Look ma - No Hands.

Old Black & White film of Curling at The Old Detroit Curling Club on Forest & Fourth Ave.

The Detroit Curling Club - Old B&W Film ... click here

Official Battle Cry of The Detroit Curling Club is...

..."Scots Wha Hae" and it is the name of The Club's newsletter.

Scots Wha Hae (English: Scots, Who Have) is a patriotic song of Scotland which served for centuries as an unofficial national anthem of the country.  The lyrics were written by Robert Burns in 1793, in the form of a speech given by Robert the Bruce before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where Scotland maintained its sovereignty from the Kingdom of England.   (Think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart).

English translation

'Scots, who have with Wallace bled,

Scots, whom Bruce has often led,

Welcome to your gory bed

Or to victory.

'Now is the day, and now is the hour:

See the front of battle lower (threaten),

See approach proud Edward's power -

Chains and slavery…. 

(Ed Note:  you can find the rest of the lyrics on-line)…  

You can also listen and read along on YouTube. 

Click here and/or click here.

The oldest issue of The Club’s newsletter (December 1934) in our records does not use this quote.  The second oldest issue in our archives is dated January 14, 1936, Vol. 3, No. 3.  The masthead reads:

“SCOTS WHA HAE”

Official Battle Cry of

The Detroit Curling Club

The font size and style changed a few times over the years, but this remained the masthead on the newsletter until January 1963.  We have never found a reference as to why it was used.  But we assume that with so many ‘Scotchmen’ in The Club in the early years that something that was considered a patriotic song of Scotland would be adopted by The Club’s membership.

Some Old Stones

This week’s article has nothing to do with curling in The Motor City.  I would like to share the story of a couple of curling stones in my collection.

Weight 39 pounds, 10 inches in diameter and 8 inches tall.  They are single soled with a flat running surface.  The drawer-pull or looped handles are brass, as is the identification tag under the handle.  The tags read: 

“Presented to James Boyd Esq.  Dunblane Feb 3^rd 1845”.

Years ago I contacted the Dunblane CC in Scotland.  They confirmed that James Boyd had been a member in the 1840’s and that he had served has their representative to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.  This year I contacted Bob Cowan (co-author of:  The Curling History Blog – click here).  He supplied the newspaper article shown below.

I found them in an old barn of an antique dealer south of Indianapolis.  I paid $100 for the pair in about 1985.  1854 to 1985 – 131 years!  I wondered where else they stopped along their journey.   

Good curling, Angus

We Got Mail

Dear editor,

Since I enjoy reading the articles about curling history, I read the article "Curling in the USA before 1832" with great interest. The article mentioned that "... the Orchard Lake Curling Club was declared the first in the USA." And later, "Sorry, Orchard Lake CC, you lose your title." The documentation presented indicated that curling took place in New York before 1832, but it did not indicate that there was an organized curling club before the Orchard Lake club. This could explain the apparent contradiction in Mr. David Foulis declaring the Orchard Lake Curling Club the first club while still mentioning that curling took place earlier elsewhere.  
Joel.

Thank you for the note, Joel.  We are very happy that people

 are reading these little articles. 

You raise a good question about our conclusion that the Orchard Lake Club is not the "Mither Club" of organized curling clubs in the USA. You're right in that there's no definitive proof of an earlier curling club.   It is all but certain, however, there was curling in New York before 1832.  Furthermore, it's likely that the Dutch were curling in New Amsterdam, even before the Scots arrived.

As to whether any of this curling was under the auspices of an organized club, the St. Andrews Society of New York (founded in 1756) would assuredly qualify. There's reasonable evidence that curling was a regular, if infrequent, part of the club's offerings and its members' lives.

Lang may yir lum reek,

Angus MacTavish

Peter Dow curling on Orchard Lake.  Circa 1915.  Note the small stones.  Perhaps they are "irons. 

Detroit Curling Club members demonstrate curling on Orchard Lake in 1975.

Curling in the USA before 1832

Last week we established who, how and when the Orchard Lake Curling Club was declared the first in the USA.  This week we will discuss curling in the USA before 1832.

