From Basement to Museum: The Journey of BLACK ICE, a Historic Lake Erie Ice Yacht

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 16, 2025 | 2024-2025, Home Page, WSSA

A great story about a rescued stern-steerer, via Chris Wolford:

I want to thank you and the contributors to the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club for publishing the recent articles on old ice yachts. It is fascinating to read about the races held as far back as 1898 and learn about the men who built these majestic ice yachts. Although there was ice yacht racing in Erie, PA, around that time, there were only a handful of boats, and they are long gone. Ice conditions like you have in Wisconsin are uncommon on Presque Isle Bay, so sailors here get frustrated, mostly because of the amount of snow we get, and the old boats end up in barn rafters and garages. But not all of them.

 

In the spring of 1986, while rummaging around the basement of the Erie Yacht Club (EYC), in a dark and musty corner, I noticed a couple of long planks leaning against the wall. I was curious, so I took a look and found that it was an old ice yacht. On the backbone was a plaque that read SNIPE, built for Annie Scott Strong in 1900. The car was badly damaged from years of neglect, and the backbone had a bit of rot. I couldn’t just leave it there, so I found the owner and convinced him to sell it to me. I bought it for the outstanding storage charge of $60.

 

Two iceboating buddies and I spent Monday nights for a year bringing her back to life. We sanded off red paint and found green and, finally, the beautiful wood grain. The runner plank, a little over 6″ thick, still had bark on it. Wrapped in an old sail, the spars and standing rigging were stuffed into the rafters. They were in decent condition, and we were surprised to find a dozen hand-forged brass blocks. We spent about $2000 rebuilding her and replacing the sails. The following winter, we proudly put SNIPE on the ice and renamed her BLACK ICE.  We sailed her for 35 years on Presque Isle Bay and made great memories for many people young and old.

 

In 2018, we were frustrated that we either had no ice or our seasons were so short that it was hardly worth getting her on the ice.  And now, in our mid-60s, BLACK ICE started getting heavier. We decided to find a better home for her than the EYC  basement, so we approached the Erie Maritime Museum to see if they were interested. The curator was thrilled, and we submitted paperwork to the Commonwealth of PA Museum Commission for approval.

 

While we waited, we did some research and learned that the yacht was built in the Hudson River Valley and brought here by rail in 1900. She was a birthday present for Annie Scott Strong from her husband, Charles. He was a prosperous businessman, an iron & coal magnate, and a railroad president. Annie’s father was also a railroad tycoon, the Mayor of Erie in 1866, and later served as a U.S. Congressman. We have no idea how long Annie sailed SNIPE, but we believe the boat sat outside for some years in the 1930s and then had several owners before us.

 

The Museum Commission unanimously approved accepting our gift.  On April 26, 2023, BLACK ICE was displayed at the museum at a reception attended by 60 people. Many pictures and a rolling video are included in the display. It’s hard to say how long she will be on display, but we are told that the plan is at least 5 years because of its popularity. When eventually stored, BLACK ICE will be in good company amongst the spars of the tall ship U.S.S. Brig NIAGRA.