An Early 1900s Boating Trip
Out of the Belgrade Historical Society’s files comes this great picture of folks out for a boating trip in the early part of the 1900s. This picture postcard (below) was probably taken between 1905 and 1910 and shows a group of five tourists with local fishing guide, Alfred L. Stevens. The clothing styles are very typical of Edwardian fashions. The women are wearing high necked blouses and very large picture hats. Their hats would have been adorned with ribbons, feathers, and artificial flowers. These enormous hats would have required hairstyles that could support the hat. The most popular styles required women to sweep their hair up from the forehead into coils or buns. The hats were secured with long hat pins, up to eighteen inches long. The men are dressed in three-piece suits (jacket, trousers, and a waistcoat or vest.) Their shirts have high button collars, and they all (including the guide) have neckties. One of the men is wearing a straw boater hat. Straw boater hats were popular as menswear from 1880 to 1930 but could only be worn from May 15 (known as “Straw Hat Day”) to early September. Even though these folks may have been on vacation, they would never have considered abandoning the correct attire of the day.
This boat trip would have been a pleasure cruise rather than a fishing trip. Alfred Stevens would have manned the oars and guided his Rangeley style craft around the pond or lake. Outboard motors were not available at this time in history. The boat would have traveled at a leisurely pace so there was no fear of anyone’s losing a hat.
One can only wonder what these tourists of yesteryear would think of today’s standard vacation wear for both men and women: T-shirts, shorts, and a ball cap. Every year my brother must buy an authentic Belgrade Lakes T-shirt when he comes to visit. This means a quick stop at Day’s Store at the start of every visit. After thirty years, he has quite a collection of all colors and graphic designs. Some of his T-shirts are a bit worn and the graphics are faded but the T-shirt is still wearable. Most importantly they are still comfortable. For many visitors, Belgrade Lakes T-shirts like the one pictured here (a vintage shirt no longer available) are a great reminder of their vacation here and a great souvenir.
Dianne Dowd is a member of the Belgrade Historical Society.
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