C.R. Softball Hall of Fame still working on new home

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two years after being submerged by the Cedar River's flood waters, the Cedar Rapids Hall of Fame is still trying to find a new home.

The shrine to the city's rich amateur softball tradition was almost totally under water, losing many of its artifacts and momentos. The process to find a new location and replace the lost items documenting its history has been ongoing and time consuming.

"We're making slow but steady progress," Hall of Fame board member Gregg Bosch said. "We're in a wait and see pattern now."

Ideally, the CRSHOF would remain near Ellis Park, which served as the home to Cedar Rapids' renowned Major and Minor Open leagues. The organization has considered Tait Cummins Softball Complex as an alternative site for a new building, as well as restoring the old structure. According to an online video narrated by former radio personality and CRSHOF member Rick Sampson at www.crsoftballhof.com, the building has had the utilities turned off.

A more attractive idea is for the CRSHOF to be included in the city's proposed plans for a new recreation Center that might be built at Ellis.

"In a perfect world, we'd have a Hall of Fame in that rec center if it's built in the Ellis area," Bosch said. "Our No. 1 solution is to be at Ellis."

Bosch said the new rec center could possibly eliminate two of the park's three softball diamonds. It presents a problem when trying to host any tournament at Ellis, especially the annual Hall of Fame tournament benefits the CRSHOF and hosts its yearly induction ceremonies.

"It would be a shame to leave only one diamond," Bosch said. "It would be impossible to hold a tournament on one diamond."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved funds to help replace furniture, including trophy and display cases, but the CRSHOF must use the money by November 1. Bosch said it's possible an extension could be granted, but currently the group does not have a place for storage.

As for the items that would go in those new cases, members of the softball community have helped restock artifacts. Many of the photos, trophies and plaques were destroyed by the flood. They salvaged what they could. A contributor to the CRSHOF was able to provide the negatives to some of the photos to be reprinted. People have donated personal trophies and memorabilia. Some are new elements to the memorial.

"We've been successful in some extent in that venture," Bosch said. "We've seen some stuff we've never seen before."

Now, the need is to finalize a new home to display the local athletes who built Cedar Rapids' legacy in fast-pitch, 16-, 14- and 12-inch slow pitch and women's softball. Bosch is confident it will happen and that patience is a necessity.

"We're trying to remain optimistic in our future," Bosch said. "We know it will be back bigger and stronger than ever."