"Peach Crate Loft"
My experience with Pigeons began shortly after the death of my father in 1960. My Mother and I built a small Loft from four wooden "peach crates," we faced them towards each other, added a floor & roof, a door & some legs to raise if off the ground and paint; now we only needed Pigeons. We visited what used to be the Old Stein Farm on the Southside of Eau Claire, Mrs Stein had birds & creatures of many varieties. I purchased a pair of Modenas for fifty-cents and my mother and I took them home and settled them to the "peach-crate" Loft. I couldn't have been happier, a new Loft and a pair of pigeons to make the Loft complete.
My walks home from Lincoln elementary school on the
lower west side of Eau Claire would take me past a
Racing Pigeon Loft belonging to Paul Kruschke. I would
frequently stop and watch his birds fly and circle above
his home & loft, I was very curious about these birds,
my Modenas certainly didn't have the wing to fly like
these birds. I still remember as if it was only
yesterday, Paul walked from his yard and asked me if
I'd like to see the birds and Loft a little closer, it
didn't take many steps to squeeze between the House &
Garage and down the path to the Loft. From that day
forward it has been Racing Homing Pigeons. Paul got me
started with a couple pair of young birds and before
long, "peach-crate" loft gave way to a new loft, more
birds, and a partner - We were now Flying as Riedel
Brothers.
"Chippewa Valley Racing Pigeon Club"
My brother and I became members of The Chippewa Valley Racing Pigeon Club of Eau Claire, Wisconsin USA. We got to know many of the Ol-Flyers who were always helpful and willing to take the time to mentor new young flyers coming into the Club, camaraderie & a cooperative spirit were always number one. Paul Kruschke, Warren Hoff, John Rasmussen, George Irwin, Ed Kowalkowski, & Larry Vatney to name but a few, were instrumental in the development and success of the Club. We probably had twenty members in the old Chippewa Valley RPC. I'll never forget our first Clock, a "Two-Bird Timer" with one Clock ! (See Picture) The first bird in the Loft on Race Day was the one and only bird clocked - It didn't really matter, we were kids, racing, having fun, and it's no different today, everyone still says, "it only takes one." That proved to be true with the Ol-Two bird timer, we did clock a winner occasionally, and at least, a "place." Needless to say, we saved our money and eventually found a deal on a used Benzing twelve bird wooden timer.
"Mid-West Showmen's Association"
"The Clock Stops"
Over the next several years lives changed and The Chippewa Valley RPC was no different. Dealing with declining memberships and the realization the Cvrpc's days were numbered, the original Cvrpc disbanded. As they say, when one door closes, another opens, and so was the end of Pigeon Racing in the Chippewa Valley of Western Wisconsin. The door opened to a new beginning; the Mid-West Showmen's Association. The Mid-West Showmen's Association was founded by a few existing Flyers interested in maintaining another venue within the Hobby. The Mid-West Showmen's Association provided Fanciers interested in Show Racing Homers the opportunity to continue participation in the Pigeon Hobby. Only this time it would be in the Shows, showing Show Racers.
"1992"
"Lone Tree Lofts"
I received a phone call from Duane Brandner in early 1990 asking if I'd be interested in Racing Pigeons again. Duane was contacting a few of the "Old" (Baby-Boomers) Flyers from years past and wanted to start up a new Racing Pigeon Club. I was interested ! I was tired of the Shows and the Show Racers and wanted to Race Pigeons - So the "Door Closes."
"Opens Again."
Almost fifteen years later The Westconsin Racing Pigeon Club of Eau Claire Wisconsin is as strong as ever, boasting a membership of Twenty + Members. In the early beginnings of the WRP we flew with the Twin City Concourse of Minneapolis & St. Paul Minnesota. Our Club was basically a "Ship-Along" as the Twin City Combine would not allow the WRP Club membership in their Combine. We could only Fly Club Races.
"Break"
Not being satisfied with "Club-Races," a friend of mine, Johnny Sawicki & I learned of a Combine in south eastern Wisconsin. We made a decision to break-away from our Home Club (WRP) one year and Fly with the Central Wisconsin Combine. (CWC) We joined the Great River RPC of Tomah WI. and drove one-hundred fifty miles round trip to ship our birds, and a return trip to do our Clocks. We wanted to Fly/Race on a Combine level and this was the only way we could do it. A year later our Home Club, The WRP Voted in favor of joining the Central Wisconsin Combine. Now the WRP was competing on a Combine level with Competition.
The WRP continued to fly pigeons with the CWC through the 2006 Race Season. During the winter meetings of the WRP it was decided to take a new direction. The WRP would not be Racing Pigeons with the CWC in 2007. The Membership of the WRP voted to Race their Pigeons with a new organization located in the St. Paul MN area.
The Heartland Federation provides the WRP the opportunity to ship & race their birds on races from 100 - 600 miles at a reasonable cost. In addition, the WRP Club members have the opportunity to compete not only on a Club level; but also on a level representing Flyers from Western Wisconsin, Northern Minnesota and Eastern Minnesota.
"Change is Good"
The New Chippewa Valley Flyers (CVF) - "Positive & Progressive Change"