Shattemuc Yacht Club History 1 Democratic Register of health and beauty. For now [is] the 2.09.1884 time to desert the fireside, don the Published Articles Trot on the On Wednesday next skates, and skim over the ice in pursuit there will be a trot on the ice at the of the great boons, health and happiness. of Upper Dock, for horses that have never On Saturday last the skating on the river Winter Sports beaten 2:50; the sum trotted for being a was excellent, there being large fields of purse of thirty dollars, to be divided as smooth ice out in the cove which were at follows Fifteen dollars to first horse, ten soon found by hundreds of skaters who dollars to second, and five dollars to spent most of the day there. There were Ossining, NY third. Mile heats, best three in five; five a number of the fair sex among them ~ to fill, three to start. Entrance fee ten and some displayed much skill in the per cent. Trotting to commence at two art. From the Secor road, the sight of o’clock, sharp. the crowds out on the river gave one an Democratic Register ------o------idea of an immense piece of fly paper 1.19.1884 covered with flies struggling hard to The Ice Boating. This exhilarating Democratic Register free themselves, but a nearer approach sport has been enjoyed by the happy 2.09.1884 entirely banished this idea, as a scene of owners of ice yachts this week. The Ice-Boat Notes Mr. Frank Brandreth’s life and light and grace was unfolded to little we have had has not “Ice Blink” and Col. B Stuyvesant the spectator. interfered with them to any extent. Gibsons’s “Gleam” had a little race last There are five of these boats now on the Saturday over a course one and a half There was a smart breeze blowing all ice. The “Gleam” is owned by Col. B miles in length. They went around it at day and the ice-boatmen were alive to Stuyvesant Gibson, the “Ice Blink” by a lively pace four times, the “Ice Blink” their opportunity and had their Col. Frank Brandreth, and other winning twice and the “Gleam” twice; spread and enjoyed the sport muffled up nameless yachts by E Merritt Collyer, but it was remarked by on-lookers that in warm robes and thick gloves. The Norman Minnerly, Benjamin Sniffin the latter out sailed the former, and annual race for the pennant has not yet and Elmer H Hall. It is said that a race when she came in ahead she did the …g taken place, but will shortly in case the is on the tapis [under consideration], up in good fashion. It is probable now ice remains firm and sufficiently which will no doubt be a very exciting that a match will be made between them smooth. There is talk of forming a club event. to decide the vexed question as to best similar to those at Poughkeepsie, and ------o------ qualities. In a race of this type, other places. There is no good reason of course, the “Ice Blink” would need to why there should not be. We have here Democratic Register allow the “Gleam “ time on account of now several very fast boats and a club 1.26.1884 her being the largest boat. would create an added interest in the Another Ice Yacht Another ice yacht ------o------exciting sport. has this week been added to Sing Sing’s ------o------fleet, the new comer belonging to our Democratic Register young friend, Mr. F T Beach. It is a 02.07.1885 Democratic Register beauty, but unfortunately, nameless. He Skating and Ice Boating. The cold 3.14.1885 thinks he will name it Psyche, but then weather has been with us almost Ice Boating The ice on the river has in all probability, it would be nicknamed continually for a couple of weeks past been superb for ice boating this week physicy, out of respect for Mr. Beach’s and the skating season has been in full and our ice yachtsmen have taken full business, and that certainly would not blast. Nothing can more effectively advantage of it. On Tuesday of last do. But this matter of name we will restore the roses to faded cheeks than an week they had a race for a pennant, have to leave to its owner. It is hour’s exercise on a pair of sharp skates which was won by the “Aeolus” owned seriously being talked among the on the smooth and shining ice of the by Ralph Brandreth after a pretty yachtsmen of forming an ice boat club, river or one of our inland lakes. There contest. and if the ice and weather continue was a time not many years ago, when favorable a regatta may take place. It parties used frequently to be made up to The “Puff” and “C H Reynolds” last was very tantalizing on Tuesday to be go to Claremont Pond or the river and week came over from Haverstraw to this unable to take a because so much spend an hour or two; but now, for some village to pay our yachtsmen a fraternal snow was on the ice, when only