Our Club
Men’s Leagues | Mixed League | Fundraising
The Early Years
Curling is believed to have started in Lodi in the 1860′s. At this time, local sawmills were turning out wooden blocks of poplar or oak, and metal handles were attached with molten lead. Such early “blocks” would occasionally be unearthed, often by area farmers tilling the soil for planting.
Wooden curling “stone” from the Excelsior Mill pond area in Lodi, WI. circa 1880′s
A fine example of an early Lodi curling “block” is shown in the photo below. This block was recovered from the area in Lodi that is now home to Veteran’s Park, formerly the mill pond for the long past Excelsior Flour Mill.
There was mention of curling news in the Lodi Valley News in the 1870′s. However, it was on Tuesday December 14, 1880 that a group of men met in downtown Lodi to organize a “curlers club”. Those present elected J.O. Eaton as President, J.F. Collin as Secretary, and J.W. Watson, Treasurer. Mr. James Wilson moved that a curling club be organized, with two “rinks” or teams. and that the club be called the “Lodi Curling Club”. The motion passed and thus the Lodi Curling Club came to be.
About this same time, the gentlemen that were forming the Lodi Curling Club had purchased a set of 16 cast iron curling blocks from Mr. James Fyfe of Portage, WI. These blocks were described as having a handle screwed to the top and to providing much more consistent performance than the wooden blocks previously used by the men.
A newspaper account from 1887 describes a match against an Arlington, WI team in which the cast iron blocks of the Lodi team were no match for the granite blocks of Arlington. This is the first local mention of the change in block material to what is currently used today.
A group of Lodi Curlers from “back in the day”.
In 1892, the Lodi Curling club, along with Portage, Arlington, Cambria and Poynette, became one of the eight founding members of the Northwestern Curling Association of America.
Though the answer as to why appears lost to time, it is apparent that the popularity of curling in Lodi (and possibly elsewhere) waned around the turn of the 20th century. There is little local mention of the game again until the early 1920′s.
The First Icehouse
By 1921, interest in the game had been rekindled and the Lodi Curling Club reorganized with 50 members. They purchased land and built an icehouse that was “second to none in the state” at that time. It was located on Portage Street and was dedicated on January 2 ,1922 with an all day (and night!) bonspiel. Dues were about $3 per person.
Lodi Curling Club’s first home on Portage Street
Disaster struck the Curling Club on Sunday December 19, 1926. Under the weight of a heavy ice and snow load, the roof collapsed. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the building was rendered useless temporarily. However, after less than three weeks, and at a cost of $275, the roof had been replaced and the curlers were back in business.
The local paper reported a “boom” in curling again in 1946. This seemed to be more than a local trend, as many communities experienced a resurgence in curling, post-WWII. This year, Lodi hosted it’s first bonspiel in several years.
A Second Home
The renewed interest in curling prompted the club, in 1948, to seek out a new building to house the club. At the same time, Truax Field in Madison was selling off Army surplus, including some of the old buildings. One of these was a 33′ by 160′ former mess hall. The club purchased the building for $2273, cut it apart, and hauled it to Lodi in 20′ sections.
Lodi Curling Club at its present site. Though additions had been made, it was in use until 2007.
The curling club struck an agreement with the Lodi Agricultural Fair Association to erect the building on the fair grounds. It was to serve as curling rink in the winter, as well as an exhibition hall during the Lodi Ag Fair. It was a mutually beneficial relationship that continues to this day.
The new icehouse was in place, and in use for the 1949 season. That season also brought another change as the club had purchased Scottish granite curling stones just prior to the beginning of the season. The cost of the new stones was $960. The local paper attributed the increased popularity of curling to the new facility with its two sheets of ice and a warm spectator room!
In the early 50′s, following the lead of many other clubs, funding was secured and the club moved forward with plans to refrigerate the icefield and achieve the ability to create “artificial” ice. This would both prolong the curling season, and allow for more consistent ice that was impervious to fluctuations in the weather. In 1955, women curlers in Lodi organized to form the “Lodi Lauries”. The women still have an active league to this day.
Little changed at the club until the early 1970′s, when the club decided to add on to the original structure that was moved from Truax. This addition, along with another in the mid 80′s, would create a clubhouse/lounge area, including a kitchen. It would also provide a locker room and equipment storage in the basement.