1892  New York Times article on January 25, 1892:  “Away back in the colonial days one reads of curling as being quite a popular sport during the Winter, and history states that about a century ago some Scotsmen of New York used to curl on “rinks” on the two ponds near the city in what is now known as “the swamp”, or leather region, and between the rope walk and the Boston highway (ed. Note:  now called Broadway), or in the centre of the present Sixth Ward (ed. note:  Five Points).”

1895 New York Times article on November 17, 1895:  “Curling used to be played in this city, seventy-five years ago, where the busy thoroughfare of Canal Street now is, by members of the St. Andrews Society, when they could get so far uptown for an afternoon’s pastime.”

The main source to the 1895 article was Mr. David Foulis, secretary of the Grand National CC.  The same man who had declared the OLCC as first.  Huh?  He changed his mind?  He discovered new information?

1904  In the book ‘Curling in Canada and the United States’ by John Kerr, the author offers a story where and when curling began without mentioning the discrepancy with his previous book written in 1890.  His source is the same Mr. David Foulis who had written another article for an American magazine in 1899.  Mr. Kerr wrote:  “The game used to be played some eighty years ago in New York City, where the busy thoroughfare of Canal Street is now.  It was there the members of the St. Andrew Society would go for an afternoon’s pastime, when they could get so far up town.”

The pond mentioned in the above articles was called The Collect Pond.  It was a body of fresh water used by the early inhabitants of the island of Manhattan.  In the 18^th century, the pond was used as a picnic area during the summer and skating and, apparently, curling during the winter.  However as the city grew and expanded the pond was used by tanneries, breweries and slaughterhouses.  By the early 1800’s New York City had transformed the sparkling waters into a communal open sewer. Disgusted, local authorities initiated a project to fill the sewer with earth from an adjacent hill. In 1805, in order to drain the garbage-infested waters, designers opened a forty-foot wide canal that today is known as Canal Street.  By 1811, the City had completed the filling of Collect Pond; therefore any and all curling happened here before 1811.  Sorry Orchard Lake CC, you lose your title. 

The Collect Pond derived its name from seventeenth century Dutch settlers, who called it “kolch” meaning “small body of water”. Following the English capture of New Amsterdam (1664), the name was corrupted to “collect.” 

This raises a new question…Is it possible that the Dutch settlers and not the Scotch were the first men to curl on the Collect Pond?  Wow.  That would open up a whole new can of worms.

The Orchard Lake Curling Club

If asked, every American curler and many Canadian curlers would name The Orchard Lake Curling Club as the first in The USA.  How did the OLCC get this distinction and was it rightfully obtained? 

1845  The oldest reference to these curlers that we have found was in the February 27, 1845 issue of the Detroit Democratic Free Press – they were referred to as The Curlers of Orchard and Pine Lakes.  Also called the Lakes Club.

1868  An article about the Dow family of West Bloomfield written in about 1985 states: “the Records of The Orchard Lake Curling Club, transcribed from the old book by John P. Wilson, December 1868.  The OLCC dates to January 2, 1832, where a few Scotchmen neighbors were invited to meet ‘to celebrate the advent of the New Year’.  Their thoughts naturally reverting to Scotland’s manly game.  In the absence of the ‘channel-stane’, they had recourse to hickory blocks.  The first game was played on Orchard Lake January 7, 1832.  The sides were:  William Gilmour, Skip, Dr. Robert Burns, and George Dow; the other team:  James Miller, Skip, William Dow, John Dow and Peter Dow.”  (Ed. Note:  This ‘old book’ is supposed to be at the Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society in Pontiac, but they were unable to locate it on the day this author visited, nor have they found it since that visit).

Numerous discrepancies can be found within the article above and its references.  First, Dr. Wilson had apparently transcribed the club minutes 36 years after the fact; second,  Dr. Wilson was born in 1828 making him 4 years old during this first match; third, Peter Dow who apparently played was only 9 years old!!  Therefore, Dr. Wilson’s writings were only transcribed memories of other people.  I do not know about you, but, I have a difficult time remembering details back 30-40 years ago.

Sidebar:  William Gilmour, mentioned above, was very active in the Underground Railroad – helping people escape from slavery.  His house at 4121 Pontiac Trail Road contained secret chambers to hide people. 

