The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, the Green Bay Packers and Curly's Pub today unveiled the latest artifact to be donated to the Hall of Fame, a charcoal drawing of Curly Lambeau.
On loan from the Packers Hall of Fame, the Lambeau drawing hangs above the fireplace in the restaurant area of Curly's Pub, a fitting new home considering its history. The drawing, completed in the 1940s, originally hung over the fireplace at Rockwood Lodge, the training camp home of the Green Bay Packers from 1947-49, during the last years of Curly Lambeau's tenure with the Packers. The historic lodge, located on the shores of Green Bay on a site that is now Bay Shore County Park, was destroyed by a fire in January 1950.
This drawing is the only known artifact to have survived the fire. Water damage seen in the picture occurred during the efforts to extinguish the blaze.
After the fire, the picture was given to Green Bay attorney Francis Evrard, the brother-in-law of Curly Lambeau. Evrard gave the picture to his friend John H. Holzer of the Holzer's Corner Drug Store, a popular establishment on Green Bay's east side. The picture was on display there, along with many other Packers items, until the store closed in 1981. Olive Rose Holzer, wife of John, generously donated the drawing to the Packers Hall of Fame earlier this year in memory of her husband and his lifelong devotion to the Green Bay Packers.
The drawing's artist, Austin Destache, was a 35-year veteran of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. A Green Bay native, Destache graduated from East High School. His artistic skills were honed at the Chicago Art Institute and Academy of Fine Arts. Upon his return to Green Bay in 1933, he became the first full-time staff artist with the Press-Gazette. In addition to his work with the newspaper, Destache served as the official timekeeper for the Green Bay Packers for more than 30 years, never missing a game in Green Bay.
The portrait was donated to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame through its memorabilia donation program.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Inc. is a non-profit corporation independent of the Green Bay Packers that guides the Hall as a historic national sports venue and educational resource to the Green Bay community and the state of Wisconsin.
The Hall raises funds through its annual induction banquet, golf outing and other events to develop new exhibits and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts.
Originally established in 1967 as a temporary display in the concourse of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Hall moved into its own facility in 1976 near Lambeau Field. In 2003, it was relocated to a spectacular new, 25,000-square foot facility in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
The Hall of Fame is open on non-game days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours may vary on game days and holidays. For more information, contact the Hall of Fame at 920-499-4281.
Curly's Pub
For Packers fans, there are few places in the entire world that are cooler than Curly's Pub in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
It's a giant restaurant overlooking the statues of Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi, with huge portions for huge appetites (including a kids' menu for the not-so-huge appetites).
It has a great bar overlooking the Don Hutson Center. Lots of monitors make it an ideal place to catch Packers away games or just a place to hang out with friends.
It's got a phenomenal game zone, with over 50 interactive games designed to entertain young and old alike.
The whole place is bursting with Packers history, right down to the servers, who are trained in the history of the team. And of course the fine family of Miller Brewing products are on hand. When you're at Curly's, you'll be treated like a VIP guest of the Green Bay Packers. You'll leave full. And you'll leave happy.
The Curly's Pub dining room is open 11 am to 10 pm daily.
Curly's Pub and Interactive Game Zone is open Monday through Thursday: 11 am to 1 am, Friday and Saturday: 11 am to 2 am, Sunday: 11 am to midnight.
On game days, Curly's is open to game ticketed guests only. Non-game ticketed guests can enter Curly's through the Miller Brewing Co. gate entrance 45 minutes after the conclusion of the game. For night games, Curly's will be open to the public from 11 am to 3 pm, and to game ticketed guests when gates open.
Call the Packers Special Events department at 920.569.7515 or click here for information on having your private party at Curly's (for up to 60 people).
