DUBUQUE BOAT CLUB

DUBUQUE BOAT CLUB. A call for the organization of a boat club for Dubuque was raised by the Dubuque Herald in March 1879. Pointing to the recent meeting of the Mississippi Valley Amateur Rowing Association in Chicago, the newspaper mentioned that members included Burlington, Keokuk, Moline, Rock Island, St. Paul, St. Louis, Chicago, and Peoria. The annual regatta for 1870 was to be held in Keokuk where the city had promised prizes totaling $1,200. In suggesting that Dubuque become involved, the paper reminded readers that the city had "a very fine stretch of river." (1)

Articles of incorporation for the Dubuque Boat Club were signed on August 25, 1887. The signers of the articles were Joseph Morgan, C. H. McMasters, M. M. Hayden, C. N. Hooper, George F. Atkins, F. W. Langworthy and E. J. Levi. The first officers were elected to hold office in 1898. These included:

        F. A. Rumpf, president
        J. A. Koch, first vice president
        J. F. Stampfer, treasurer
        J. L. Buettell, secretary
        J. R. Lindsay, captain
        C. N. Hooper, first lieutenant
           W. Couch, second lieutenant.

At the start the club had seventy-four active members and 180 honorary members. The membership dues were $10 annually which included the initiation fee. For a time after the organization, the club met at in the rooms of Professor Keck at Ninth and Main. Members of the executive committee continued to meet at the Board of Trade rooms. (2)

In March 1889 the announcement was made of the spring regatta in May. Owners were already preparing their boats for the new season. It was expected that the club would choose two teams to complete in the annual state regatta to be held at Spirit Lake. (3) In May, 1889 the Iowa State Amateur Racing Association wrote to the Dubuque club that actual oarsmen would have free lodging at the Hotel Orleans in Spirit Lake for two days prior to the competition and during the two days of the meet as well as transportation. This offer was advertised as being the first of its kind. (4) The following day, the Dubuque club announced that it had purchased the "finest paper shell manufactured by Watter & Company, boat builders of New York. The club announced on July 14th that four teams would be competing in the state meet on July 24 and 25th. (5) The Dubuque summer regatta was postponed for two weeks in July, 1889 so that two teams could be sent to compete in the Grand Rapids, Michigan regatta. (6) Attending that regatta was perhaps comforting after the executive committee of the State Rowing had ruled the Dubuque club could not attend the state meet. (7) In Grand Rapids, the Dubuque Juniors came in second to great joy in Dubuque. (8)

In 2017 the club was housed at 2656 Lincoln Avenue where the building cornerstone was dated 1958. Membership was only given by referral. (9)

The 1989 Dubuque City Directory listed 2656 Lincoln.

See: DUBUQUE REGATTA

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Source:

1. "Wanted--A Boat Club," Dubuque Herald, March 18, 1879, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18790318&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Ibid.

3. "Local News in Brief," Dubuque Herald, March 26, 1899, p. 4

4. "The State Regatta," Dubuque Herald, May 30, 1889, p. 1

5. "The Iowa Regatta," Dubuque Herald, July 14, 1889, p. 4

6. "Local News in Brief," Dubuque Herald, July 30, 1889, p. 4

7. "Local News in Brief," Dubuque Herald, July 26, 1889, p. 4

8. "Second Place," Dubuque Herald, August 2, 1889, p. 4

9. Dolter, Amanda. "Clubbing," DBQ: Celebrate the Good Life April-June, 2017, p. 38