Schuetzen Vereins were so popular in early Manning that there were enough members to keep three area vereins active throughout the year. One group met at the Three Mile House, located three miles north of Manning on the Swimming Pool road. Dues were $5 per year which enabled members to attend special parties there.

Although the verein started out with members living nearby, it eventually grew to include people from Manning, Aspinwall, Westside, Arcadia and other area towns. A number of members belonged not only to their verein, but to the Manning and Hayes Township as well. During contests between the three clubs, members had to decide which one they were to represent that day.

The Three Mile House began with a farm house, which later became the home of the various caretakers hired to oversee the club. A long meeting room, also used as a dance hall and dining room, was added to the house. Full-course meals were served by the caretaker's wife during the events which were held. Some of the families who lived there were: Ed Grimms, Bill Ruhdes, Herman Hargens, Bill Schrums, Eddie Petersen and Eddie Hinz.

There was also a barn on the grounds where the horses could be kept in the winter and a long hitching post near the building for better weather. Special events were Kinder Fest, King Shoot, wedding and anniversary dances. When Johannes Bunz, our local blacksmith, welcomed his bride from Germany, a gala reception was held at the Three Mile House; Elaine Roggish, teacher in the area, held school programs there and the bar was always open the first years so that anyone going past with their horse and buggy could stop for coffee or a beer.

The Three Mile House earned the dubious reputation for fights and heavy drinking. It has been said that "anything you could find anywhere else, you could find here". Liquor was rolled in by the barrelful or tucked into a coat pocket.

Another version of memories includes the family parties and dances. When the babies and small children were sleepy, they were put to bed in the caretaker's home while Mom and Dad danced till dawn. Everyone stayed until the "Night-cap" dance when the honored couple donned homemade night caps and danced to the applause of the entire group. The evening was climaxed with a lunch.

The verein was started shortly after people began moving into the Manning area and was one of the main social centers. Eventually more people got cars and reached out further for their entertainment. The verein was disbanded in 1943, the land sold and the building was torn down. The money left in the treasury was donated to the Manning City Library.

The Hayes Township Schuetzen Verein, which meets at the Five Mile House five miles south of Westside, may be the only organization of its kind in Iowa. Organized in May, 1883, with 71 members, it now boasts a membership of about 300 and the fact that it has outlived all other shooters' societies once popular in the area.

The verein held its first meetings at the Five Mile House, which had been built in 1876 by Andreas Lentz for use as an amusement place. It included a huge barn where people who came from a distance could shelter their teams of horses, while they spent the evening sociably with friends. Lentz later sold the property to Fritz Huber. Subsequent owners were Meves Schacht, Claus Strathman, and the Schuetzen Verein, which purchased it in 1899.

About 300 people gathered at the Five Mile House October 1, 1937, to witness the energizing of the first electric lights in rural Crawford County.

The original building was taken down in 1938, and the present building was then built and dedicated at the annual King Shoot. President Henry Hagge spoke at the dedication, noting, "Our fathers, the founders of this organization, and the builders of our homes, inaugurated such

festivals and entertainments for the purpose of renewing friendships, to learn to know each other and to create a better understanding between us. I do hope that our children will maintain and uphold the traditions of celebrating as we do here today, in the same spirit of friendship and harmony as of old."

To this day, many of the members are descendents of the founders of the organization; Jurgen Ohde, John H.C. Peters, Wm. Pruter, F.W. Pruter, Louie Tolgard, John Oeser, Peter Martins, Heinrich Stender, Joachim Puck, Hans Suhr, Heinrich Hagedorn, Claus Thiedeman, Claus Strathman, Carsten Voss, Carl F. Hagedorn, Adam Schneckloth, Claus Grage, Heinrich Schroeder, Wm. Wiese, Claus Plagman, Claus Anthony, Heinrich Goettsch, Henry Rohwer, Wm. Rowedder, Louie Hannemann, Claus Hagge, Hans Eggers, Heinrich Grimm, Han. H. Kruse, Herman Jahn, Wilhelm Martens, William Hill, Timm Anthony, August Dethlefs, Heinrich Kruse, William Hanneman, Meves Schacht, Chris Lemster, Fritz Hagedorn, Herman Martens, Claus Engeland, Heinrich Joens, John Reinholt, Otto Kruse, Heinrich Greves, Ferdinand Blocker, Heinrich Vinke, J.F. Jahn, Wm. Jahn, John Groth, Joachim Lamp, Heinrich Piening, Hans Joens, Peter Clausen, John T. Ohrt, Anton Wells, Heinrich Schoenjahn, Heinrich Dohse, J.H. Mumm, Nick Schumann, John Jetter, John Ehrichs, Claus Grube, Peter Goettsch, Herman Grundmeier, Heinrich Flenker, John Rathjens, Heinrich Schelldorf, Heinrich Klingberg, John Ohde, and Detlef Wiese.

At the beginning, the group met once a month and gave prizes for the best marksman. These prizes were usually a piece of hardware or leather goods. The king's prize was often a larger piece of furniture. The monthly gatherings were later changed to annual celebrations. Other events during the year included a Children's Day, Ring Riding for men on ponies, Ring Riding for women on merry-go-rounds, harvest festivals, goose ball on Thanksgiving, dances at Easter, Christmas and New Year, and the frolicsome masquerades.

During the early years, from about 1890 to 1895, the Hayes Verein had King Shoots with Manning's Three Mile House and the Wall Lake Verein. One of the meets was won by August Rohwer, who was awarded Mrs. Potts' sad irons. Later, from about 1910 to 1939, the group met with the Manning and Three Mile House Vereins in a "Gold Medal" meet. John Oeser was king four times, in 1913, 1914, 1922 and 1939.

The verein has met every year for the past 97 years, except during World War I, when it was difficult to secure ammunition, during the World War II years of 1943, '44, and '45, and during the Korean War in 1951.

The annual King Shoot is now held on Pentecost Sunday every June. The day's activities start with a nine a.m. procession to the home of the king of the previous year, where music is provided by a live band and refreshments served. At noon, the group -- often numbering 400 to 500 people -- return to the Five Mile House for the contests. While the men shoot, the women have a ball throwing contest. The winners are named the king and queen of the year; dances are held in the afternoon and evening.

Officers elected in April, 1980, were president, Wayne Schroeder, Manning; vice-president Joe Brandt, Aspinwall; secretary, Wayne Jahn, Manning; treasurer, Gene Thiedeman, Westside; and trustees Gordell Lamp, Manning, Merlin Nulle, Westside and Robert Phillips, Manning.