DUBUQUE REGATTA

This entry is being edited.

Photo courtesy: Cathy's Treasures, 156 Main, Dubuque

DUBUQUE REGATTA. During the weekend of July 4-5-6, 1911, the Fourth Annual Regatta of the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association was held in Dubuque. It was sponsored by the Dubuque Motor Club which had only been formed the year before and therefore had no experience staging regattas. (1) As on June 24th there were twenty-six large motorboats entered in the races. (2) The course ran from 800 feet south of the East Dubuque High Bridge to three-eighths of a mile south of CATFISH CREEK with six races scheduled for each day. (3)

Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.

Some of the boats entered in the races were built just for the Dubuque competition at a cost between $40,000 to $50,000. (4) While the average Dubuque "pleasure launch" had between 2-5 horsepower, these boats were capable of achieving 300-600. (5) Several of the entries created special attention. The "Dixie IV" was being entered by the owner of boats which had captured the International Championship for powerboats the preceding three years. (6) Commodore Hughey of Bellevue together with Commodore Pugh of Chicago were expected to defend the western championship against the eastern boats. (7) The average speed of these boats 30-50 miles per hour--faster than a passenger train. (Note: in 1978 the world's record speed on water was 317.6 mph)

The newest boats were expected from the east. Fauber hydroplanes were being expected from New York, New York; Wilmington, Delaware; Chicago, Illinois; and Oskosh, Wisconsin. If the hydroplanes did not live up to expectations, then contenders would include Carl G. Fischer of Indianapolis, Indiana; G. H. Deming of Cleveland, and J. W. Whitlock of Rising Sun, Indiana. (8)

Dubuque's population was expected to double on the days of the event. (9) An advertisement in the Telegraph Herald reminded people that although hotels and restaurants "will do their share and more" at least ninety percent of those coming would need to be cared for in Dubuque homes. (10)

              Every home should be thrown open for this occasion and
              this includes the homes of the wealthy and the poor and
              all in between. There will be opportunities for all. 

              Many loyal Dubuquers have already seen the opportunity
              and responsibility and have registered with Regatta 
              Information Bureau at 7th and Main streets, their
              willingness to help and as soon as the rest of our good
              people realize how big this Regatta really is they too
              will respond nobly.

              You are entitled to a fair price for whatever entertainment
              and supply and every Regatta visitor will be ready and
              willing to pay a fair price for room and meals. But don't
              be exhorbitant (sic) in your charges, treat your guests, 
              especially if they are strangers, as you would like to be
              treated yourself. (11)

In addition to the boats entering the races, Dubuque experienced many visitors who arrived by water just to watch. Officials in Alton, Illinois and St. Louis Missouri alerted Dubuque organizers in October, 1910 that owners of sixty boats had registered for a cruise to Dubuque to watch the events. An estimated one dozen cruisers were expected from Chicago while others were expected from Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota. (12)

A short black and white film was made of the event by the Champion Company. In August, the PRINCESS THEATRE advertised having pictures of the event to show. (13)

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Source:

1. "Dubuque Regatta Served as Model," Telegraph Herald, August 29, 1915, p. 25. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mHFiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8nYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6888,266618&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en

2."What the Regatta Really Is," Telegraph Herald, June 9, 1911, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FvFCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=76sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1992,6622989&dq=july+4th+dubuque&hl=en

3. Ibid

4. "Dubuque Regatta Will Have Best Entries in the Country," Telegraph Herald, May 14, 1911, p. 24. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_PBCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=76sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4955,3694857&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. "What The Regetta Means to Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, June 6, 1911, p. 7. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E_FCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=76sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2437,6305744&dq=july+4th+dubuque&hl=en

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.

12. "Coming Regatta Boom to Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, October 2, 1910, p. 13. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4rJCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XqsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6529,1954104&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en

13. "Dubuque Regatta Pictures at the Princess Theatre," Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1911, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VvZCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8qsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4219,5847888&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en