OT--Annie Oakley

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:15 pm

Annie Oakley

Received a DVD about the life of Annie Oakley yesterday and finished watching it a few minutes ago. This is the version shown on the A&E channel.

Annie said: "I guess I was born with the love of guns in me." That really rung a bell with me and expect most here would feel likewise.

I intend to get over to Greenville, Ohio in a few weeks and visit the historic sites relative to her life. She came back to Greenville, where she grew-up, and died there or near by. (Her devoted husband died 18 days later.)

Does anyone in this group know what there is to see in Greenville or near by that pertains to Annie's life? I assume there's an Annie Oakley museum there. I know she and her husband are buried in the area.

Annie's great niece had several nice things to say about Annie and her husband. One was: "They had a marriage made in heaven."

Don McCullough

BobM · Post by **BobM** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:51 pm

Go to the Darke Co. Historical Society Museum; they've got a pretty nice collection about her, plus the rest of the Museum is pretty good too.

I've only been there once, and it's been a few years so I can't give you directions.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:07 pm

Don,
She was a woman she can say things like that. If you say it they'll lock you up for 48 hours for observation to see if you're a danger to yourself or someone else.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:14 pm

getitdon1, The Garst museum in Greenville is very nice We were there about five years ago.It has a whole room on Annie. Jim.
http://www.garstmuseum.org/

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:03 pm

What were some of Annie's favorite guns?

Believe one may have been the lever-action model that preceded the Marlin model 39. Can't think off-hand what model that was.

Seen several pictures of her with a double barreled shotgun, have no idea what make.

I usually think of her shooting a rifle but know she used shotguns and handguns in her act. Was she as good with a handgun as the others?

It's amazing to me that a poor farm girl would ever be able to afford enough shooting that would enable her to become a big-time shooter.
Tempted to say "trick-shooter" but that would not be true except for the shot they used in some of their rifle loads.

"Every woman ought to learn how to shoot a gun." --Annie Oakley

Edit: Forgot to thank you guys for telling me where to find Annie Oakley related things in or near Greenville, Ohio. Thanks. I'll be going there soon.

Don McCullough

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:58 pm

I have been to her gravesite but not the museum. Next time I am in the area I wil make it a point to visit.
Here's a link to photo's of her resting place.
http://www.mikeleejohnson.com/Annie.html

Two of Annie's rifles were sold at Julia's Auctions last year.
Go to this link and you will see two slideshows of high $$$ guns that were auctioned. Look at the left hand slideshow and her's will appear.
http://www.juliaauctions.com/firearms.asp

w30wcf

BobM · Post by **BobM** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:11 pm

.45colt wrote:getitdon1, The Garst museum in Greenville is very nice We were there about five years ago.It has a whole room on Annie. Jim.
http://www.garstmuseum.org/

That's the name of the place I was thinking of.

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:57 pm

Well I finally got off my duff and searched the internet about Annie Oakley. Spent about 3 hours tonight reading about her and quit before I'd read all there was to read.

They are having an Annie Oakley Days Festival at the Darke Co. fairground, St. Rd. 49, Greenville, Ohio. July 23 thru 27, 2008.

Most interesting is I find they are going to have an Annie Oakley Center and The Annie Oakley Foundation is in the process of acquiring the ground for this Center. Location Greenville, Ohio. Good to hear.

I suppose we'll never know who was the greatest shooter of all times. There is no question Annie was one of the greatest. That's with shotgun, rifle and handgun. If it came to just one of these types of guns I expect a single individual might really be called the greatest with the record and videos to prove it. Expect Ed McGivern would be the best with a double-action revolver. His book: Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting is a must read.

To my knowledge there is now only one expert shooter representing either an ammo or gun company. Can't recall his name. He recently set a shotgun shooting record using clay pigeons he threw himself. With Winchester, I believe. Years ago there were several sharpshooters representing ammo and gun manufacturers. Ad Topperwein comes to mind.

Don McCullough