On Aug. 19, New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) president Steve Loewen met with Don Troupe in the NHAHS Museum on the second floor of the Kauffman Building, 207 E. Main St., New Holland. During the meeting, Troupe conveyed the historical records of the New Holland Horseshoe Club to NHAHS.

According to Troupe, the club has its origins in the competition held as part of the New Holland Farm Show in October of 1985. "The first meeting was in February of 1985," said Troupe. That meeting included Paul Caudill Sr., Vernon Shenk, Jim Lafferty, and Harold Becker. Dick Wilson, president of the York County League, associated with the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA), provided information to help the group get started.

On April 2, 1985, Lafferty and Becker met with Warren Peachy at the New Holland Memorial Community Park on Jackson Street and presented him with a plan to install five courts in the area where the swimming pool had been located. Five regulation courts were completed in time for the Farm Show in October. "Horseshoe interest started with the Farm Show (tournament)," said Troupe. "That event was the catalyst that got it going."

On May 31, 1986, the first non-sanctioned tournament was held at the park, with 10 pitchers taking part. On Aug. 2 and 3, 1986, the first NHPA-sanctioned tournament was held at the site, with nearly 40 pitchers.

In the summer of 1986, the group created two leagues, one meeting Tuesday nights at the courts and the other meeting Thursday nights, with nine pitchers each. Troupe displayed a plaque he was given at the end of that first season. "These plaques were given every year from 1985 to 1989," said Troupe. "Everyone who threw in the league every year got one of these plaques with your name and your average and the year."

When it became apparent that more courts were needed to accommodate pitchers, club members approached Jay Weber, then president of the New Holland Planing Mill (now New Holland Church Furniture), for assistance because many planing mill employees pitched during lunch. Construction began in December of 1988, and the four courts were completed in May of 1989, for a total of nine. "When it was all said and done, (Weber) was contacted to find out how he wanted us to pay it off, and he said, 'Consider it a donation,'" recalled Troupe.

Troupe presented all the historical records to Loewen, who noted that it was "awesome" to have them and that NHAHS was grateful.

NHAHS will take part in the ExtraGive 2022 online fundraising event to be held on Friday, Nov. 18. Funds raised during the ExtraGive help the organization with projects such as transferring the New Holland Clarion to digital format. Readers who wish to help NHAHS during the ExtraGive may visit http://www.extragive.org. More information about the historical society is available at https://nhhistorical.com.