LeRoy Eichthaler of Bridgeport and 9 of his friends got the ‘crazy idea’ to buy muzzleloaders in 1973, just to try something different. Together, they learned to load and shoot their muzzleloaders, and after a couple years of competing among themselves, they decided to organize a big muzzleloading event called the Camp Clark Rendezvous, which attracted people from around the region. Eichthaler has played a big role in keeping the event going for 46 years, and he’s also helped many young people develop a love for the art of muzzleloading, too, including all 15 of his grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
BRIDGEPORT – LeRoy Eichthaler and nine of his friends from Bridgeport were talking and drinking beer one evening when one of them came up with a crazy idea.
All 10 of them, the friend said, should buy a muzzleloader.
“Someone said, ‘What’s a muzzleloader?’” Eichthaler said with a laugh.
Actually, none of them knew much about muzzleloading. The only reason it was suggested that all of them buy a muzzleloader, Eichthaler said, was because the person who suggested it saw a muzzleloader on TV.
“I don’t know if he said it as a joke or not, but we took him seriously,” Eichthaler said. “It was a crazy idea, especially since none of us knew anything about muzzleloaders, but we all decided to go ahead and get one.”
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