I believe the Riverside Gun Club is currently the River-Del Gun Club on Prince street in Chatsworth. Let's see what comes of this.
Riverside was at
15 Butterworths Bogs Rd (double plural) in Tabernacle, NJ. It closed around Feb/Mar 2009 when the landlord would not renew the lease to the club. The landlord's name was 'Wilcox'. The club was active and was self-sustaining from dues, volunteers, etc. As far as I know, the existing members were absorbed/subsumed into 1 or 2 other local clubs. So it's unlikely that River-Del Gun Club on Prince Street is related... at least in my opinion.
In 2009 you could still see the pistol/rifle ranges from google satellite view. I looked the other day and can't really see it. I visited maybe a few years back and at that time, the structures and targets holders, etc, were slowly being reclaimed by the Barrens...
Here are some 11-year--old emails about it from my father to me:
Feb 11, 2009
Before the land owner advised the gun club that he would not renew the lease - He presented a list of demands - These were things like a newsletter, flying the flag, competitive and fun shootouts, club picnics, more workdays, payment of dues by all members (over 65 now free), active match league - All of the things that are normal for the club you passed, as shown on their website - He called the current state of the club a 'plinking' pile - Then, he advised the club to just pack-up and vacate by 30 June - A letter is in the mail, to the club president, with the reason(s) why this is happening
and another email between two high-ranking club members that was forwarded to me.
Wed, Mar 4, 2009
Guy,
The Tabernacle range [note: he means Riverside Gun Club at 15 Butterworths Bogs Rd (double plural) in Tabernacle, NJ ] is no longer available to the club. The lease is up at the end of this month and the club is starting to remove its belongings. I was asked to relay to you that the targets should be removed from the shed as soon as possible, as you are the only person with a key. The tractor shed is being moved out on the 14th. The turning frames, standing frames and covered firing line benches are to remain.
I will call you soon.
Ernie
and finally (also from Guy)
This pretty much says it all. I will be going up there soon to get the targets out. Wilcox really does want to sell the ground and doesn't want active shooting going on. He is also afraid of being sued since he saw the holes in the frames. He thinks they were done by magnum pistol ammo. They weren't but that is what he thinks.
According to my father, 'Wilcox' had been trying to sell the land for around 25 years -- and that was in 2009. I can't believe anyone would buy this land because (1) my understanding is no one can build on that land except 'Wilcox' (owner since before it was protected land) since it's Pine Barrens land (building restricted) and (2) the amount of toxic lead in the soil and area (from bullets and shot) must be sky high. Cleanup costs would be ridiculously expensive.
Butterworths Bog, is there any particular reason you used that name? It is a good choice.
It's the address of the club -- 15 Butterworths Bogs, although I screwed it up and registered as
bog instead of
bogs. I'd love to swing by the place again, but I live in Colorado now and don't make it back very often.
I actually think the L stands for Lippincot and I think the A may actually stand for Al??? Be warned some of them are quite a nasty trip to get to
