National Champion Sharpshooter, Master Stone Mason, Skilled Gunsmith, Farmer, Friend: all descriptions that can be used to describe the local resident who is featured in the current country store exhibit at Plains Museum.
LORY ELWOOD CULLERS was born in Mathias, WVA in 1941 one of four children born to Lory Ernest and Elsie Mae Mathias. When he was four years old, the family moved to a farm on the N. Fork of the Shenandoah River between Timberville and New Market where Elwood lived the remainder of his life. In 1988, Elwood told a DNR reporter that as a boy, he developed an interest in guns and shooting. Never an avid hunter, he focused on the artistry of gun building and the accuracy of sharpshooting.
After attending Broadway High School for several years, Elwood left school in the 10th grade to work on his father’s farm where he acquired skills in farming and stone masonry as well as developing his wood carving skills as a gunsmith and sharpshooter. By the 1970’s, he had built his first award winning muzzle loader Kentucky long rifle which he said took him “700 hours to build and decorate with intricate carved patterns.” At the same time, he developed sharpshooting skills which earned him National Championships in the National Muzzleloading Rife Association championships in Friendship, Indiana. For forty- one years, Elwood traveled twice each year to Indiana for the competitions. He still holds numerous national records there.
We encourage you to visit the Museum to view his extensive collection of awards and more of his life story.
The exhibit which will run through December 2022 is based on a commemorative book by friends Robert and Sue Coffman and on Elwood’s personal collection of trophies and awards donated to the Museum by friends Tom and Sandy Good Wetsel.
COMING TO THE MUSEUM
SUN. NOVEMBER 13
MEET YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS
An opportunity to visit with artists and purchase their art works including jewelry, paintings, woodworking, printing and more. See the November edition of CRC for more information.
PO Box 601
176 N. Main St., Timberville VA 22853
540-896-7900
Email: plainsmuseum@comcast.net
Website: plainsmuseum.com
