WAUPACA BI-CENTENNIAL BOOK

1976

 

WAUPACA CURLING

Compiled by Vern Hanke

 

            In 1955, the late Ray W. Pinkerton wrote a brief history of the Waupaca Curling Club as he could glean it from past records and recall of persons involved in the development of the Club.  Following are some of the highlights of his report.

            In 1879, H.W. Williams organized the first curling in Waupaca and played games on the natural ice of Mirror Lake.  Stones were purchased by individual curlers and varied in weight from 36-48 pounds.  The stones had been used by other clubs and had worn running surfaces so that Skips in those days had to know how the stones would run as well as his teammate’s ability.  The stones were carried to each game in specially constructed boxes.  The House was marked with scratches made with a scribe and yarn imbedded in the ice.

            Some charter members of the Waupaca Curling Club include:  H.W. Williams, J.M. Ware, H.M. Lea, Paul Browne, M.B. Curran, E.B. Jeffers, J.H. Woodnorth, E. Coolidge, Geo. Ines, S.S. Chandler, A.D. Smith, A.J. Holly, G.A. Bronson, H.G. Curran, C.R. Hoffman, Jeff Woodnorth, C.R. Hudson, F. Chandler, E. Selleck, L. Stern, T. Pipe, F.R. Whipple, D. Yarns, and P. Nichols.

            The Waupaca Opera House (now A.M. Hansen Shop) purchased in 1888, was the first building where curling was played under cover.  The ice was also used for ice skating.

            Dates are unknown but between 1888 and 1924 curling was played in an ice shed on the island of the Waupaca River near old city hall and on court house square; and the Modern Garage parking lot.  An old starch factory (located near the highway shop) also provided shelter for curling for awhile.

            The first recorded out-of-town bonspiel entered by a Waupaca rink was in 1896.  This was sponsored by the Northwest Curling Association and held in Duluth.

            In 1924, a group of 40 curlers built the original portion of the present Waupaca Curling Club.  Each member donated $25 to the building fund.  This “curling shed” housed 2 sheets of ice and a small warming room which contained a wood stove and park benches.

            Articles of Organization had been filed in 1928 declaring the Waupaca Curling Club a non-stock, non-profit organization.

            By 1930 the members purchased 14 pairs of stones from the A.K. Drew Kay Co. in Scotland.  Owners treated the stones as one of their fondest possessions.

            During the early 1900’s the Curlers from Waupaca developed keen rivalry between the Club here and those in Wausau and Appleton.  Also a rink from Waupaca attended a bonspiel in Canada.

            Twenty-eight members paid $3.00 dues in 1941 to make ice, use stones, and the club house during this war year when curling was not organized in the Club.

            In the late 1940’s, curling developed and icemakers were “hired” to make ice.  Early icemakers include:  J.F. Knudsen, Roy Holly, John Johnson, Walter Wilcox, Fred Dahm, “Butch” Mortenson, Harold Caanan, and Ray Pinkerton.

            By 1945, 32 matched stones were purchased and in 1948 another 32 were  ought in anticipation of the enlargement of the Club.

            After several curlers saw the colored house in ice at Wausau, it was decided to make ice with color in 1943 in our Club.  Also scoreboards were added to the Club to replace score keeping for 12 ends on printed sheets of paper.

            The firs annual Men’s Bonspiel (16 rinks), under the chairmanship of Ray Pinkerton was held February 18-20, 1944.  There were 10 out-of-town rinks that competed that year.

            In 1950 the Clubroom was expanded and two more sheets of ice were added.   This was the year that women curlers were allowed to use the curling club and the Waupaca Lochs were organized with 14 women participating.  Presently the Lochs have three leagues with 30-40 curlers.

            Artificial ice and all the machinery needed for this was installed in the Club in 1957.

            Mixed Curling had its beginnings in the 1950’s and annually the Club hosts an invitational Mixed Bonspiel with rinks coming from Clubs in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Canada.

            Mixed League curling was tried in 1974 but was not successful.  Mixed curling involves curlers in games Saturday nights and usually an Interclub Mixed Bonspiel is scheduled each season.

            By 1964 a new metal building replaced the old wooden shed and an updated clubroom was added.  Sixty-four rocks were purchased to replace the worn ones.

            Most recently roof repair and overhaul of the icemaking equipment have required much of the curler’s finances and time.

            Curling in bonspiels and hosting bonspiels became a favorite pastime for many curlers.  In 1969 a Waupaca tradition had its origin in that the Men’s Bonspiel was named “Champagne Bonspiel” and each rink received a bottle of champagne in honor of the 25^th Annual Bonspiel.

            In this Bicentennial year in our Club’s 96^th year, the Men’s Club hosted the 31^st Annual Bonspiel with 32 rinks competing, including 12 Canadian rinks.

            Club members are beginning to formulate plans for the Club’s 100^th anniversary in 1979.

            Officers are:  President, Rex Pope; Vice President Wayne Colden; Secretary, Ken Pinkerton; Treasurer, Vern Hanke; Directors, Harold Bammel, Elmer Dushek, Phil Holly, Dan Lavold, Jerry Panzenhagen and Lonnie Sherman.

            Lochs officers are:  President, Nanci Eich; Vice President, Eleanor Petersen; Secretary, Linda Pope; Treasurer, Marna Copeland; Directors, Evelyn Clinton, Debbie Peterson, Alice Somers and Helen Walker.