Reported by David Gemmil in 1893.
In the year 1884, John Currie of Ayrshire, Scotland, visited his relations in this country and spent the greater portion of his time in the vicinity of Waltham Township, Illinois. Being a keen curler and close observer, he saw that the wintertime afforded a splendid opportunity for the old Scottish game of curling.
He suggested that he would like to organize a club for the local community. As curling stones were not easily procured, he advised that wooded blocks would make a good substitute. A few wooden blocks were made and on being tried, proved to be satisfactory. During that winter, 1884-85 the club was started and a great many grand and exciting contests were witnessed.
Before leaving for his home in Scotland, Mr. Currie said, "I would like to see this game permanent, and by way of helping you to do so I will send from Scotland a Curling Medal- to be played for annually rink against rink." The medal arrived in due course of time and since its arrival until the present day has been played for each season.
Information provided by Jane and Dave Wilson
The first rinks were built in 1885 in a dry slough on the Johnson Farm. The rinks were flooded from the Tomahawk Creek by a wooded pump, hand generator at the pay rate of 75 cents per day per man. The first stones were wooded blocks drilled four ways and filled with lead. Iron bands were the shrunk over the block to add weight and to hold the complete mass together, a job which it often failed to do when the wood dried out. Many an early curler had the iron band drop off on a bunion as it fell or just go along for the ride as it dropped down and rattled along the ice. (Dave has one of these old stones.)
The clubhouse and indoor ice rinks were built in 1940 with artificial ice being installed in 1953.
Progression