1867  The Grand National Curling Club formed.  The OLCC joins the GNCC sometime before 1876.

1880  At the GNCC Annual Meeting, Mr. David Foulis (Secretary) submitted the following as part of his report:  “Gentlemen and Brother Curlers, … In searching for the “Mither Club” of the United States, I found it not in any of the centres of civilization, but away back in the wilds of Michigan, on the banks of Orchard Lake, where fifty years ago (ed. Note:  1830), eight hardy Scots organized the OLCC, using hickory blocks for want of their native whinestane.  This club has had an unbroken record ever since, two of the original eight being active members – a conclusive proof of the benefit to be derived from the practice and associations of the game of curling”.

How did he make this claim?  How did he do his research?  No internet.  No Google.  Well, I guess he could interview all the member clubs of the GNCC.  Rather limited research sample.  There were many curling clubs in the Midwest that never joined the GNCC.

1890  This claim becomes etched in history when the world renowned author on curling (John Kerr) published The History of Curling in 1890.  The author quotes past reports from the secretary of the GNCC (David Foulis) on curling in the United States:  “…The oldest club is the Orchard Lake Club organized about the year 1830 by eight hardy Scotsmen away in the wilds of Michigan, on the banks of the lake from which the club took its name.”

The story that the OLCC was first in the USA has been printed, quoted and misquoted over and over and over in books, news articles and across the Internet on curling club webpages around the world.  I think we are seeing an example of a legend becoming the fact.

The question remains:  Were the Scots of Orchard Lake the first to curl in the USA?  This author says:  ‘No’.  Next week we will unveil some recently discovered writings on curling in the USA long before 1832.  Stay tuned…

Car Curling

Hilarious video on You Tube...  click HERE.

Stranger Than Friction

During every curling game you have played or watched the laws of physics are not merely bent but appear to be broken.  A key component to curling is the curl.  You all know that putting a slight clockwise turn on the delivered stone will make the stone curl to the right.  A counterclockwise twist will send the stone to the left.

That’s all fine and good, except that the basic laws of physics say the stone should curl in the opposite direction.

Don’t believe me?  Go to your kitchen.  Take a drinking glass, turn it upside down and slide it clockwise across your counter-top.  (Wait!  Maybe you should do this on the floor.)  You will see that the glass “curls” to the left.  Magic?  No.  As the glass slides along, the front of the glass is made heavier by the energy of its slide and its rotation.  As it turns clockwise the force of friction pushes the glass in the opposite direction. 

But, this does not play out with a curling stone, which has a raised circular ridge along the bottom, similar to the rim of the drinking glass.  This mystery has pit physicist against physicist.  One theory claims that the weight of the stone and the force of its slide heats and partially melts the ice.  This creates a micro-thin layer of water that reduces friction at the front of the stone.  Because the force of friction is now stronger at the back of the stone it curls in the opposite direction.

The other group theorizes that the pebble on the ice causes the curl.  As the front edge of the stone crosses the ice, it "machines off" the top of the pebble. This causes the stone to pivot around the crushed pebbles and curl in the direction where the angular momentum is higher.  

Do you recognize this man? (This picture has nothing to do with the article above)

(Thanks to the Columbus Dispatch for writing the original article)

Coffee Can Curling

See this video:  click here

Or make your own here

Concrete Floor for Curlers

Detroit Free Press * November 4, 1909

Detroit Curling Club Plans to Lay One Before the First Frost Comes to Town.

Plans are being made by the Detroit Curling Club for the laying of a concrete floor in its clubhouse.  It will benefit the club and its members in two ways.  With a concrete floor it will enable the curlers to get under way with the first freezing weather, make possible more curling days, and do away with the necessity of waiting for the ice to build up.

The second reason is, when the curling season is over, it will make the club desirable as a roller rink, for which purpose it would be rented by the club, following the plan now in use by the Windsor Curling Club.

When this floor was installed they made ice by waiting for cold weather and then they opened the windows.  About 15 years later this floor was torn up and a new floor was installed that contained piping connected to a steam powered compressor for ice making – possibly the first compressor installed in a curling club in North America. 

