Today I had the pleasure of visiting with my co-workers father. Keith Forche (Four-Key) owns Gilsons Hardware in Blissfield Michigan. Besides the business being a Do It Best, there is also an archery shop attached to the side. In this shop you will see many Grayling and a couple pre-Grayling Bear bows hanging on the wall among the Elk, Moose and Deer mounts.
Back in 1986-87, Keith was representing his small budding archery business at the bowhunter rendezvous in Michigan when he was presented with a conundrum of spending his last 12 dollars on food for him and his son Sam or buy raffle tickets to win a hunt with Fred at Grouse Haven.
With an "ok" from his son Sam, he went and bought the raffle tickets. Well, luck paid off and Keith won the hunt with Fred.
Here are some pictures of pictures I took today while down at the shop. Keith was presented with the First copy of the First edition of Freds field notes, signed by Fred. Here are those pictures and look for the story above the one with Fred standing along side the two Astronauts who were there also.
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(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_124739_050_zps9c83299c.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112223_595_zps64d6963e.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112255_963_zps1362f0f4.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112507_434_zpse93a339d.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112446_593_zps3c17394b.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112431_034_zps34e388af.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112416_530_zps00018781.jpg)
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The Astronaut in the striped shirt flew a jet up from Texas to Grouse Haven bringing fresh clams as he broke the sound barrier over camp.
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112342_358_zps76ade6c0.jpg)
KEITH (Beard) and FRED
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112335_626_zps7806e139.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112324_007_zpsfa9ef997.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112311_884_zpsda999df5.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/IMG_20130809_112240_189_zps908c504d.jpg)
Thats awesome.
tzolk, superb!!
Shick
hey todd be lucky you dont have to see it everyday at work and want everything that is there haha
Talon,
Aren't you supposed to be working? Lol.
Great story thanks for sharing.
Man that is some cool history right there.
Kool... Thanks for sharing
This is a great story and cool old photos. Thanks for sharing!
Really nice and thanks for sharing.
I love the pictures, you can tell everyone was having a genuinely good time.
Great pics, thanks for sharing
I thoroughly enjoyed this post.
Tom
I really enjoyed that. What a lucky guy!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!!!
Very cool!
Very cool, thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That is a very neat Bear signature bow, never seen on with that color wood.
Keith really knows his stuff. I used to work in a factory not far from Gilsons. I stretched many a lunch break in the sporting goods section. Great memories!
Thanks for sharing the pics and story.
Much appreciated.
.....Philip
Lunch or a raffle ticket.
I'll never get to hunt with someone famous if that's the choice. Great photos and history, thanks for sharing.
Those pictures are super.
I grew up and Blissfield and remember Gilson's when it was a small local hardware downtown. I moved away for a period of time and when I returned to the area in the late 90's Keith had gotten involved in the business and the archery department was a pleasant surprise. I am now close enough that they are my go to archery store. Keith, Jim and Talon are all good, knowledgable archery people and the stuff on the walls are exceptional to look at.
D.P.
Thanks for sharing.What a treat hunting with Fred at his playground !!