out in reason or other, our young ladies prefer visit. They participated in several little the channel the new ice was strong, either to go to the Bellvona roller brushes, but, after suffering defeat clear, and snowless. One or two almost skating rink or huddle around a fire and retired in good order and went back made up their minds to shove their boats discuss social gossip and eat caramels. home. Call again. through the snow to the , but No doubt this extremely pleasant ------o------then they gave it up. fashion may contain subtle enjoyment, ------o------but it cannot be gainsaid that an hour’s healthy exercise is far more productive Shattemuc Yacht Club History Winter Sports 2 The Republican The Democratic Register straight heats by Alderman “Glen.” 1.08.1887 2.06.1892 Bakers’s black gelding, “Charlie” driven Ice Boating. Most of our fleet of ice Damage Done by the Ice. The floating by the Chief-of-Police J W Tompkins. boats have been out skimming over the ice in the river on Saturday created He had a long lead at the finish and did ice this week and the skippers have havoc with everything of a moveable not have to push his horse. taken out many of their friends to share nature along shore. The ice yachtsmen The summary of the race tells the entries the exciting and exhilarating sport with had to hustle to get their ice boats and their respective places in the race: them. The yachts we have noticed this ashore and the bridge connecting the week were the Aeolus, owned by Ralph Yacht Club house with terra firma was Name Owner Heat Brandreth; Arrow, Col. Franklin almost wrecked. The spiling about the 1st 2nd Brandreth; Gleam, Col. B Stuyvesant house was badly damaged and it is Charlie,blk.g.,G H Baker………. 1 1 Gibson; Boreas, Washburne Brothers; estimated it will cost $100 to make Harold J., roan g., I Washburne.. 2 4 Contrivance, Stephen Collyer; and the repairs. It looks as though they would Frank Medium, br.g.,W Deveson 3 2 Flash, Peter Smith. The latter has been have to build a breakwater to protect Ben, sorrel g., William Ganun…. 4 3 chartered, we are informed by Mr. them in the future. Harry Belcher of Camp Surprise Indian ------o------The purse was ten dollars. Territory for the season. Before the season is over many more boats will Democratic Register The second race was a free-for-all, in make their appearance on the ice and 02.15.1902 which there were three starters for a there may be one or two regattas. Sports on the Ice. The announcement purse of twenty-five dollars. It was won ------o------that there would be racing on the ice on in two straight heats by William the river, coupled with the fine skating Deveson’s gray gelding, “Allie”, of The Republican and weather and the additional fact that White Plains. He did the driving 1.23.1890 it was a holiday on Wednesday, sufficed himself. Yacht Club Skating Arrangements. to attract over a thousand people to the The arrival of the dallying cold snap river in the afternoon and they crowed The following is the summary of the skimmed the ponds and the river with out upon the thick ice, whether they had two heats. ice on Wednesday night, and caused skates or not. Name Owner Heat Treasurer Thompson of the Sing Sing 1st 2nd Yacht Club to smile broad grins. As In addition to these, there were half a Allie, gr. g., William Deveson… 1 1 soon as the ice makes strong enough the dozen ice boats dashing here, there, and Bessemer, br. g., J Brown……. 2 3 club house will be thrown open to the all over the whole, presenting a scene of Barney McCurdy, ch. g. George public, and they can find all the comfort animation seldom witnessed on the H Barlow……………………. 3 2 necessary to enjoy skating over the river, for all the conditions mentioned The starters were Charles S Raymond surface of the river, at two dollars for do not often occur. and N G Mooney. The judges at the the season or five cents single finish were Dr. E F Sheehan, James admission. Tickets may be obtained at The racing was announced to take place Burns, and Henry Rush. They did not the stores of Captain Abram Jones, at two o’clock, but it was four before keep any time. Washburne Bros., and W I Townsend, they were ready to start, and the sun Frank S Read was the getter-up of this where cards will be displayed on the sinking in the west was not so warm, by sporting event, and he succeeded in days the river is in condition, which will many degrees, as it had been earlier. attracting a large crowd and producing a also be heralded by hoisting the flag on The delay, it was said, was caused by very pretty spectacle. the club house. one of the horses entered losing some of ------o------o------the caulks on his shoe, and that had to