In 2007, the Lodi Curling Club undertook the task of construction of a new icehouse facility on the site of the current one. This newly expanded structure would allow for ADA compliance, updated restrooms and viewing area, along with a state-of-the-art, two sheet, icefield facility. This discussion was expedited by the rapid deterioration of both the icehouse foundation, and the 50-plus year old icefield piping. These elements contributed to increasingly inconsistent and unpredictable ice surfaces. Construction of the new facility began mid-July 2007, and was completed In November 2007. Today, the club is a result of all of this hard work and foresight provided by many former, and current curlers.
How to Join
Joining the Lodi Curling Club is easy. Just follow these 4 simple steps:
- Contact Us (the simple form is over there →).
- Pay the annual dues.
- Join a team (or let us get you hooked up!)
- Curl and enjoy!
Dues
Dues for the 2012-13 curling season are as follows:
- Unlimited Curling: $250
- One League(night): $200
- New, First-time Curler: $150
- Mixed League: $120
- Student: $100
- Substitute: $75
Men’s Leagues
Monday Dinner League 4:30 draw, 5 teams (1 cooks, 4 play)
- Schedule
- Results and Standings
Tuesday 6:15 & 8:30 draws, 9 teams, 16 games
- Schedule
- Results and Standings
Thursday6:15 & 8:30 draws, 9 teams, 16 games
- Schedule
- Results and Standings
Mixed Leagues
Wednesday 6:30 & 8:30 draws, playing 8 ends, open league
- Schedule
- Results and Standings
Friday 6:30 & 8:00 draws, playing 6 ends, open league
- Schedule
- Results and Standings
Fundraising
The Board of Directors of the Lodi Curling Club is pleased to announce the Capital Campaign which is directed toward fundraising for construction of a new curling facility. This facility is sited roughly where the existing facility is located, at 704 Fair Street, on the grounds of the Lodi Agricultural Fair. This facility is approximately 38′ by 186′. It features 2 sheets of ice on a newly constructed ice field, in a newly constructed building. Additionally, the club upgraded the piping and ice-making equipment, expanded the viewing area, and provided ADA compliant restroom facilities. The Lodi Agricultural Fair has committed to donate substantially to the building expansion project. The Lodi Curling Club has a fundraising goal of around $200,000.
The Lodi Curling Club is accepting donations at this time and all contributions are TAX DEDUCTIBLE if the donation is made to the “Lodi Agricultural Fair, Inc.” The Fair has established a separate account for donations made for this project. To follow are the levels of sponsorship available for the Capital Campaign. Business/Corporate sponsorships are also available. Those of you that have a “matched giving program” through your employer should contact our Fundraising Chairperson so that we may maximize that benefit.
The Lodi Curling Club has established six levels of sponsorship as follows: ICEHOUSE, GOLD, SILVER, FIRST EVENT, SECOND EVENT and THIRD EVENT. The donation level and associated benefits are listed below. Club members, Lodi Agricultural Fair enthusiasts and the community as a whole are pleased with the results. Construction began mid-July 2007, shortly after the close of the 2007 Lodi Agricultural Fair.
Contact us through our simple form located on the right-hand side of the page.
Lodi Curling Club
P.O. Box 154
Lodi, WI 53555
******PLEASE NOTE: YOUR CHECK MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO: “LODI AGRICULTURAL FAIR, INC.” TO ENSURE THAT YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. LODI AGRICULTURAL FAIR, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION.*******
The Board of Directors
Lodi Curling Club
Paul Johnson, President
email:pjohnson@lodicurling.org
Melissa Bjerke, Fundraising Chair
email:mbjerke@lodicurling.org
Sponsorship Levels
ICE HOUSE – Permanent Sheet Sponsor
Contribution Level: $10,000 and above
- Permanent Ice Sheet Sponsorship
- Special Sponsor recognition on ICE HOUSE banner
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
GOLD MEMBERSHIP – Contribution Level: $5,000 to $9,999
- Ice Sheet Sponsorship for 3 years
- Special Sponsor recognition on ICE HOUSE banner
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
SILVER MEMBERSHIP – Contribution Level: $2,000 to $4,999
- Ice Sheet Sponsorship for 2 years
- Special Sponsor recognition on ICE HOUSE banner
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
FIRST EVENT – Contribution Level: $1,000 to $1,999
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
SECOND EVENT – Contribution Level: $500 to $999
- Special Recognition at new facility dedication ceremony.
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
THIRD EVENT - Contribution Level: up to $499
- Sponsorship Recognition on the Sponsor’s Plaque in the viewing area.
