Iola in Waupaca County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

School House Ski Hill

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

1. School House Ski Hill Marker

Side 1

Inscription. Iola’s organized skiing tradition dates back to Tuesday, January 11, 1910, when a group of individuals met in Justice Cleaves’ office to initiate the organization of the Iola Ski Club, which morphed into the Iola Winter Sports Club some 10 years later. The first ski jumping activity recorded in Iola had taken place on Sunday February 28, 1909, however, when Albert Johnson, Elf Elfson, Oscar and Andrew Waistad executed jumps from an improvised scaffold affixed to Jas. Parker’s barn roof, situated “on the hill in the rear of the school buildings,” facing north down the embankment.

The Iola Ski Club’s founding officers: president Oscar Wrolstad, permanent clerk H. C. Cleaves, and treasurer G. L. Gunderson. The January 13, 1910, Iola Herald reported their first mission would be the “building of a slide to be erected on the hill just west of the High school,” with the skier landing area on West State Street in the area of this sign’s placement. The first competition on the hill was held on Sunday, January 30, 1910, with first place in Class A

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to M. Grenli of Nelsonville with a jump of 40-1/2 feet and a point total of 116, while the Class B winner was Helmer Johnson of Nelsonville with a jump of 39-1/2 feet and a point total of 103.

Over 1,000 spectators were reported to have been in attendance at that first School House Ski Hill tournament, many of whom arrived on a special train excursion from Waupaca. Building on that success, a second tournament was conducted on Sunday February 27, 1910.

The 1911 and 1912 tournaments were moved to a new location, Slaughter House Ski Hill, situated on the Taylor property on the east side of Iola, now a part of the Glacier Wood Golf Course. This scaffolding structure remained standing for many years, being used by local skiers for practice. On February 18, 1913, a new Knutson Ski Hill tournament location was inaugurated on the Clarence Knutson farm outside of Town in the Town of St. Lawrence. The 11915 tournament jumps posted on Knutson Ski Hill, in the range of 140 feet, were longer than those recorded at that year’s national tournament hosted in Duluth.

Erected 2017 by Iola Historical Society. (Marker Number 9.)

Topics.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

2. School House Ski Hill Marker

Side 2

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is January 11, 1910.

Location. 44° 30.444′ N, 89° 8.126′ W. Marker is in Iola, Wisconsin, in Waupaca County. It is at the intersection of West State Street and Summit Street, on the right when traveling west on West State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 390 W State Street, Iola WI 54945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Helvetia Town Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); One Room Rural Schoolhouses – 1850s-1960s (about 400 feet away); Iola’s Firefighting Heritage (about 400 feet away); Iola and Northern Depot Station Number 66

Close Up of photo on side 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

3. Close Up of photo on side 1

View looking southeast from West State Street: 1910 School House Ski Hill tournament with school building rooflines in background.

(about 400 feet away); Iola’s Methodist Roots (approx. 0.2 miles away); The “Spud Alley” Era (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1999 Father's Day Fire (approx. 0.2 miles away); Iola’s Dr. Loope (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Iola.

Close up of photo on side 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

4. Close up of photo on side 2

Competitive Jumper at 1910 School House Hill Tournament lifts off from end of scaffold.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

5. School House Ski Hill Marker

looking west along State Street

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 11, 2018

6. School House Ski Hill Marker

looking east along State Street

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 428 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 12, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.