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GYA Saturday 12.25.04
By Chris Bennett
What is the story on the old log cabin in Colonial Park?
Well, it's not an old log cabin.
It was built in 1972 at a cost of $10,200. It's 504 square feet, and is used almost exclusively as classroom space, though no one used it for that purpose in 2004.
"It can't be rented for a picnic, but schools can sign up for it," said Bob Rafel, Parks and Facilities Specialist with the City of Racine.
Kind of like Santa Claus. Or someone with a big bag of cash.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Yes. And man, did they stink.
This is part of Racine's rich history of semi-professional football we all need to forget.
I searched the Internet and learned the Racine Rocks played in eight shutouts in 1949. This would be a feat of football legend for the Rocks' defense, but the Rocks are the team that didn't score.
A search of our microfilm archives revealed more of the Rocks' spectacular ineptitude.
Head coach John Reis took 15 players from the defunct Racine Bees as the core of his team. Assistant Sports Editor Ralph Trower, in a season preview printed in the Sept. 2, 1949, edition of The Journal Times, said "the Rocks may put a strong starting team on the field, but will be somewhat weak in reserve strength."
Trower was obviously an optimist.
Trower said the Rocks, playing in the Central States League, looked good in a 6-0 loss Sept. 9 to the Kenosha Redskins at Kenosha.
Then the Rocks lost 32-0 to the Waukegan Merchants Sept. 14 at Horlick Field; 26-0 to the Delavan Red Devils Sept. 29 at Horlick Field; 41-0 Oct. 2 at Waukegan and 12-0 to the Rams at Evanston, Ill., on Oct. 9.
Opponents outscored the Rocks 117-0 in five losses before Oct. 12, 1949, when the Racine 11 defeated Chicago Chuck Motors 18-7 at Horlick Field.
That's the high point, ladies and gentlemen. The Rocks were outscored 80-0 in consecutive losses to the Quad Cities Mohawks, Evanston and Kenosha, on Oct. 19, to close the season.
For those of you not keeping count at home, that's 197 points scored against the Rocks and 18 scored by the Rocks, and a final record of 1-8 overall and 0-8 in the Central States League.
The Rocks only played in 1949, though they shared Racine that season with another semi-pro team, the Hornets. The Rocks folded before the 1950 football season.
Where does the Fox River start? Which one? The Fox River in the southern part of Wisconsin and northern Illinois begins near Menomonee Falls.
It gets larger around Waukesha and runs through several lakes.
It enters Illinois after 70 miles in Wisconsin, and travels about 100 miles in Illinois before ending in the Illinois River.
The Fox is controlled by several dams, including one in Yorkville near Illinois Highway 47 that is one of the few dams in our area that generates hydroelectric power.
The Fox River in northern Wisconsin starts in Portage, flows north through Lake Winnebago and ends in Green Bay.
It's one of the few major rivers in the northern hemisphere that flows north.
It's also a superfund site as a result of pollution from the paper industry, which pumped the river full of mercury and PCBs. The chemicals make the river a health hazard to swim and fish in.
But the Clean Water Action Council, which alerted this lifelong Wisconsin resident to the fact that there's two Fox Rivers, is working to clean-up the northern Fox River. Check them out at: www.foxriverwatch.com
Glad You Asked finds answers to questions. Selected questions and the answers will be published in this column.
Call (262) 631-1758 to submit a question, or do so by e-mail: ask@journaltimes.com You may also submit questions online at www.journaltimes.com
The Journal Times and the Racine Public Library are partners on research. Call the Reference Desk at (262) 636-9217 or query their web site at www.racinelib.lib.wi.us/emailr.htm for more information.
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| The Bottom Line -- So that's where that news release went! | Glad You Asked 12/26/04 |
