Prairie du Chien man offers flood paintings to Eagle’s Club
By Ted Pennekamp
Bob Collins of Prairie du Chien has two iconic paintings, one depicting the 1952 flood and the other depicting the 1965 flood, that he would like to donate to the Eagle’s Club for display in their new club building.
Bob explained that the two 3-foot x 5-foot watercolors were on display for everyone’s enjoyment in the famous Spit and Whistle Bar (213 West Wells Street), the location where the new Eagle’s Club is being built.
“The paintings are part of our flood history and our tavern history,” said Bob.
Bob said the 1952 flood painting was done by Derse Advertising of Milwaukee. It was commissioned by the Miller Brewing Company and stamped as property of the Miller Brewing Company.
In fact, said Bob, a sign depicted on the outside of the Spit and Whistle in the painting is a Miller Brewing Company sign.
Bob purchased the 1952 flood painting at an auction on the premises of the Spit and Whistle in the 1970s. Equipment, personal property and collectibles from the famous tavern were also sold during the auction by the tavern’s owner.
“I made up my mind, nobody was going to outbid me, unless they had a heck of a lot of money,” said Bob. “In the end, it didn’t set me back too much.”
The 1965 flood painting was created by Bob’s mother, Marie Collins, who had drawn and painted since her grade school days. The owner of the Spit and Whistle, Mabel Dempsey, had Marie do the painting for her.
“My mother was self taught and painted as a hobby and gave all of them away,” recalled Bob. “She started at a young age and used mostly watercolors and enamel.”
One of Marie’s paintings adorned the cover of the fall 1971 edition of The Wisconsin Southerner magazine, and depicted ducks landing on the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. The Wisconsin Southerner was a publication produced by the Wisconsin Southern Gas Company.
Bob has numerous paintings created by Marie in his home, including 10 that depict Native American history. They are portraits of Native Americans who lived throughout the United States and include Marie’s research and brief write-ups describing each subject.
Before he bought the painting of the 1952 flood at auction, Bob acquired Marie’s painting of the 1965 flood from an owner of the Spit and Whistle. He said he will leave that owner’s name up to speculation.
“When the Eagle’s Club gets their building built, if they want to display the paintings, I’ll donate them,” said Bob.