THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON: HILLSBORO WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM (1900-1901)

This photograph features the Hillsboro High School  basketball team. The team proudly poses with a trophy basketball marking their championship season of 1900-1901. The name “Bob” is written above the second boy to the left in the back row. Could any of these boy been future Wisconsin Badger basketball players? It is certainly a possibility that one of these guys may have played college basketball with the Badgers. The Wisconsin Badger basketball program played their first game in 1899. In 1906-1907 season they won their first share of a Big Ten championship.The likely photographer of this image is Earle D. Akin. The town of Hillsboro was named for early settler Valentia Hill and his brothers. They arrived in the area beginning  in 1850. Many of the earliest settlers were of German descent. They were followed by many Czech settlers and in fact, Hillsboro was known as the “Czech Capital of Wisconsin”. When the town was settled, it did not take much time for a saw mill to arrive, followed by stores , a blacksmith, a hotel, and a school, as well as a grist mill established  along the Barabee River. In the 1880′s dairy farms and a creamery began business in Hillsboro.

EARLY BASEBALL PLAYER: WAS HE ON THE ROSTER OF THE MANHATTAN COLLEGE JASPERS?

A young baseball player in uniform, poses for a photographer at an unknown studio in this antique photograph. Did he play for the Manhattan College Jaspers? Lets investigate some college and baseball history! Manhattan College, a Catholic school, was established in 1853 as the Academy of the Holy Infancy. The school became a college in 1859 and the schools name became Manhattan College in 1863. The school coexisted with Manhattan College High School, which was originally founded in 1854. The high school served as a prep school and many of its graduates went on to attend Manhattan College. Manhattan College had a baseball team early in its history as well as early in baseball’s history. The college played the New York Giants annually in the late 1880′s and into the 1890′s. They played their games at the Polo Grounds. An interesting side note is that Manhattan College is credited by Baseball’s Hall of Fame, as creating the “seventh inning stretch” which was later adopted by the Major Leagues. In addition, 28 players from Manhattan College have made it to Major League Baseball. The Manhattan College team is named the “Jaspers” The name originates from an individual, Brother Jasper,  who served the college in the late nineteenth century and brought baseball to the school. He also was the teams first coach. The question remains; is the player in the photograph a former member of the collegiate Jaspers? Is he a former member of the prep school team; or is he a member of some other team from a non New York town called Manhattan? Perhaps a visitor to this site will pitch hit for this writer and determine just which Manhattan team this young man played for.

EIGHT ATHLETIC LOOKING BLOKES IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

This cabinet card is a portrait of eight very athletic looking men. The men are dressed very similarly. Their pants appear to be identical and they each are wearing a wide white belt around their waists. The image presents a number of questions. Are these Aussie blokes wearing a uniform? Are they members of  a sports team? Are they wearing work clothing and all share the same occupation? Hopefully some Cabinet Card Gallery visitors will leave a comment that gives their opinion as to the answers to the aforementioned questions.  The photographer of this image is Herbst of Sydney, Australia. He is mentioned in a number of Sydney newspapers published in the 1890′s.  Advertisements for his studio appear in the newspapers, and there is mention of some of the notables he photographed.

TWO YOUNG MEN POSE WITH THEIR BIKES AND UNUSUAL RIDING CLOTHES IN PECK, MICHIGAN

This cabinet card photograph captures two young men posing with their bicycles. They are wearing similar and  unusual outfits. it looks like they are wearing the predecessor to “hoodies”. However, rather than hoods, it appears that they are wearing capes. Both guys are also wearing flowers pinned to their chest. Are these fellows about to ride in a parade? Are they wearing typical bike riding outfits? Hopefully, a visitor to the cabinet card gallery will leave an informative comment concerning the subjects outfits. The photographer of this image is M. R. Cole of Peck, Michigan. Cole is listed in a 1904 Michigan directory as a photographer and a jeweler.

YOUNG TENNIS PLAYER AND HIS TWO SISTERS

This cabinet card features a young boy holding a tennis racquet as he stands along side his two sisters. The children are adorable, but the youngest girl appears absolutely terrified. The boy is wearing a sailor suit outfit. The name of the photographer and the location of the studio is unknown.

PORTRAIT OF AN ATHLETE IN BREMEN, GERMANY (CIRCA 1900)

This cabinet card photograph of a very fit and athletic looking young man. He was obviously a turn-of-the-century gym rat. He appears to be a wrestler, or perhaps a gymnast. He is wearing a medal received for some athletic accomplishment. The photographer was Georg Brems of Bremen, Germany.

MALE ATHLETE IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

This cabinet card photograph captures an athlete in an action pose from his sport. What is this young man’s sport? It is my belief that he is likely a wrestler. However, he could be a gymnast, boxer, track and field competitor, or some other type of athlete. The subject certainly appears fit and muscular. Perhaps a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery will be able to identify the athlete’s sport by his uniform and leave an informative comment. The photographer of this image is Rudolf Franzl (1877-1955) of Vienna, Austria.

RUGBY PLAYER IN WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card is a portrait of a young rugby player. He is wearing padded pants but no other equipment. The photographer is W. Frances Grubb (1864-1938). Grubb was an active photographer in the suburban Philadelphia area. He operated from his West Chester, Pennsylvania studio (25 N. High Street). He worked out of this studio between 1886 and 1898. Check out additional rugby cabinet cards under this site’s “rugby” category. To view additional cabinet card photographs by Grubb; click on this site’s “Photographer: Grubb” category.

YOUNG BOY AND BADMINTON RACQUET IN NEW YORK CITY

A young child poses with his racquet and plaid bow. The racquet appears to be a badminton racquet. The photographer is W. H. Saul of New York City, New York.

THREE FRIENDLY CRICKET PLAYERS IN WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND

This cabinet card photograph is a portrait of three uniformed cricket players posing at the studio of Henry Abbott in Wolverhampton, England. In 1835 a group of sportsmen met at a tavern in Wolverhampton to organize the playing of cricket in the borough. Records exist of the play of organized rugby in Wolverhampton beginning the year 1842.