Fred
Bull of the Beloit Historical Society remembers that Carl, who
was caretaker of Lincoln Junior School’s ice rink, wouldn’t
allow “Pom Pom Pullaway” or “Crack the Whip”
to be played on the ice because he considered it unsafe for the
kids. There was probably a like scenario over at Roosevelt Junior
School’s ice rink. Kids and tomfoolery on ice went hand
in hand as part of the winter fun in Beloit during the 1940s
and ‘50s. It was a time when ice skating was a big part
of winter recreation in the city for kids and adults alike. It
wasn’t always just fun and games either; there was real
ice skating talent in this town. Who can forget those wonderful
annual performances by the Ice Skating Club of Beloit at Riverside
Lagoon? Those fourteen years of dazzling shows on ice?
At
the Riverside Lagoon the ice skating club would hold competitions
and produce shows that attracted thousands. The skating club
was founded in 1944 and it spotlighted area talent. Original
members were William and Evelyn Kitto, Marcella Westbrook, Clarence
“Babe” Lynch, Martin Redmond, Harold and Adeline Delaney
and Ervin Keller. The first performance of the club was February
10, 1945. It was a cold day and a big, wonderful event for the
two thousand spectators who banded together in a ring around
the ice.
Many people throughout the years braved cold afternoons to see
proficient Beloit skaters parading their talents. The ice shows
were marvelous productions. Like so many other annual shows the
one in 1958 was typical: It consisted of clown and acrobatic
acts as well as dance numbers and ballet. Some of the stars were
Adeline and Harold Delaney (Adeline directed most of the shows),
Howie Westbrook, Marty and Mary Redmond, Clarence Lynch, Bill
Kitto and Oscar Wentland. Some of the acts 
were “Twins on Ice” (Barbara
and Beverly Ernst), “Two in Time” (June McDonald &
Howie Westbrook), the “Twirling Miss” (Miss Penny Rowbottom)
and “Two Alike” (Bill & Cathy Kitto). They glided,
jumped, danced, and twirled in an extravaganza delightful to
the eyes. There are many Beloiters of today who remember those
days. The Beloit Daily News provided medals and ribbons and these
were presented to the winner by City Manager Archie Telfer. The
winter days passed with ice skaters skating, but also with sledders
sledding, skiers skiing and tobogganers tobogganing.
Ice attracted the skaters, but snow attracted everybody else.
They all seem to have met with their toboggans and sleds at the
popular Hospital Hill on Olympian Boulevard. Olympian was the
location of Beloit’s hospital and the hill provided years
of fun and competition. The Toboggan Club held races there which
attracted competition from Delavan, Williams Bay, Lake Geneva
and Milwaukee. Orville Haas, Sid Renir and Art Couts were important
club members in this sport. The sledding club also raced on the
hill, and the 
Jaycees
were instrumental managing sledding events. Jake Jacobsen, the
city Recreation Director, also officiated at many of those races.
There was even a mini ski jump constructed at Hospital Hill for
those less hardy souls unwilling to tackle the giant one at Big
Hill. The ski jump at Big Hill was a magnet for competition from
all over the world.
There is a lot more to say about winter sports in Beloit. There
are the numerous other kids who skated where they could find
a frozen pond or river, a slope other than the one at Hospital
Hill which kids and adults could tackle with their saucers and
sleds, the other schools, playgrounds and neighborhoods involved
with winter fun, but this brief glimpse gives you an idea of
organized winter sports, those involved and the spectators braving
the cold during the 1940s and 50s.
