Probably before the 19th century a rifle club existed. In 1826 village judge Boehlen for the first time mentions the Doessel riflemen in the chronicle: „... by a procession ..., while the riflemen paraded and fired several times,...“.
In 1847 the rifle club gave himself statutes and articles. They commence: „The inhabitants of Doessel have for the promotion of the public spirit and harmony founded an every year recurrent riflemen’s meeting and for this purpose built a riflemen’s club. The festival was to be celebrated within two days some time around Pentecost.
Until 1878 on the occasion of the meeting fre beer from the rent of the riflemen’s meadow was poured out. In the beginning the festival was celebrated in the open air, a simple stage was erected from planks. From 1899 a festival tent was pitched. With the moving into Wilmes’ barn in 1910 tables and benches were bought. From 1929 the festival took place in „Twetenjans“ (Peinen) barn.
During the years of war 1915 - 1918, 1940 - 1948, during
the inflation year 1923 as well as in 1938 because of the foot-and-mouth
disease the festival had to be cancelled.
Until 1964 the festival took place - considering the agriculture
- between mid June and the beginning of July on a Sunday and a Monday.
The present fixed date was introduced in 1964. Since the year 1971 the
riflemen’s dance is celebrated on a Saturday too since the women more and
more frequently had demanded admission to the battalion’s eve.
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