be repaired by a blacksmith before the Democratic Register The Democratic Register race could go on. 02.15.1902 1.17.1912 Another Trot on the Ice. There is to . The course was from a point about off be another series of three trots on the ice --Ossining had a fleet of fast ice yachts, Crawbuckey and thence down to a point on the river next Monday afternoon to among them being Commodore Ralph off the Brandreth works, which was said begin at two o-clock, sharp. It is gotten Brandreth’s “Aeolus”, champion of the to be about three-quarters of a mile. up by alderman Glendon H Baker, who Hudson; Col. B S Gibson’s “Gleam”; promises that everything will be done to Col. Franklin Brandreth’s “Arrow” and There were two races and they were make this race a success. “Dovekie”; Irving S Haff’s “Ice Blink”; very pretty to look at. The drivers

William E Haff’s “Whistler”; Fred S appeared in cutters, cart runners, as they The first will be a match race between Jenks “Lillian R”; Capt Julius Jenk’s were called, and in bicycle sulkies. G H Baker’s black pacer, Charles Rall’s “Vision”; Peter Smith’s “Flash”; I T bay pacer, and G H Barlow’s sorrel Washburne Jr's. “Victoria” The first was a gentlemen’s road race, pacer, for a purse of $75. The second ------o------which was handsomely won in two race will be a free-for-all race for a Shattemuc Yacht Club History Winter Sports 3 purse of $25. The third will be a road 02.03.1912 race for a purse of $15. It promises to Six-Mile Auto Contest on River Ice. afford good sport for the afternoon. Thousands of persons swarmed near the ------o------finish line of the first great race on the ice at Irvington, Saturday afternoon, to Democratic Register watch the swaying cars loom out of a 1.06.1906 snow-cloud up the Hudson, roar past Twenty Years Ago Col. Franklin and vanish in another snow-cloud to the Brandreth was building a large ice boat1 south. Fred Koenig, of Tarrytown, to be added to the fleet of the Sing Sing driving his monster Mercedes, was Yacht club2. victor in the race, which was six miles ------o------in length. It was figured that his average speed over the ice was in the 1.27.1912 neighborhood of 65 miles an hour. Not Ice Boaters Meet Obstacle. Harry far behind him came Carl Mulhall, with Kipp, William Gustin, William Mill and Frank Free third. George Vogelsberg, of this village, Another contest was a race between an enjoyed an exhilarating ice-boating trip automobile, and ice yacht, and a horse, to Haverstraw last Sunday. the horse being granted a reasonable time handicap. Peter Walton’s pacer The journey across was uneventful, but Brownie, under these conditions was coming back the boys were confronted pitted against Koenig’s Mercedes and with a wide fissure in the ice. In order Fred Bock’s Bell. On this to cross it they found it necessary to occasion Koenig met with engine unship their sails and form an trouble while the result was still in improvised bridge. The feat was doubt. The prize went to the iceboat, accomplished successfully and they with the horse a fair second. reached home in safety. It is just such ------o------little incidents as this which make ice- boating so fascinating. The above clippings were transcribed ------o------from the original newspapers, which reside at the Ossining Historical Society 2.03.1912 in Ossining, New York Hundreds Enjoyed Sunday Sport on . There was a scene of unusual animation on the river opposite this village last Sunday, hundreds of persons being skating or walking upon the ice.

Ice boats flitted about and the greatest novelty of the day was an automobile driven by Robert Hopkins. After making the trip from Tarrytown, he took Harry Rowe, of Ellis Place, as a passenger, and together they went across the river, and after circling about the Rockland light, returned to this village.

The ice bridged the river from shore to shore, and many persons crossed during the day. ------o------

1 Arrow 2 Sing Sing Boat club was formed in 1887 and became the Sing Sing Yacht club the following year.