Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE REGATTA
This entry is being edited.
DUBUQUE REGATTA. The idea of Dubuque hosting a regatta began after 1894. In that year a team of Dubuque rowers left the city for Storm Lake. (1) Rough weather so marred the contest that it was questioned whether it would be held there again. A determined effort was made to interest the State Rowing Association in staging the event on Zollicoffer's Lake. The site seemed ideal. The lake was one and one-half miles long and three-fourths of a mile wide. It's depth ranged from four to ten feet. Located eight miles north of Dubuque, the lake was near the tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. Visitors to the race could be transported by excursion train or steamboat. (2)
In 1901 the Dubuque Boating Association hosted its fourteenth annual regatta. The launch race was won by the "Star" with rowers representing DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY. Its only competitor was a boat unfortunately called the "Mud Turtle." Carried out in front of the boat house, the afternoon's racing was followed by a dance. (3)
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. (4) As on June 24th there were twenty-six large motorboats entered in the races. (5) 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. (6)
Some of the boats entered in the races were built just for the Dubuque competition at a cost between $40,000 to $50,000. (7) While the average Dubuque "pleasure launch" had between 2-5 horsepower, these boats were capable of achieving 300-600. (8) 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. (9) Commodore Hughey of Bellevue together with Commodore Pugh of Chicago were expected to defend the western championship against the eastern boats. (10) 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. (11)
Dubuque's population was expected to double on the days of the event. (12) 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. (13)
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. (14)
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. (15)
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. (16)
There were disappointments. Unscrupulous boat and engine manufacturers entered the contest and then did not come to the event. Despite trips out of town to secure competitors for Dubuque's event, on the days of the show less than half who said they would participate actually attended. (17) The same kind of problem affected Davenport the following year and then Chicago. (18)
The event in 1911, however, led to other regattas. A local regatta sponsored by the Dubuque Motor Boat Club was held following a picnic on September 24, 1916. Several thousand people watched from the shore as ten races were held with Carl Ziepprecht winning the most "firsts." (19)
On September 11, 1938 police, National Guardsmen, and Sea Scouts cooperated in handling crowds that were expected to reach 15,000. Gates on the dam were lowered to prevent large pieces of wood from entering the racing area and to prevent a rise in water levels. There were six divisions of racers--three amateur and three professional. This regatta was sponsored by the Greater Dubuque Association. (20)
In 1939 the regatta was scheduled for July 3-4. Again sponsored by the Greater Dubuque Association, the event was planned to draw even larger crowds. Officials of the Mid-west Powerboat Association assured Dubuque organizers that at least thirty-five of the leading midwestern powerboat champions including several national champions would be attending. The amount of prize money would be increased and would be awarded to eight places in each category rather than the traditional five. (21) To advertise the event, the committee in charge ordered 15,000 stickers and buttons, 5,000 admiral hats, and declared the purse money was $200 more than other regatta were offering. (22)
Dubuque racing officials were thrilled in 1940. The American Powerboat Association awarded Dubuque the prized July 4th date for the annual regattas being planned across the nation. (23)
In 1947 as part of the first annual Julien Dubuque Days celebration a regatta was held on September 7th. (24)
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Source:
1. "Ready for the Regatta," Dubuque Daily Herald, July 13, 1894, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i41kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7LwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4907,2861406&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
2. "That Regatta," Dubuque Daily Herald, March 26, 1895, p. 24. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L49FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9rwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2108,7117592&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
3. "Big Crowd at Regatta," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, August 24, 1901, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VZBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3qgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3814,6302318&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
4. "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
5."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
6. Ibid
7. "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
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. "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
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. "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
16. "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
17. "Chicago Buncoed On Its Big Regatta," Telegraph Herald, August 18, 1912, p. 24. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0k5CAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hqoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3812,4715968&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
18. Ibid.
19. "Regatta Draws a Large Crowd," Telgraph Herald, September 25, 1916, p. 7. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bBleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5l8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4324,4105678&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
20. "Dick Neals Heads Field of Crack Speed Demons," Telegraph Herald, September 11, 1938, p. 13. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-NBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7KkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5940,1711471&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
21. "Plans for Powerboat Regatta Are Laid," Telegraph Herald, April 20, 1939, p. 14, Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PelBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2589,717498&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
22. "Local Regatta Has Big Purse," Telegraph Herald, May 21, 1939, p. 16. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V-lBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3312,4690848&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
23. "Dubuque Get July 4 Date for Regatta," Telegraph Herald, January 12, 1940, p. 13. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-gZCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QqoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5233,6166406&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en
24. "Veteran Iowa Racer Enters Dubuque Regatta," Telegraph Herald, August 31, 1947, p. 15. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0kxhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=snQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3498,3653439&dq=dubuque+regatta&hl=en