Montello Bow Benders

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Montello Bow Benders Logo History

History Of The Montello Bow Benders

The Montello Bow Bender Inc. was first organized in the 1950's era, by local archery enthusiasts. The club was going for about 4 years when it died due to lack of interest. The members kept the Treasury in case interest would fire up again in the future.

And fire up it did when Bill Lind moved to Montello on December 19, 1969. Bill talked with locals about any clubs that existed in the area and found out there was one a long time ago and that there was still a Treasury in their name. By December 28th, 1969 the Montello Bow Benders was revitalized with 10 area members. They were Bill Lind, Glenn Schultz, Allen Abraham, Rudy Wagner, Dwain Davis, John Sheller, John Polcyn, and Gertrude Polcyn and other interested in the sport.

Downtown Montello had a building with an old dance hall up stairs (the now existing Montello Historical Society, Vaughn Hall), made our first indoor range of 20 yards. This was good for 3 years, until the building was sold. We found another indoor range at the Montello High School Gym, where portable targets were used with a cloth backdrop to stop stray arrows. This was working well for 3 years when the Club was approached by the local Rod & Gun Club, inviting us to join with them at their property as they wanted help in the upkeep of their grounds. The Rod & Gun Club provided the money, while the Bow Bender Club provided the labor to put on an addition onto the existing building, so a 20 yard indoor range was available. The Bow Benders Club cut the pine trees off the Rod & Gun Club grounds and sent them to the saw mill to build the building. So after much labor and the loss of the late Dwain Davis from sawing the trees down.

We had a great club and grounds with the Rod & Gun Club, but no bathrooms. So we went to work hosting dances in our building with bands to raise money for another addition with bathrooms and septic. By 1978 we accomplished our dreams. Indoor shoots, twice a year were put on with great success and continues until the present.In 1990 the Rod & Gun Club wanted to move into the county farther out and sold the building with a large lot to the Montello Bow Benders.

By 1998 3-D shooting was getting popular, so the club found John Muir Marquette County Park to be a great location and made arrangements to hold their 3-D shoots in the summer. Three shoots per year are now scheduled, with some of the greatest scenery you'll ever see.

In 1993, Bill Lind and Jerry Ross talked with both clubs to host the Kids Rendezvous. This is a weekend event for kids 8 to 14 years of age, held every Father's Day weekend. Camping, Bonfires, 22 rifles, shotguns, black powder, deer trailing, indoor archery, outdoor archery, air rifles and casting contest are some of the events all the kids participate in. This event is still going on today every Father's Day weekend.

All because clubs like the Montello Bow Benders and Rod & Gun Clubs work so hard to make it happen.