After Grand Marais Lions Club members tried curling at a bonspiel in Thunder Bay (at that time Fort Francis and Port Arthur), they decided to bring the sport to Cook County. Some of those original curlers are pictured here at a bonspiel in Grand Marais in the 1960s. (L-R) Dave Erholtz, Ade Toftey, first Curling Club Treasurer Sid Backlund, and first Curling Club President Chuck Futterer.
The late Chuck Futterer’s three sons and daughter will take to the ice and curl in a bonspiel that is named after their father, one of the founding members of the local curling club. The Chuck Futterer Senior Memorial Open Bonspiel will take place March 9 – 11 at the Grand Marais curling rink.
Chuck Jr., Bruce, Craig, and Karen will be on the same sheets of ice for the first time in about ten years. Bruce is traveling from Arkansas and will curl with his son, Joe, and two college friends from Virginia, Minnesota. Craig is coming from the Twin Cities and will curl with Karen and two former Grand Marais residents Bob Hedstrom and John Gordon. Gordon is a former U.S. Olympic curler. Chuck, who is superintendent of schools in Virginia, Minn. (but still has a home here), is curling with friends from Eveleth.
According to Joanne Smith, one of the current leaders of the curling club, “It will be like old home week here” because of all of the former members returning to take part in the festivities.
How did it all begin?
In 1961 the Grand Marais Lions Club was invited to take part in a bonspiel sponsored by the Thunder Bay (at that time it was Fort Francis and Port Arthur) Lions Club. Although they didn’t know what curling was, the local Lions who attended enjoyed themselves immensely and no stone was left unturned in their successful attempt to start a curling club in Grand Marais.
On October 18, 1962 it was reported in the Cook County News-Herald that a local curling club was in the process of being organized. The following temporary officers were named: Chuck Futterer, president; Harold Ikola, vice president; Wesley Hedstrom, secretary; and Sidney Backlund, treasurer.
“A goal of $7,000 or thereabouts will be needed for construction purposes,” the News-Herald reported.
By November 15, $3,000 had been raised with the goal of building by mid- December.
To raise funds, the club was selling shares in the building and going doorto door canvassing for donations and members.
On November 29 a meeting was held at the El Ray Café to decide what type of building to construct and to place orders for curling stones, brooms, and other items needed for the rink. Bylaws were formed and it was announced that over $4,000 had been raised. A new goal of raising $6,000 was stated and the expectation was once the building was done, men’s, women’s and junior leagues would be formed.
Edwin Thoreson began excavating on November 29. Actual work on the club began in the middle of December and the building was completed mid- January.
In the January 24, 1963 edition of the Cook County News-Herald it was reported that the first curling matches would take place on Monday night. “Volunteers worked hard late into the night preparing the ice. The room was finished in knotty pine.
“The first games will be skipped by Charles Futterer versus Louie Marasco; and Lloyd Warn versus Gerald Eisler.”
Prizes for early bonspiels included transistor radios, electric knives, floating lights, electronic shearers, and traveling clocks.
Chuck Futterer Jr. said he is looking forward to the event, and he noted that the Lions Club members were responsible for starting Little League (his dad was my Little League coach), besides hosting the Fisherman’s Picnic and getting the ball rolling for curling, among other events.
“They were busy bunch of guys. They got a lot done,” said Futterer.
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