Pigeon Shoot at the John Gruel Farm

(Click on image to enlarge)
Image courtesy of the Hobart Historical Society.

I came across this photo at the museum, captioned "Pigeon Shoot at the John Gruel Farm." While it's not dated, I suspect it was taken at a big birthday bash, described in the Hobart Gazette of October 14, 1904.

Birthday Pleasantly Spent

The 44th birthday of Chas. Gruel was celebrated last Sunday by a number of his friends from Chicago and Hobart in a most pleasant manner and the event will long be remembered. The day being pleasant, a live pigeon shoot was given at his brother John's place southeast of town. About twenty were present. Those from Chicago were: Gottfried Mayer, Victor Mey, C. Carr, Sr. and Jr., H. Ulrich, John Hetzel, Henry Sierks, Ed Mayer and Albert Francel. From Hobart: John Hillman, Wm. Boldt, Ed Keilman, A.J. Smith, Wm. Hollister, Jas. Ballantyne, Seward Lightner, J.H. Conroy, Art Newman, Gib Bullock, Ed Scheidt. After the day's sport had been enjoyed, Mr. Gruel entertained his friends at supper, to a most elegant spread. Following is the score of the different shooters and the "dead" birds out of ten:
Gruel—10
G. Mayer—7
Hetzel—2
Francel—8
Carr, Sr.—1
Carr, Jr.—4
E. Mayer—5
Ulrich—4
Sierks—6
Mey—2
Hollister—9
Ballantyne—7
Keilman—8
Hillman—8
Lightner—8
Boldt—8
Newman—6
Smith—5 out of 8
Bullock—5 out of 5

John Gruel's farm was where the River Pointe Country Club is now.