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 INGIIAM COUNTY

GRAND RAPIDS RACE.
Another famous race was that on Reed Lake, near Grand Rapids, in 1886. This was the junior pair race rowed by M. J. Buck
and Fred J. Blair. Blair went into the boat the morning of the
race, taking the place of the then, as now, husky J. Edward Roe.
Buck and Roe had trained hard for this race through the spring
and so far as Mr. Roe was concerned the training reached the point
of overtraining for he collapsed in the final practice pull here at
Lansing. Mr. Roe went into the boat that spring at 198 pounds,
but lost flesh to such a degree during the summer that he could
not stand the pace. Mr. Buck rowed the Grand Rapids race at
158. Blair weighed il at 146.
According to clippings from Grand Rapids papers of that time,
the race was a most exciting one. The Lansing pair won narrowly and suffered an upset as they crossed the line. This gave
rise to the report that Mr. Buck had collapsed in the boat, but
this later was found to be untrue. Mr. Buck, in exultation, threw
up his oar at the finish and this is what caused the upset.
Among the most cherished of his possessions are the trophies of
his boat racing days now held by Mr. Buck. In the Grand Rapids race the first prize was a gold medal of a design particularly
suggesting acquatic sport. Another memento is a certificate which
attests premier honors for the Lansing crew in a race in 1875.
At one time Mr. Buck had a trophy in the form of a miniature
barge executed in solid gold. This was stolen some years ago by a
sneak thief who entered the Buck home while everyone was out
viewing a circus parade. The certificate, just mentioned, is now
framed and has a proud place in the Buck residence.
But the athletic prowess of the old boat club should not be emphasized unduly. There was another important aspect-they
were the social lions of their day. It is doubtful if the present
generation has ever known quite the eclat with which matters
social were carried through in those times. At the outset the boat
club gave frequent dancing parties, but after a time there developed an annual ball that was acknowedged the chief social event
of central Michigan. Not only would Lansing merrymakers be
out in force, but large delegations would come from Jackson,
Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw and elsewhere.