The following article appeared in the February 2016 issue of the Iroquois County Genealogical Society quarterly newsletter,
The Stalker. In addition to interviews with living family members, I completed much of the research in the newspaper microfilm collection at the ICGS archives. We have hundreds of Iroquois County and area newspaper microfilm which offer excellent research opportunities.
I hope you enjoy the story. If it reminds you of your own childhood memories, please comment below. Come to visit us at the archives of
Iroquois County Genealogical Society.
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My dad still refers to a section of the family farm north of
Watseka, Illinois as the “racetrack,” telling the hired men “Go check down by the
racetrack.” Several years ago, I started asking questions and discovered that
there was indeed an auto racetrack in that field during the 1930s and early
1940s run by his dad, T.J. McCullough and family. My dad, Robert and his
surviving sisters were young children at the time, but they have happy memories
of those summer days.
There was a large grandstand to allow the crowd a good view
of the track. Dad’s mother, Myra sold burgers prepared from a cook stove under
that grandstand. Walter Craft brought the drink wagon, selling many flavors of
Sweet Tooth pop. Youngsters, Delorous, Barbara and Doris looked under the
grandstand for coins hoping to get enough for a taste of that pop. According to
Dad, when the grandstand was demolished, the lumber was used to build the corn crib
standing today in the barnyard.
There were parties and dances, too. My Uncle Virgil talked
about building the dance floor with Harry Sweet up at Mackemer & McBroom’s
Lumber in 1932, then moving it out to the racetrack. A tent was put up over the
dance floor to protect the partiers from the weather. When that party was over
in 1934, the floor was sold to Henry Oldberg of Papineau, who later sold it to
the Dutch Mill Restaurant in Gilman, Illinois. When the Dutch Mill was sold off, my
sister purchased a piece of that floor.
The “auto speedway” was started by a group of Watseka
businessmen, according to an article from The Watseka Republican dated April
22, 1925. At the time, this farm was owned by August Wockner. The dirt track
was started in the fall of 1924, with the first races in May, 1925. It was
known as the “Lightning Speedway,” and it apparently lived up to its name. “The
half-mile track was 60 feet wide, with two turns of 510 feet each, and getaway
stretches at each side.” It was expected to be a good investment with good
returns, and “one of the largest amusement enterprises in this section of the
middle west,” according to the April 23, 1925 issue of The Clifton Advocate.
The first races in May 1925 were well attended with 1600-1700
patrons watching W. H. Barton of Hoopeston finish the fastest 5-mile in 5
minutes, 31.4 seconds. That’s 54.3 miles per hour, amazing in 1925. In his Buick Special, he also finished
the fastest half-mile trial in 32.1 seconds, 56 mph. With a $200 prize, the
20-mile race was won by H. Rose of Rantoul, driving a Frazier Special. Other area
drivers mentioned in these early race results included Howard Edwards, Melvin
Harwood, Clyde Ash, Lester Grice, Harvey Edwards, Eugene Gilkerson, Joyce
Galloway, Verney Cantway, Arthur Delozier and Howard Frazier.
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| The Watseka Republican, May 22, 1941 |
In 1931, Thomas James (T.J.) McCullough purchased the
Wockner farm and continued the races. The track was known for a short time as
the Watseka Speedway. Eventually, it was called the McCullough Speedway and
attracted drivers from Chicago, northern and central Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
The races were sanctioned by auto racing organizations and attracted much
attention. As public interest changed, the races went from full-sized autos to
midget races, even running motorcycle races in May, 1938. There was one fatal
accident in May, 1937 when John Ronald Bergal, 27, of Hammond, Indiana died
following injuries he suffered when his car “turned turtle” rounding a curve,
throwing him from the car.
 |
ABOVE: July 14, 1940
IL Historical Aerial Photography
(ILHAP) 1937-1947
|
In 1940, the farm implement
company of T.J. McCullough & Sons was established. (This company can be seen in the photo from 2009 below.) From my research, it
seems the last races were run during the summer of 1941. They included both the
big car professional and midget car racers. However, life was changing. By the
end of the year, many sons went off to war, and Americans were busy supporting those
efforts.
BELOW: Evidence of McCullough Speedway is still visible in this
2009 Google Earth image recorded by USDA Farm Service Agency.
Aerial Photo Source: Google
Earth
 |
| Google Earth: 2009 |
