WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

November 27, 1885

 

The Curling Clubs

 

            The Knights of the “Stane and Besom” throughout the state are organizing for the winter’s sport.  The Portage Democrat says if the Ice King smile favorably they will inaugurate the season in Columbia county on Thanksgiving Day.  In that county they have several clubs thoroughly in working order, and they have an immense amount of sport.  Waupaca has a good club and as the interest is increasing throughout the state other clubs will probably be organized in this county. J.W. McCormick being a member here, and being very much interested in that healthful Scottish game will probably wake up the enterprise in New London.  H.W. Williams, J.M. Ware, G. Bronson and Grat Curran members of the Waupaca club have had blocks quarried from the Dayton and Bemis granite ledge and sent them to the polishing works at Wausau where they will be made into fine curling blocks; it is thought better than those purchased in Canada.  The Portage paper gives a list of the games the coming winter, for medals, as follows:

            1.  The County Game - Is a game played between the clubs of Columbia county.  The prize for a number of years has been the Johnston Medal, and it is understood the rink winning the prize this year will hold it finally for the club to which the rink belongs.  At present it is held by C.N. Delaney’s rink at Poynette.  Every rink in that county will participate for this medal.

            2.  The Mitchell Medal - This medal takes the place of the Gordon medal in the future, and is to be contested for by the several clubs belonging to the national club.  It is to be played for alternately in the east and west.  This year it will be played for in the west, either at Chicago, Milwaukee or Columbia county, unless perchance it should be determined to have the game at St. Paul.  It has been suggested that the game be played at Portage, the day following the match for the Morgan medal, as Chicago and Milwaukee will be here in full force.  It will be proposed that the bonspiel last for two days, and make it the best ever held in the United States.  The medal is the gift of Hon. Alex. Mitchell and is the finest one ever offered, having cost some $400.

            3.  The Morgan Medal - This is one of the finest medals ever offered. It is the gift of James Morgan, the famous dry goods merchant of Milwaukee, one of the most enthusiastic curlers of the United States.  In this game Chicago and Milwaukee are pitted against all other curling clubs in Wisconsin, which is virtually against Columbia county, as there is only one other club known (Waupaca) in the state.  All new clubs forming in Illinois are to be auxiliaries of Chicago and Milwaukee, and all others in the northwest are to be allies of Wisconsin.  It was first played for in Milwaukee last year and was won by Chicago and Milwaukee by a score of 225 against 222, Mr. Johnston’s rink making the best score, and therefore holding it for Milwaukee.  It is the understanding here that the game will be played for in Columbia county this year.  The Portage and Milwaukee clubs are to arrange the time and place.

            4.  North vs. South Medals - This is a North vs. South of Scotland match between the national clubs of the west, for the Dalrymple medal, the Forth and Clyde canal to be the dividing line of the Scotchmen. It is usual to call in American players to assist in this game.

            5.  The District Medal - This Medal is to be contested between the national clubs of the west.  The clubs are pitted against each other by lot.  At the last drawing Arlington drew Cambria and Portage, Chicago.  If Chicago comes to Columbia county to play either for the Morgan or Mitchell medal, it will be proposed that the district medal be played for at that time.

            6.  The Scotch vs. All Other Nationalities - The game is for the McLintock medal, and is to be played for, on some day appointed for the purpose, between Scotch curlers on one side and all other nationalities on the other.  The game is to be one of twenty-five, the skip on the winning side having the highest majority of shots to be the custodian of the medal.

            7.  The Turner Medal - This was a medal presented by A.J. Turney to be played for between Columbia county vs. the State of Wisconsin, and was therefore virtually a contest between Columbia county and Milwaukee.  The side winning it twice was to hold it permanently and the highest rinks on the winning side were to play off for it.  The medal was won by Columbia county. The score was as follows:

                                                At                                Columbia Co.                            Milwaukee

                        1882 - (Portage)                                    184                                           172

                        1883 - (Milwaukee)                               190                                           199

                        1884 - (Portage)                                    174                                           168

                                                                                    548                                           536

            The medal having been won for Columbia county by the “Crusaders” in 1882 and the Ironsides” in 1884, these two rinks have yet to play off for the guardianship, which they will do the present season.

            Besides the games above noted visits will be made backwards and forwards by the various clubs, and a trip to St. Paul during the ice carnival is likely to be made by some of the rinks.