In the mid-1900s in Menomonie, one of highlights to break the doldrums of winter was University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Snow Ball.
The Russell J. Rassbach Heritage Museum, 1820 Wakanda St. N.W., is bringing back the Snow Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.
“Museums are in a good position to bring back the fun stuff of the past to help people remember them and relive a fond memory, as well as create new memories,” said Frank Smoot, executive director of the Dunn County Historical Society. “In its day the Snow Ball was the social event of the winter. We want people to come and enjoy themselves. We want to create new memories for a new generation.”
A part of the university’s Winter Carnival, which included the Snow Ball for many years, a queen and king were crowned and then introduced at the Snow Ball, Smoot said.
Chancellor crowned 1978 Winter Carnival king
Chancellor Bob Meyer was crowned Winter Carnival king in 1978, after running for the position as a residential assistant at HKMC dorm, with Mary Rohrbach, who was the queen. Meyer credited Rohrbach with carrying them to victory and him carrying the royal scepter, at a dance called the Snow Daze.
“The Winter Carnival was basically a way to shake off the doldrums of winter and have fun,” Meyer said.
Meyer recalled there being outdoor winter activities on the lake and skits that royalty candidates performed.
“I am sure I was really happy when it was over,” Meyer said of the skit. “I remember it being a lot of fun when I could watch other people’s skits that were very funny. I can remember laughing so hard my cheeks on my face hurt. There were so many funny things happening.”
Meyer said he purchased his first suit, made from polyester, for the dance. He hated it. “It was horrible,” Meyer said. “I jokingly said I burned it afterward.”
In the Stoutonia student newspaper in 1978, HKMC touted its school spirit and encouraged support for Meyer and Rohrbach.
Meyer plans to attend the Snow Ball at the museum. “I think it’s a great thing,” Meyer said. “Winters are long. I think it is great the historical society is bringing back the Snow Ball and Winter Carnival theme. I do remember people really enjoyed it.”
Winter Carnival decades-long tradition
Heather Stecklein, director of University Archives and the Area Research Center, said the Winter Carnival was a tradition for about 60 years.
“Although there were often winter-themed sports competitions, ice sculptures and dances, the event consolidated into a multiday party starting in the 1940s,” Stecklein said. “The focal point of the event was the coronation of the Winter Carnival royalty at the coronation ball. In 1946, the queen rode to the dance on a horse-drawn ice throne.”
In 1946, the Stoutonia referred to a fox and raccoon hunt during the Winter Carnival, then sponsored by the Menomonie Sports Club at Wakanda Park.
A 2008 Stoutonia article notes the Stout Student Association hosted the first Winter Carnival on campus in 1953, growing rapidly to include an ice sculpture contest, speed skating and broomball as well as a beard-growing contest. Over the years there were ice races, toboggan races, baseball, football, volleyball, rugby and fencing held in the snow as well as a contest to build the best igloo; igloos were lighted on Lake Menomin. In 1984 the Winter Carnival ended, the newspaper noted.
Snow Ball ended before Winter Carnival
“The Winter Carnival went on for some time after any reference to the Snow Ball ended,” Smoot said, estimating it continued into the mid-1970s. “The Winter Carnival became more about winter sports.”
Despite the Snow Ball ending, the Stoutonia reported a Winter Carnival queen was coronated up until 1984.
The Snow Ball was somewhere between a junior prom and UW-Eau Claire’s very formal Viennese Ball, modeled on the historic New Year’s Eve Kaiser Ball in Vienna, Austria, Smoot said.
The Thundermen, an Eau Claire rock band formed in 1959, will perform at the Feb. 10 Snow Ball comeback. Mickey Lynnes is the original member of the Thundermen. He has played drums and has sung with them since the band started. The Thundermen recorded their first hits “Money” and “Flyin’ High” in 1963.
“As soon as we came up with the idea for the Snow Ball, I knew we should have the Thundermen,” Smoot said. “They are just incredible.”
Party dress, especially vintage dress, is encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for best-dressed and best vintage attire. “There aren’t that many opportunities to dress up,” Smoot said. “We just wanted people to feel they could bring out their vintage wear or wear a party dress or bring out their tuxedo or suit.”
Vintage clothing exhibit part of Snow Ball
A vintage clothing exhibit and historic images will be on display during the Snow Ball, Smoot said. The vintage clothing largely will come from Holtby Museum Educator Melissa Kneeland’s personal collection.
Tickets are $20 each, which includes a museum membership for the year. If two tickets are purchased there is an option for a family museum membership. Usually an individual membership is $30, or $50 for a family, Smoot said.
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Photos
Meyer performing during skit night of the 1978 UW-Stout Winter Carnival. Meyer was crowned Winter Carnival king that year.
Sofi Doane, collections manager for the Dunn County Historical Society, prepares a dress for a vintage clothing exhibit at the Snow Ball.
