The origins and growth of the Decatur Gun Club parallel that of the clay target itself, and the
games created to hone and test shotgun-shooting skill.  Shotgun sport shooting with live
pigeons and later, glass balls existed in the U.S.from the early 1800's.  But the first "clay
pigeon" and "trap" to throw it were not developed until about 1880 by George Ligowsky.  
William Brett From Decatur was the second manufacturer of clay targets in the U.S., which he
called the "Decatur Red Bird".Considered the oldest shotgun shooting sports club in Illinois, the
Decatur Gun Club was founded soon after clay targets were invented.  Chan Powers and Bert
Hildebrandt were two of the mentors of the club, first located near East William Street Road and
22nd Street.  In the early years, the club occupied sites in the Hess Park area, the Wyckles
Corner area, the Macon County Fairgrounds, and an area west of the Fairgrounds before
finding it's home at the north end of Faries Park in 1938.