Store History

Allen J. Heberling founded Heberling's Sports Shop in 1907. The store was originally located near Newfoundland, PA. In the early 1920's, however, a competing taxidermist offered Heberling $300 to move his business to a new location. Heberling moved to Prompton where he settled down, married, and had two sons, Allen W. and Walter F. Upon his death, son Allen W. took over the family business.

Allen W. Heberling (on left in photo above) ran the business until World War II, when both sons served overseas. Allen served in Germany where he was taken as a prisoner of war. He escaped once, only to be recaptured and held as a POW until the end of the war when American soldiers liberated him. Allen's brother, Walter (on right in photo above), served in the Pacific theater, fighting in assault landings at Okinawa and Leyte Gulf. After returning from the war, Walter joined his brother in running the family business. They built a new store in the 1950's (where the Prompton post office is now) and added guns and other hunting supplies to the existing taxidermy business.

Walter Heberling had a son Allen (Gus) in 1955. Gus (center in photo above) grew up around his father and uncle's store. He learned the taxidermy trade from them and took over the business in 1986. In 1991, he built the building where the store is currently located. Gus expanded the business again in 1995, adding the indoor shooting range located directly behind the store.