General

[grimace]

It was announced on Catshack Reports that Steve Davidson of 68Caliber.com has discovered the site of the very first paintball game that took place in Henniker, NH.

Read the announcement here:
First Paintball Game Field Location Discovered Catshack Reports

The first two parts of the three part story are posted here:
Finding The World’s First Paintball Field
Finding The World’s First Paintball Field, Part 2

As a New Hampshire native I'm pleased to see efforts are underway to get a historical marker placed and the state recognized as the birthplace of paintball.

Good work Steve!

Edit:

Finding The World’s First Paintball Field, Part 3
Finding The World’s First Paintball Field, Part 4

[Talfuchre]

I will have to read this, it seems like it would have been just as easy as asking them where they played.

It was only in the 1980's...


EDIT:

Well, now I can see why it is hard. It is not like there are bunkers and tape lines to find in the woods!

TF

[grimace]

You would think, but according to the article it was forgotten exactly where by Gurnsey. I'll have to see the third part of the story. I don't know Henniker well but if it's like most of southern NH it's become more developed in the last 30 years. That and the fact that most of the woods around here look the same could probably throw you off.

I think it's good that someone did this before it slips further into the past and possibly lost completely.

[stevedavidson]

the series of articles is more than three parts - I don't know where 'three part' slipped in, but it is incorrect.

I thought, like some of you, that 'my memory of places 30 years ago is solid, this will be a cake walk' - but that's just not so.

Bob Gurnsey only had vague clues and rememberances to offer. (And keep in mind he's pretty ill.)

Lionel Atwill, despite being there, said (via facebook) essentially - "I have not a clue"

Charles Gaines has so far failed to respond to inquiries - I don't even know if he's received them or not.

The photographer who took the pics for SI has died; I've tried finding out if anyone over at SI knows the disposition of any additional photos but haven't made much headway there.

I have not pursued the other players because the clues provided by the book, the town, Bob, the pics & etc ended up providing enough data, and "the Woodsman" was pretty spot on with his information.

I honestly thought, at the beginning, that this was going to be a one phone call type of thing. Bob - where's the first field? Oh, its 100 yards in, on the left, on 222nd street in Henniker. I expected to go there, find the landowner, have him say "oh yeah! I remember that. In fact, here are the 12 trees they hung flags from, here's the moldy onion patch, here's that gully and that boulder in the pics. Sure I'd love to host paintball games here!"

Absolutely not the case. Here's a preview of what's next: the hunt for geodesic dome homes in Henniker and the involvement of the Concord NH school board.

And PS Carter: I meant to send MCB the press release too, but got tied up last night sending them out and just never posted it. Now that it's up, there's little point - but I DID intend MCB to be one of the first to learn the news. Sorry about that.

[Painthappy]

No worries. Amazingly we were just talking about this and we'll have to talk because I think I know where it is, and it's not exactly where the history books tell us where it is.

We did our own little search by talking to people and while we didn't pin point it, we think we know about where it is.

[THE-SHOOTIST]

Yup, good stuff. It does need recognized, just like Cooperstown and Springfield. Mecca for us paintslingers.

[stevedavidson]

yep - and that's exactly why I don't want folks going out there UNTIL the historical marker is approved and in place; I can just see the state powers getting complaints from land owners and disallowing it because knowing where it is has become a nuisance to the local community.

Everyone in state gov I've spoken to is very positive about the whole thing. I'd like to keep it that way.

[GunRaptor]

This is too cool. I want to play there. Please, someone who lives up there, buy the land and open a park that specializes in "The Survival Game" style of paintball. That would be awesome.

[THE-SHOOTIST]

Originally Posted by GunRaptor

This is too cool. I want to play there. Please, someone who lives up there, buy the land and open a park that specializes in "The Survival Game" style of paintball. That would be awesome.

You should just do it at your own park. Pyrate Jim did this several years ago on his 'back forty', much like how the first game was played. It was a rolicking success from all accounts. This is the 'Paintball Spirit', grassroots, in your back yard, fun with friends, get creative, PLAY!

This is what REAL paintball is all about!

[B-17]

Nelspots only?

that would be amazing...