THE HISTORY BEHIND CENTERVILLE'S CURLING CLUB

Wisconsin’s curling history dates back to the late 1850’s, when Scottish immigrants came to this area and curled on the Black River after it was frozen. The first area clubs were at Decorah Prairie, McGilvary Bottoms and North Bend. They made curling stones out of wooden blocks/molten metal. In 1928, a group of these men got together and formed the Galesville Curling Club. In the 1914, the LaCrosse Curling Club curled on the LaCrosse River. In the late 1920’s the Winona, MN Curling Club was formed.

In 1947, Harry Murray, Ray Burt Sr. and Russell Hunter started a campaign to construct a new curling club with the help of seventeen other founders in the area. Many thought it could not be done. It was a fine 3-sheet rink, including a lunchroom and a warming room, which was used for observation.  Eighty-seven men were members of this organization.  Russell Hunter was President of the club and Les Grover, Sec. /Treasurer.  The Centerville Curling Club was organized by selling shares of stock for $25.00.  Subsequent noted events have taken place since the club's inception:

1948         The club built a 3 sheet quonset.              

                 Men’s Membership dues were $8 for stockholders and $10 for non-stockholders.

1949         In January, the first men’s bonspiel was held in Centerville with over 40 teams participating on natural ice.

               Stones were purchased for club. Up until this time, members each purchased two stones of their own at a cost of $25.  They also used a kitchen broom.

1953         Women started curling with membership fees of $3.              .

1954         January 5^th, the club received stones that were shipped from Scotland which were then sent to Canada and then to New York. Club members drove

                        by truck to New York to get the stones. At that time, a new set of stones cost $55.  The club traded in thirty-three sets of old rocks at $10 

                        per set.

1960         Artificial ice was installed. $360 was borrowed for this project.

                 They also built the clubroom and machine room.

1961         The first senior bonspiel was held.

1963         The first women’s bonspiel was held.

1971         An addition was built on the club that combined the warming/kitchen room with clubroom and new additional bathrooms.

1978         Used stones were purchased for the club.

1994         The Club qualified for non-profit-Tax Exempt status and the Centerville Community Development Foundation Inc. was formed.

1996                              A new club was built with 4 sheets of ice and a Community Center – Town of Trempealeau Building at the cost of $365,000 on farmland donated by

                                            Elaine Delaney.

                 The building and land was sold to the Town of Trempealeau and a long-term lease was formed.

2004              2004        The Club hosted the United States Junior Nationals Bonspiel.

                      2006        The Club hosted the World University Game Trials.

 2007        An addition, which included an office, locker room and cold storage, was added .

200    2007        The Club hosted a Scottish Men’s Tour game.

 2009        This date will mark the 60^th Anniversary from the Club's first bonspiel.

Today, the Centerville Club has over 250 members, with Junior Leagues, Women's League, Three Men's Leagues, Senior Men's League, and Mixed League.  

This history account was recalled by Denise Lilla.