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 Iowa State Amateur Rowing Association ruled the Dubuque club out of competition at the state meet. (7) In Grand Rapids, the Dubuque Juniors came in second to great joy in Dubuque. (8) The summer regatta was rescheduled for September with competition in four-oared, single skull, canoe, tub, log, skiff, and swimming free for all with prizes offered to winners. (9)

Forty Dubuque residents accompanied the crews of the Dubuque Boat Club to the State Regatta at Spirit Lake in July of 1889. (10)

In 1894 the state regatta was held in Storm Lake. Cities in addition to Dubuque participating were Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, and Ottumwa. Free transportation was offered to all participants with a special rate for the round trip to all others. (11)

In 1895 the state regatta had been relocated to Clear Lake with Dubuque teams already practicing in June. (12) The boat house of the club was the scene of social activities. In September 1895 the Dubuque Herald reported that the "home" of the club was "Terpsichore's shrine" referring to Greek mythology and a place of dancing." (13)

When the Iowa State Amateur Rowing Association in 1897 announced there would be no state regatta. One of the problems faced in each of the past years was the weather conditions on the prairie lakes. With the continuation of the sport in jeopardy, the Dubuque Boat Club announced its intention of sponsoring a regatta of a size guaranteeing success. Invitations were sent to Cedar Rapids, Burlington, Ottumwa, and Sioux City. The site chosen was ZOLLICOFFER'S LAKE, a site which had been proposed as early as 1894. (14)

In 1949 the Dubuque Boat Club met to make plans for Dubuque's first inland regatta since 1911. The club sent 500 invitations to clubs around the United States to compete in the festivity which offers a $1,000 first prize. Sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association, the Dubuque event would be the last in a series beginning in Muscatine, Iowa and then proceeding to Hannibal, Missouri and Fox Lake, Illinois. The famed Webb and Ventnor trophies which had been awarded since 1908 would also be involved. The Dubuque Boat Club in 1949 had been in existence for two years. (15) Within ten years, Women's Auxiliary had been organized. (16)

In June 1966 two youths were taken into custody after a replica of an old paddlewheeler was burned. Stored at 2625 Lincoln, the "boat" was mounted on a truck frame and operated under its own power in local parades. (17)

In 2017 the club was housed at 2656 Lincoln Avenue where the building cornerstone was dated 1958. Membership was only given by referral. (18)

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. "The Regatta," Dubuque Herald, July 26, 1889, p. 1

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

9. "A Local Regatta," Dubuque Herald, August 26, 1890, p. 4

10. "Municipal Molecules, Dubuque Herald, July 9, 1891, p. 4

11. "Ready for the Regatta," Dubuque Herald, July 13, 1894, p. 4

12. "Crews Are Chosen," Dubuque Herald, June 5, 1895, p. 8

13. "Boat Club Dance," Dubuque Herald, September 13, 1895, p. 4

14. "A Regatta Here," Dubuque Herald, July 29, 1897, p. 8

15. "Boat Races to be Held Here in July," Telegraph Herald, June 1, 1949, p. 8

16. "Coming Events," Telegraph Herald, September 13, 1959, p. 10

17. "Scuttled," Telegraph Herald, February 16, 1966, p. 17

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