Category: Winter - Anita Mae Draper

Snowshoes on Horses

2/5/2019

Woodcut from Historia Delle Genti, by Olaus Magnus, 1565 edition. Library of Congress

I'm over at Heroes, Heroines and History talking about horses wearing snowshoes, and if you think the woodcut above is just a novelty, come over and see the rest of the photos I found to show it was more common than you might think.

I also found several newspaper clippings that mention horses wearing snowshoes and although I've only included the links on the HHH blog, here's one for you to read in case you can't get to the links.

Idaho County free press. (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) January 02, 1902

If you enjoy this post, please let me know as it inspires me to search out more historical treasures.

Ice Slides Go Way Back

1/5/2019

Russian Ice Slides 16th Century. Public Domain

I love research and my post, From Ice Slide to Roller Coaster, over at the Heroes, Heroines and History blog, is full of interesting images of what turns out to be the beginnings of roller coasters.

And if thrill rides aren't your thing, drop in and see what luxury awaited the pleasure-seekers of Catherine the Great's court after a day on the slides.

Hope to see you there.

Snow Caboose

3/5/2018

"One like this tipped over with mom inside", 1930-1939. Courtesy of the Western Development Museum Curatorial Centre, Saskatoon, SK

I'm blogging over at Heroes, Heroines and History today about the winter snow conveyance called a caboose. At least that's what it was called on the Canadian prairies in the first half of the 20th century.

Why can't I find any photos of such a conveyance south of the border? Come see my photos at Winter Travel by Caboose and then share about your memories or thoughts. If you've seen such a vehicle in old photos and such, share that too, will you?

Early Images of Tobogganing

2/5/2018

Toboggan Party, glass negative, ca 1910-1915. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

The social aspects of tobogganing a century ago are explored in my Heroes, Heroines and History post, Romance on a Toboggan. Back then in areas that received adequate snowfall, toboggan runs were prepared and iced slides that started high and ran long. An added bonus was that you got to hold your main squeeze all the way to the end if you wished.

You even got a nice view while you were at the top, like this one from Ottawa, Canada in 1922...

Rideau Canal Toboggan run, Ottawa Winter Carnival, 1922. Credit: Canadian National Railways/Library and Archives Canada

As always, comments and thoughts are appreciated and just to get you started, here's my question for this post...

Tobogganing on an iced slide of this magnitude would be exhilarating, don't you think?

At the Inkwell: January's Treasure

1/17/2018

Today at the Inkwell I'm posting about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how changes in my life seem to have resolved its affect on me.

If you have a few minutes, come check my post and pics at January's Treasure.

Typical light therapy unit used for Seasonal Affective disorder. Source: wikipedia

Vintage Children's Sleigh Images

1/4/2018

Midwinter Carnival, Children's Parade, Doll Sleds, Upper Saranac Lake, N.Y. c1909. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

My last Heroes, Heroines and History blog post, Sleighs, Cutters & Carioles featured winter travel by sleigh for those who lived in areas that received some amount of snow. This time I'm posting about sleighs and sleds made for children and dolls.

So come on over and share your memories or read of others who've experienced this mode of travel and fun on my January 5th HHH blog post, Early photos of Children's Sleighs.

Two-Moose Open Sleigh

12/5/2017

Sorry, couldn't resist the One-horse Open Sleigh spoof...We're talking about sleighs, cutters and carioles over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog today. Do you know the difference? Which is your favorite? Join us for a trip back in time as we explore fancy sleighs, swift cutters, bobsleighs, and the ground-hugging carioles.

Trains on Ice on HHH Today

1/5/2015

Alaska Railroad engine crossing the Tanana River on the ice at Nenana, 1923. Courtesy of Wikicommons.

I'm blogging at Heroes, Heroines and History today with a post about Trains on Ice.

Believe it or not, the 60+ ton trains crossed frozen rivers and lakes when there was a need, despite the dangerous risk of sinking. I've only found one that went through the ice, but would love to hear of others.

Historic Winter Sports: Ice Sailing

1/20/2014

I'm blogging at the Inkwell again with another post on my Historic Winter Sports series, this time on the fun and adventure of ice sailing.

The images I've used were found in different library systems and archives fonds and I can't say enough about the people who work to bring these sources to the public. Today's images are courtesy of the:

As well, I've included a video over on my Inkwell Inspirations Ice Sailing post which gives the feel of skimming across the ice in a modern ice boat made for racing.

Here's one photo you won't find over there...it's a stereoview from 1900 and if you go to the page I found it, you can read a description put out by the Keystone View Company.

1900 Canadian Winter Sports, Ice Yachting, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of Maritime History of the Great Lakes.

Snow Caboose Then and Now

1/14/2014

I'm blogging over at Inkwell Inspirations today about Historic Snow Cabooses. Well, it was just the historic ones, and then I remembered about a modern one, so it's a Then and Now post.

I'd like to thank the folks over at the Lanigan and District Heritage Assoc Virtual Museum for allowing me to use their images in my post.

Thanks also going out to the Glenbow Museum and Archives for their wonderful online resource site.

And finally, thank you to Balzer's for putting their SnoBear near Hwy 1E heading into Regina or I would never have known these fascinating modern people movers for winter use existed. I have been enlightened.

Here's a taste of what awaits you over at the Inkwell...

Then...

1928 Caboose by A.T. Stocki

ca. 1928 by A.T. Stocki, Caboose on sleigh, Tarnopol, Saskatchewan. Glenbow Archives

and Now...

SnoBear taken Jan 2013, Hwy 1E, Regina, SK, by Anita Mae Draper

Many more images and a SnoBear video over at the Inkwell. Hope to see you there.