Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

"Oh, yes, we were talking about sleighs, weren't we? Say,
son, I can remember when sleighing used to be an institution in
this town. But that was the day before automobiles, you understand. Why, back in those days we used to have sleighing that
was sleighing. It was not much of a stable that did not boast a
'swell box' cutter or a 'Portland' style of sleigh. An' bells!
Gee whiz, I wonder where all the sleigh bells that this man's
town used to afford have gone to? And buffalo robes, too-I don't
suppose a single buffalo robe can be found in Lansing today, and
yet I remember when each rig, not alone had a buffalo lap robe
but a long swinging affair that hung over the back of the sleigh
and went streaming out behind just to heighten the festive effect.
"And say, there used to be some hoss racin' in those days.
Some hoss racing! Why, all the young blades, such as go in
nowadays for automobiles minus mud-guards and seats so placed
that they give the occupant the aspect of intoxication, used to
have fast nags, and as soon as the snow came some pretty high
stakes used to be placed.
"All of a winter afternoon our avenues would be filled with
fast-flying sleighs. Every driver would have a girl along and
they used to be rigged out mighty pretty in those days, 'cording
to my notion.
"And how the nags would go! They were sharp shod and the
feet of the horses would pick up the packed snow and hurl it like
cannon balls. The girls used to have to hold their muffs before
their faces, but they were always game for every race, no matter
how fast.
"No, I dunno where all those old sleighs have gone to. The
last I saw of one it was being used for a chicken roost, but even
chicken raising in this town has gone out of fashion-that is, by
our fashionable families. Still, I suppose there are a few sleighs."
-State Journal, 1920.