LONGVIEW SKI JUMP

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

LONGVIEW SKI JUMP. This site, located three miles north of Dubuque along Peru Road and near FOUR MOUNDS, was opened on February 4, 1940 for the Greater Dubuque Association's ski-jumping exhibition. It featured a 300-foot slide constructed on the north side of the steep bluff high above the Sullivan farm. This precaution was made to protect the snow. (1)

Visitors had to walk two or three miles when crowds of four to five thousand people came to watch exhibition leaps of the Flying Eagles Club from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The group ranged in age from 8 to 17. (2) Another attraction was Robert L. MARTIN, a native of Dubuque and described at the time as being "the only" African American" ski jumper in the world. Estimates of 225-foot jumps were made. The longest jump the first day was recorded at 110 feet. The following day Steve Egeness thrilled an estimated two thousand visitors with a jump of 142 feet.

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald and Paul Hemmer

Many attended the opening day on February 15, 1942 to inaugurate a huge new slide. Constructed thirty-seven feet higher than the previous slide, the eighty-foot tower provided a perpendicular drop from the top to river level of 286 feet. Work was also done on the take-off and underhill areas. According to reports of the time, this new slide was the third largest in the nation. Ski club officials were quoted as believing 270 foot jumps could be expected. The present world's record was then 286 feet. In 1942 Dubuque was the only city in Iowa affiliated with the Central and U. S. Ski Associations. Interest in skiing had led the newly organized Longview Ski Club to consider plans for downhill skiing and tobogganing as well as a smaller jump for beginners and youngsters.

Preparations included expanding the traffic and parking facilities to 6,000 cars and plans for attending to the needs of up to 15,000 visitors. Some could sit in their cars and still enjoy an unobstructed view. The Milwaukee, Illinois Central, and Burlington railroads arranged special ski trains to carry fans to the events and gave the meet extensive publicity. (3)

Included in the audience were 250 enlisted men from Savanna (Illinois) Ordinance Depot brought to Dubuque by special train by the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce. Special cars were attached to the Milwaukee railroad's ski special to serve Dubuque residents and others. An estimated forty jumpers were expected to take part in the activities sanctioned by the National Ski Association and conducted under the direction of the officials affiliated with the Longview Ski Club, a newly organized group. Adding additional color was the choosing of a "ski queen" from fourteen contestants. The entire event was broadcast by KDTH RADIO STATION. (4)

See: SKIING

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Source:

1. "Eau Claire Youngsters in Exhibition Program," Telegraph-Herald, February 4, 1940, p. 13

2. Ibid.

3. "Many Cities Send Entries," Telegraph-Herald, January 11, 1942, p. 27

4. "Two National Champs Among Classy Entries," Telegraph-Herald, February 15, 1942, p. 29