Winter doesn’t slow a Michigander down. Ice Skating or Ice Boating were options for those endless winter days. From the Detroit Free Press, January 7, 1896, comes the following announcement.

ICE BOATING

First of a Series of Races To-Day.

The first of a series of ice boat races will be sailed between Belle Isle and the city this afternoon between William Granger’s Masher and M.A. Kramer’s Slasher. There will be three races, and the winner will receive a silver cup. The start will be made at 3:30 o’clock, the course to be from the Detroit Yacht Club to the head of Belle Isle, back to the Detroit Boat Club and finish at the starting point. …

… If the cold snap continues there will be racing right along from the D.Y.C., as there are several boats down the river which are said to fairly fly, and the rival sailors would like to try conclusions.