“Detroit’s Third Annual Aquatic Carnival Slated At Belle Isle August 5” in The Detroit Free Press (July 23rd, 1922)

July 23, 2025

Financed by the Department of Parks and Boulevards and directed by the Department of Recreation, Detroit’s third annual aquatic carnival took place at Belle Isle in 1922, with admission free of charge. With a variety of sporting events on the Detroit River, such as boating, yacht racing, and swimming, the carnival – popular among prominent Detroiters – turned the river into a ‘playground for the day.’

While the archives have yet to reveal whether the aquatic carnival tradition continued past the 1920s, boat racing (and Hydrofest, a boat-racing festival) remains a cherished activity on the Detroit River, as described in this article from The Detroit News.

Transcript:

Swimmers, Yachtsmen, Powerboaters, Canoe Experts, Oarsmen, Will Get Chance To Display Respective Abilities

–

RIVER FOR DAY WILL BE BIG PLAYGROUND

–

Almost Every Individual and Club in District Interested in “Nautical Athletics” Lends Aid; Recreation Department Directs Affair, Parks and Boulevards Finance Project; Prominent Men on Committee.

The date for Detroit’s third annual aquatic carnival has been set for August 5.

This event has become one of the most popular of all outdoor celebrations around Detroit. The river is turned into a playground for the day.

Thousands of spectators lined the Canadian shore of the “island” last year to watch the contestants vie for supremacy. The aquatic carnival has, undoubtedly, a greater number of clubs and individuals supporting it than any other sporting event of the year.

The department of parks and boulevards finances the carnival, the department of recreation directs the affair and almost every individual and club in or near Detroit interested in water sports helps to make the day successful.

Name General Committee.

The general committee for the carnival is as follows: Governor Alex J. Grosbeck, Mayor James Couzens, General Edward G. Heckel, commissioner of parks and boulevards; C. E. Brewer, commissioner department of recreation; George P. Codd, Garfield A. Wood, D. Y. C.; Irving J, Coffin, T. J. Callahan, Detroit fire department; Vincent M. Brennan, Edwin Denby, secretary of navy, John L. Dexter, D. B. C.; Alex J. McLeod, D. M. Ferry, Jr., Frank H. Alfred, president board of education; Dr. W. Y. Kennedy, Michigan club of Detroit; W.E. Metzger, president, Detroit Athletic club; Frank Cody, superintendent of schools; Ross Schram, department of street railways; Miss Ethel Perrin, department health education; George Healy, U. S. F. A.; Charles A. Hughes, D. A. C.; R George Marsh, G. P. Y. C; Dr. A. G. Studer, Y. M. C. A.; Charles W. Burton, president Detroit Amateur Athletic association; R. H. Ross, E. B. C.; Judge Ira W. Jayne, D. A. C.; Harry M. Jewett, D. A. C.; E. T. Kelly, Y. M. O,; John Kelsey, D. A. C.; John C. Lodge, president common council; Charles T. