Massachusetts Rifle Association

The Massachusetts Rifle Association (also known as "Walnut Hill", "Mass Rifle" or the "MRA") is the oldest active gun club in the United States. The MRA was founded in 1875, just four years after the creation of the National Rifle Association in 1871. The MRA has been continuously active since its founding and in the same location in Woburn, Massachusetts since 1876.

On November 4, 1875 a notice was published in the Boston Morning Journal extending an invitation to all who would be interested in the organization of "a Boston Gun Club." At 4:00 p.m. that very day about 20 people met at the Bromfield House at 55 Bromfield Street in Boston, near what is today one of Boston’s busiest pedestrian intersections, Downtown Crossing. At this meeting Dr. Isaac H. Hazelton presided and Mr. Charles A. Sawyer (one of the authors of an earlier article in October, 1875 urging the formation of a "Rifle Association") acted as clerk. All present were in support of forming a rifle club at once.

They quickly formed a committee to look for a range and another committee to put together a set of rules and by-laws for the new club. They then signed a document expressing their desire to form an association and placed it in the window of the Remington & Sons gun store at 146 Tremont Street in Boston soliciting the signatures of others who would like to join them.

The name "Massachusetts Rifle Association" was adopted on December 2, 1875 and on December 9 "the first meeting of the subscribers to an agreement to associate themselves with the intention to constitute a Corporation to be known by the name of The Massachusetts Rifle Association" was held. As a result of that meeting, notice this intent was sent to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of the MRA's first members:

Dr. Isaac H. Hazelton, William H. Jackson, Charles E. Sanborn, E.G. Osgood, George H. Adams, E.M. Messenger, and F.R. Shattuck

On December 15, 1875 a charter was granted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth lists the date of organization as December 23, 1875.)

At 3:00 p.m. on December 17 the newly chartered Association met at 30 Court Street, Office Number 5, Boston in the office of Charles Wheeler, Justice of the Peace, and voted to adopt its first set of by-laws and, following the adoption of those by-laws, they voted for its first set of officers and directors.

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