Profiles in New Jersey Iceboating History – 1894 – Shrewsbury Ice Yachts

SHREWSBURY ICE YACHTS (1894) – Over forty years since George Allaire built the first ice boat in New Jersey.

Mr. Local History Jersey Ice Boat Time Machine Series
The article traces the evolution of ice yachting on the Shrewsbury River from primitive 1850s experiments to an organized and competitive late 19th century sport centered on the North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club, highlighted by technological innovation, wealthy patronage, and championship racing including the Van Nostrand trophy competition. Join us as we look back at stories written about great ice yachts and those who made them iconic names in the sport.

Personalities:
George D. Allaire, Nathan B. Cook, James H. Peters, Capt. Stevens, Capt. James E. Weaver, Capt. Charles E. Throckmorton, Dr. Fagan Field, Gordon Van Nostrand, Samuel W. Morford, Charles D. Waring, A. W. Haviland, Charles Curtis, George Cook, Richard A. Conover, Harry Wooley, George R. Thomas, Charles Irwin, Horace Irwin, Z. W. Borden, Thomas McGee, Irving W. Cook, W. H. Scranton, Aaron Haines, George Coyle.

Ice Yachts Mentioned: The ice yachts mentioned include Scud, Dreadnaught, Tempest, Uncle Bob, Haze, Foster, Ironsides, Opportunity, Lady Mary, Chance, Skater, Meteor, Hattie Walsh, Vixen, Hans, Ziska, Snow Flake, and George Coyle’s slider.

Clubs Mentioned: The clubs mentioned in the article are the North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club, Orange Lake Ice Yacht Club, Burlington Ice Yacht Club, Junior North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club

January 5, 1894 – The Sun (New York) Famous slogan: “It shines for all.”

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SHREWSBURY ICE YACHTS.

Over forty years since George Allaire built the first boat.

Red Bank, N. J., Jan. 5. 1894 – Ice yachting on the Shrewsbury River has become a sport of considerable magnitude, and at present many thousands of dollars are invested in yachts of different sizes and designs. During the past ten years many of the most prominent men living in this town and along the river have not only given their support to the North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club, but have built yachts and spent money in testing many new designs which might lead to greater speed.

According to Nathan B. Cook of Chicago, who for a number of years was a resident of this place, and whose craft for both water and ice were the most speedy of their kind, the first ice yacht on the Shrewsbury River was built by George D. Allaire about 1853. It consisted of a box made of rough boards, seven feet long and about four feet wide. It had three runners and a low pasted sail. The runners were little more than a foot long, and were shod with three quarter inch square iron turned up abruptly in front with a corner to the ice. The iron was rough. This craft did not prove very speedy nor otherwise satisfactory. Cook became interested in the affair, however, and used it for the purpose of determining how a better one could be built.

In 1854 to 1855 Cook constructed something for himself which proved to be a better working yacht than the old box. He simply put a small flat bottomed duck boat on a set of runners which were more like the runners used at present. They were about three feet long, and the irons were smoothed and sharpened. The sail of Cook’s yacht had more peak than Allaire’s boat, and as a whole gave excellent satisfaction, considering the size. Allaire also built a new iceboat the same winter, and put better runners under it than on the previous one. He also went another step by furnishing a jib.

In the winter of 1855 to 1856, Cook built a larger boat of an entirely original design in the way of runners. The yacht had four runners in pairs, and it was the first time that this number had ever been used. In all the three runner yachts, the one at the stern is used as a rudder and is operated by a tiller. Cook’s four runners were so arranged that by a tiller both pairs were made to move and the boat steered like a charm.

When Cook found that his four runner boat was an improvement over any that had been built, he sold his smaller one to the late James H. Peters, who died at this place a few years ago. Peters in turn sold the yacht to Capt. Stevens, who afterward became an expert builder of all kinds of sailing craft. This, however, was Capt. Stevens’s first iceboat. Stevens constructed one of the four runner type after Cook’s model. Many other yachts were built about this time, but those two four runner affairs were only recently withdrawn from use. One of them, known as the Snow Flake, was used until three years ago and is lying near the club house now. These yachts were lacking in spread of runners and were quite easily upset.

