Horseshoe Pitching in New Melle

Horseshoe pitching in New Melle has been a major sport for many years but the driving force that made it all possible was none other than Joe Faron.  Joe moved to the New Melle area in 1974 and immediately became a member of the St. Charles/Warren County Horseshoe League.  At one time there were more than 260 pitchers participating in this league, but very few MOHPA members. 

In 1978 the New Melle Community Club scheduled a Festival Horseshoe Tournament made up principally of local talent.  There were only four outdoor courts.  The tournament that year was called off due to heavy rains.  The next four years the Festival Tournament was held under a rented tent.  All went well until the fourth year when a severe rainstorm blew down the main support pole and injured a man.  The suit that followed nearly ended horseshoes in New Melle, but Faron prevailed.  He worked closely with the Community Club and was finally successful in getting a pavilion erected over the four courts.

With the help of Larry Langewisch and Jerry Kohler, Joe Faron formed the New Melle Horseshoe Club in 1990 with only 32 members.  Although the club started out with an all male cast, Joe opened the membership to women in 1992 and from that point the club began to grow in leaps and bounds.

In 1989 Faron went to the MO State Tournament held in Independence and after seeing Alan Francis pitch for the first time, Joe wanted to showcase him in New Melle, so that other pitchers from eastern Missouri could see the possibilities of horseshoe pitching.  Joe presented a bid to hold the State Tournament for 1990 in New Melle and it was accepted.  Plans were laid and the Community Club approved.

The NMHC members had their work cut out for them.  They added another four covered courts and another pavilion housing eight more courts.  Through ads and donations $20,000.00 was raised.  It was the largest state tournament ever held in Missouri with 400 entries.  More state tournaments would follow at this site: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000.

In 1994 the horseshoe club added another 4 courts, now totaling 12 courts under roof.  In 1996 a concession stand, office and restrooms were added to the facility.  The grading, concrete flooring, framing work, drywall, electrical work, tile, furnaces, doors, painting, TV’s, freezers, ceiling material, etc., were donated by members of the NMHC.  Modern technology was brought to horseshoe pitchers with a computer designed to do the stats for the handicap leagues and tournaments. 

In 1998 NMHC members built 32 portable courts so that state tournaments could be held in various locations in Missouri who otherwise did not have the facility to hold a state tournament. 

During this time, NMHC grew and grew, reaching over 250 members, more than the small town’s population of only 200.  The traveling league eventually disintegrated, but two winter leagues were formed.  The Jack & Jill League began with 36 pitchers and grew to an all-time high of 110 pitchers with 24 teams filling the courts to its capacity.  By 1996 the club grew to be not only the largest club in the state, but also the largest horseshoe club in the world, with more than 200 members. 

Before NMHC was established, Missouri had approximately 300 registered horseshoes pitchers belonging to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.  Today, because of NMHC introducing the sport to many new pitchers, Missouri has close to 1,000 pitchers and received the Robert Pence Award for seven years for the state having the most registered horseshoe pitchers.

Since the NMHC was formed, six state tournaments have been held there.  Tournaments were held monthly throughout the years with people traveling across the state to participate in pitching events.  Winter and summer leagues were held.  The Annual Six Pac Invitational Horseshoe Tournament held for the past 13 years draws the best horseshoe pitchers from across the nation.  The NMHC members worked tirelessly to make these activities possible.

When it was announced that the National Hall of Fame & Museum would be moving to the St. Charles area and that the NMHC would be caretakers of the facility, it was unbelievable that this opportunity would be entrusted upon them.  From that very moment, there was no hesitation on their part.  As a club, they decided to change their name to the Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club.  It would be a new home and another new beginning for them.

The club members have been busy during the past year with plans in preparation for its opening day.  The club agreed to act as a distributor for the Games Related Sales so help defray expenses.  Six members drove the 600 mile trip to Wisconsin to where they loaded a 28’ U-Haul truck and brought the horseshoe items to Missouri .  Several trips were made to Joelton, TN driving trucks and trailers to carry back the Hall of Fame memorabilia and other items to be used in the new facility.  Another horseshoe pitcher made several trips to Kentucky to get  special clay to be used in the pits.  

The QRHC members have already volunteered countless hours acting as cleanup crews for the construction workers saving the NHPA/NHPF many dollars.  They are doing all the installation of pegs and backboards for all 16 courts.  The entire facility will be painted by the QRHC members.  Another member donated many hours drafting and designing plans for the new building before turning it over to the designing architect saving thousands of dollars for the NHPF. Once the facility is opened, the members will volunteer their time four days a week for visitors to view the Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame and Museum.

It is with heavy heart that NMHC leaves the building that held so many memories and horseshoe moments, but at the same time the newly named Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club members are most excited and filled with enthusiasm to make a new beginning in a new facility that was created for them to fill. 

It all comes back to Joe Faron.  He was so instrumental in finding a new location for the NHPA Hall of Fame and Museum.  After much pursuing and investigation he found what he thought would be the perfect site for horseshoe pitchers across America .  There it sits, high on a hilltop for all the world to see as they drive through the intersections of I-70 and Hwy 40.  This dream is about to become a reality.  The Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club hopes to carry on NMHC traditions and draw many new people into horseshoe pitching; a sport that we all love and enjoy.