Basketball Team - Part 1

Club 25's Basketball Team

by Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

January 3, 1915.  Basketball season.  The sports pages of the Duluth newspapers flash these headlines:  "Rotary Club Wins Discordant Clash" and "Rotary Quintet Plans Invation of Montana".

Did our club have a basketball team in 1915?  Sure enough.  Here's the story.

Rotary Club 25 member Lawrence K. Duby, proprietor of the L. K. Duby Sporting Goods Store just up 4th Avenue West from Superior Street, organized a Rotary basketball team that took its first step toward the World Championship in 1915.

On January 2, 1915, the Rotary lineup, made up of teammates Harris, Bradley, Johnson, Solheim and Jeronimus, defeated the All-Stars by a Score of 35 to 22.  The first half of the game, played under intercollegiate rules, was "exceedingly rough" according to the newspaper.  Eighteen minutes into the game,  the All-Stars got into an argument with the referee, resulting in 4 players walking off the floor.  Four new players filled in for the second half, which was played under interscholastic rules.

"Up to the time of the argument, the game was a good one," the newspaper reported.  Both teams put forth 100% effort and the score was matched.  After the 4 All-Star players refused to continue, the Rotary team finished the first half leading with a score of 13 to 8.  In the second half Rotary teammates Harris and Bradley starred.  Harris played a "clean, fast game throughtout and Bradley made basket after basket," whote the reported.  The crowd enjoyed the game, which the reported said was "not a mild one."

As a result of this Rotary win, the recently Rotary team of five planned an invasion of the West on January 18,1915.  Nine games were scheduled starting at  Fargo on the 18th, followed by Valley City, Jamestown, Aberdeen, Bismarck, Dickinson, Beach, Miles City and Billings.  Then the Rotary team would face "Bid Bemidji" on the Bemidji floor on February 18 and 19.  If the Rotary team won, they could go to the A.A.U. championships in Chicago in March.  Who made up the fearless five?  Your historian found Dr. James G. Harris in the membership directory.  If this is the same Harris, he was a veterianarian with an office at 9 West 1st Street.  Charles H. Bradley was also listed in the directory as an insurance agent working at A. A. Michaud Co. in the Providence Building.  The only Johnson listed was Robert W. Johnson, a dentist with offices in room 600 in Alworth Building (Dr. Bob Johnson is still a member.  Could this be a relative?).  Solheim and Jeronimus were not listed.

How did the Rotary team end the season?  Click here to find out!