 The above photo was taken about 1910.

(Ed. Note:  I have not yet found an article that indicates if The Club did rent the place out for roller skating.)

The History of Pebbling

When?  Where?  Who?  These are difficult questions to answer.  How?  Is the question we will try to answer.  Pebbling the ice is not something a person does to outdoor, natural ice.  Once curling moved inside, the pebbling became a necessity.  Therefore, pebbling began in Canada and the USA.

 

The earliest reference we have found is in John Kerr’s book Curling in Canada and the United States published in 1904.  Mr. Kerr writes:  “Pebbling is the final finishing touch for making ice for curling.  Strange as it may seem to the uninitiated, in this final process hot water is used; and when the mercury indicates a near approach to zero the water may be almost at boiling point, the objective being that the heated water may melt a seat for itself in the ice-sheet before freezing.  … In all the best rinks it is now applied by means of a “sprinkler”. 

 

Another member of this 1902 Scots tour wrote:  “The surface of the ice is either sprinkled or corrugated.  In the former case a watering-can with a very fine rose is used, and hot water is sprinkled sparingly over the whole surface.  This, of course, makes no pattern on the ice.  In the latter,  small streams of water issue from a pipe about 5 feet long, with a pin-head aperture an inch apart, the pipe being fed from a tank attached to it containing hot water.  This is rapidly run diagonally across the ice first from one side and then across so as to make a diamond pattern.  This gives a certain texture to the ice surface, so that the stone answers more readily to the turn of the hand than it possibly can do on perfectly smooth ice.”

 

Try to imagine a 5 or 6 foot pipe with small holes drilled in one straight line an inch apart the entire length of the pipe.  The pipe is connected to a six or eight foot hose which is then connected to a large tank of water.  Now imagine a three man team to work this contraption.  One fellow would lay the pipe on the ice near the hack on sheet number 1.  The other two gents would handle the tank of water.  When they are all ready, someone turns on the water and it flows out of the small holes onto the ice.  The man starts dragging the pipe across the ice in a diagonal ending up at the far end of sheet number 4.  They repeat the process until the entire arena is covered in one diagonal direction.  Then they start again at the near hack on sheet 4 going diagonally to the opposite end of sheet 1.  This new pebble crisscrosses the first pebble. The result is long ridge pebbling in a diamond shape instead of the individual ‘dots’ that we see today.

 

What would this pebble look like?  The picture below was taken at The Detroit Curling Club in 1949 during the Scots Tour.  The players stacked brooms for a photo-op.

When the photo is enlarged the diamond shaped “ridge” pebbling is easy to see.

This type of pebbling is normally done only once per week.  Even at the Canadian Brier they only made ridge pebbling at the start of competition.  No more pebbling during the week.  As the week progressed the ice would become more “swingy”.

Curling in the Olympics

Curling made its first appearance on the Olympic program as a medal sport in 1924 in Chamonix, France then returned in 1998 at the Nagano Games.  The 1924 games saw teams from Great Britain, Sweden and France.  Great Britain (Scotland) won the gold medal in 18 end games.  Yes – I said 18 ends!

Curling was a demonstration sport five times: in Lake Placid in 1932, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936, in Innsbruck in 1964, in Calgary in 1988 and in Albertville in 1992. Since its re-introduction in 1998, curling has been made up of one women’s and one men’s tournament.

At the 1932 Winter Olympics the venue was the Olympic Indoor Arena in Lake Placid, New York. Eight teams from two countries (4 American teams and 4 Canadian Teams) competed in this event. Only men's curling was contested at these Olympics. The matches were held on February 4 and 5, 1932. Each of the Canadian teams played against each of the American teams – only 16 ends this time.

One of the American teams was from The Detroit Curling Club.  They represented Michigan.  Unfortunately, they lost all four games:  Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Northern Ontario.

Skip: George Lawton
Third: Don Fraser
Second: E. R. Palmer
Lead: W. Herb Morley

1932 - Michigan vs. Quebec

The three men facing the camera are the Detroiters

The patches given to the contestants

The "D" is for Demonstration - not Detroit