Archival Anecdotes: Look what I can do!

Some 4,000 years ago, folks wishing to travel across the frozen flats of Finland devised a more effective mode of transportation. Based on archaeological findings, it seems these early skaters used not much more than a couple of leather straps and a piece of bone or antler. The bone skates were likely very slick and required a push-off, resulting in a glide across the ice.

During the 15th century, metal blades came into production and soon ice skating became a popular mode of transportation throughout Scandinavia. These blades had a distinctive curled toe, which helped to prevent the tip of the skate from getting stuck in the ice.  

It wasn't until the mid 19th century, that skating clubs and competitions began to grow in popularity in the United States. In the winter of 1858–59, a skating pond opened in New York's Central Park, igniting interest in the activity. Additional skating ponds opened in Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Staten Island as the activity grew in popularity. The Skating Club of New York was founded in 1863.

Artifacts found in the Eddy County Museum suggest folks in Eddy County might have caught onto the trend. The above illustration is a postcard from the early 1900s and was part of Elsie Kerr's postcard collection.

There are two sets of ice skates that date to the early 1900s, one of which belonged to Mary Haas, an accomplished writer and poet who lived in Eddy County.

In an attempt to find an ice skating inspired poem, I paged through her poetry collection and found an array of delightful winter-inspired poetry. Considering it is December, and we have yet to experience the coming of winter, I'd like to share one of her poems now. It was published in "Country Bard" in 1942.

A Wintery Kiss

Fluttering like down

Against my window pane

Snow flakes kissed the glass

Gesture almost vain.

For those kisses cold

No responsive glow

To the window pane

From the fluttering snow.