and the clearing work commenced. Members gave up weekends and vacation time to work on the site, and what work couldn’t be done with bare brawn was hired out to a fellow with a tractor and bush hog.

The road into the area crossed a small creek, and numerous discussions were held to decide what type of bridge needed to be built. Finally, the decision was made to build a timber bridge, and once the materials were assembled, the Club held a big work party. Still, it took 3 weekends to complete the bridge.

Then came the roadbed. It was a low-lying affair that got flooded during the spring rains, summer storms, and fall hurricanes. Several truckloads of used black top were brought in and put in place by hand. There was no heavy equipment available and no money for renting any. After weeks of back-breaking labor, the road bed was finished.

Several hundred man-hours were spent in clearing the land, building the bridge, and creating a “road into the wilderness”. At this time, it is only proper to list the names of those who worked so hard so the Club would have a range and campground. To these men and women, we offer our heart-felt thanks and appreciation for without their time and effort there would be no James River Black Powder Range.

Nancy Carter Chuck Carter Jimmy Carter Hugh Dhiel Pam Tuggle

Doug Tuggle Ed Lee Barry Lewis Jack Tench Wayne McNeice

Raymond Johnson Juanita Johnson Jim Boldridge

Today the James River Black Powder Club continues to hold the Virginia State Offhand Championship at its range in Prince George County, Virginia. In October, 2000, the Club officially named the site James R. Boldridge Memorial Black Powder Range in honor of the man who understood so well the need to preserve our country’s heritage saw a way to contribute to this end, and actively pursued this goal.

At the entrance to the range there is a plaque that states: "Welcome to the James R. Boldridge Memorial Black Powder Range."