If you’ve been following the 1899 diary of Lena Megquier on the Windham Historical Society’s Facebook page this year, you will know that one of Lena’s favorite recreational activities was ice skating with her best friend, Peggy. In January, she used some of her wages to purchase a skate bag for 90 cents and a pair of skates for $1. Then she and Peggy headed off to Deering Oaks Park to have a “roll on the ice” as she would put it.

These two young ladies were not the only ones to enjoy gliding on the ice. By the late 1890s, the sport was so popular it was named the “National Winter Exercise” by Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.

This popularity was made possible in part because at the turn of the 20th century, people had a bit more leisure time. Industrial employers began to decrease work hours and institute a “Saturday half-day off” policy. Nighttime skating was also made possible at this time due to the invention of electric lights that could illuminate parks and other public places.

People of all classes and backgrounds would dress in their winter best to show off their skating skills. Lena would probably have been attired in an appropriate skating coat. She had indeed purchased a coat at the beginning of the year for $5.50, probably just for this purpose. Women of the upper class would be adorned in coats of brilliant color, often made of velvet and trimmed at the collar and cuffs with expensive fur. The coat would be just short enough to display a handsomely fitting pair of boots. Women in Lena’s class would have worn a soft, warm and brightly colored coat of a more simple design that would allow for ease of movement on the ice.

There were certain rules of etiquette that had to be followed when going out for a skating excursion. If Lena had her skates on before Peggy, she would have politely waited for Peggy to finish putting hers on before heading out to join the other skaters. Skaters were expected to be courteous to one another and offer help should someone fall or, even worse, fall through the ice. People were encouraged to bring a rope or ladder with them when planning a day on the ice, just in case such a disastrous event occurred.

Some women enjoyed “skating” in ice chairs. They would wrap themselves up in blankets while their gentlemen companions promenaded them along the ice to enjoy a scenic ride.

In 1899, the little Castle-in-the-Park at Deering Oaks would have looked much as it does today, thanks to a restoration done to it in 2004. It was used as a warming hut back then and Lena and Peggy probably enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate there to warm their hands and insides after a long stretch of showing off their skills.

Lena may have run into some of her friends from Windham in Deering Oaks, but there was no shortage of skating possibilities in Windham either. Sebago Lake, Little Sebago and Highland Lake would all be popular places to go. There was a winter carnival in the Little Falls section of town in the 1920s that may have dated back as far as Lena’s days. Imagine the local townsfolk from both Windham and Gorham enjoying a spin on the Presumpscot while taking part in festival events.

Ice skating remains a favorite winter pastime to this day. There are skating rinks nearby at places like Thompson’s Point and Pineland Farms. The Windham Parks and Recreation Department offers Skating and S’mores nights at Donnabeth Lippman Park in North Windham, complete with a fire for warming, entertainment and all the fixings for s’mores.

There is even a children’s song written about skating. The chorus goes: “Ice skating is such good fun, you really should give it a try, whether you’ve just started to learn to skate or have been skating for a while.” The ice may be melting at the end of this winter season, but next year, follow in the footsteps of Lena Megquier. Put on a pair of skates and a fashionable winter coat. Get some friends together and enjoy an old-fashioned afternoon of skating on the ice.

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