During the past ten years all the ice yachts built have been of the three runner type and with wide spread, in fact the runners from center to center forming almost an exact triangle. The boats were formerly of large frame and would carry ten or twelve persons. At present, however, they are built on the cockpit plan, and only two persons can ride with any comfort. They can easily be taken apart, as they consist simply of a central plank known as a keel, on which the cockpit is attached, with runners, plank, and sail detachable. The runners of a first class ice yacht are of great length. They are taken off carefully and packed in boxes. A high class boat costs from $300 to $400. The runner iron weighs about 30 pounds and costs from $10 to $15.

The North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club was organized about fifteen years ago, and from a small beginning has grown to its present importance. The club has about forty yachts, and membership includes many of the prominent men along the river. The club house is located near Red Bank, and during the winter months the members meet frequently for racing and social events. The interest in ice yachting has steadily increased, and the sport promises to continue as one of the most exciting winter pastimes in this region.

In 1883 Capt. James Weaver built the Scud. Capt. Throckmorton’s Dreadnaught was far ahead of anything that had sailed on the Shrewsbury up to this time, but Weaver’s boat, constructed at Fair Haven by John D. Chandler, proved to be a crack a jack. The Scud was a keel and cockpit yacht of 25 feet spread and carried a lateen sail of 525 square feet. The Scud was tried in a gale and by actual time sailed a mile in 45 seconds. Afterward the Scud was sent up the Hudson with less breeze to sail in a regatta there. The event came off when the wind was too light for the new yacht, and the Dreadnaught, which was a good sailer in any wind, was again nearly a winner, being beaten by the Northern Light by a close margin.

It was decided that the lateen rig on Capt. Weaver’s Scud was too heavy, and a jib and mainsail rig was substituted. In January 1891 Gordon Van Nostrand offered a handsome championship trophy, and a race was arranged on Orange Lake for the prize. The Scud won the cup and still holds it, which is a challenge trophy and must be raced for over the course of the club to which the winning yacht belongs. There was a challenge sent to the North Shrewsbury Club by the Orange Lake Club and the challenge was accepted. This was in 1893. The Orange Lake yachts, however, were not shipped last winter, there was very little ice yachting either here or on the Hudson.

This year the sport began early with the Shrewsbury Club. Races have been sailed and many new boats tried, most of them, however, being small ones. The boats are divided into classes according to their speed, which is really their ability to carry sail. Over 19 feet 6 inches spread are first class; between 15 and 19 feet 6 inches are second class; under 15 feet are third class. Nearly a dozen of the latter have appeared this year and scores of them are being constructed. Half of the third class boats are lateen rigged. Most of the small yachts belong to boys, and they have a club of their own called the Junior North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club. Many of the lads are clever sailors.

The North Shrewsbury Club has prospered ever since its organization. The members always pull together. They have a comfortable club house and a lot, both of which they own. The house is large enough to store all the yachts. The club is widely known for its hospitality when there is good ice. A club yacht is always kept in readiness to take out visitors, many of whom come long distances to see the novel boats and are glad of the chance to try the sport.

The North Shrewsbury Club held their annual meeting last Wednesday night, and the following officers were elected: Commodore Samuel W. Morford; Vice Commodore Charles D. Waring; Secretary and Treasurer Capt. James E. Weaver; Regatta Committee Capt. Charles E. Throckmorton, A. W. Haviland, and Charles Curtis.

A challenge from the Burlington Ice Yacht Club for the State championship pennant was received and accepted. The pennant is for third class boats.

The North Shrewsbury Club are full of enthusiasm and expect a lively season. They have on the ice seventeen racing yachts, and these will be sailed daily while the ice permits. The yachts and their owners are as follows:

First class — Scud, Capt. James E. Weaver; Foster, Capt. George Cook; Ironsides, Richard A. Conover; Opportunity, James H. Stevens; Tempest, Harry Wooley; Lady Mary, George R. Thomas; Dreadnaught, Dr. Fagan Field.

Second class — Chance, Charles Irwin; Skater, Horace Irwin; Meteor, Z. W. Borden; Hattie Walsh, Thomas McGee; Vixen, Irving W. Cook; Hans, Commodore S. W. Morford; Ziska, W. H. Scranton.

Additional racing involved boats such as the Dreadnaught, Tempest owned by Dr. Fagan Field, George Coyle’s slider, and Uncle Bob, which were sent to Poughkeepsie to compete for the world’s pennant. Aaron Haines’s Haze won, with the Shrewsbury yacht Dreadnaught finishing thirty seconds behind.

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