19th century Ti — Trotting on ice, but poor sleighing

Lake Champlain was still frozen solid, but the snowpack on the streets of Ticonderoga was getting thin.

“There will be two days of trotting on the ice at Larabee’s Point, Vt. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14th and 15th. The sum of $90 (the equivalent of $2,571 in 2023 dollars) is offered in three purses; $30 each,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on March 10, 1876.

“The warm weather of the past few days has used the sleighing up.”

Some were not ready for the thaw.

“Parties who have contracted to draw bark to the mill are praying for more sleighing.”

In other March 10, 1876 news from the Ticonderoga Sentinel:

Trotting horse — “The trotter ‘Alice,’ recently owned by Baldwin, will be taken to California in a few days.”

Downtown development — “The fresco work in Weed’s Opera House is nearly finished.”

Politics — “We are pleased that W.G. Baldwin has been re-elected as Commissioner of Excise. Mr. Baldwin is the right man.” … “For Sealer of Weights and Measures, Ed Belgard has the rousing majority of 380. We congratulate you Edward.”

Rhyme time — “Mary had a little dress, all ruffled, puffed and braided. ‘Domestic Fashions’ gave it shape, the new ‘Domestic’ made it.”

Oh what pun! — “Gold mounted coffins are considered the thing in New York. Wealthy people are quite carried away with them after death.”

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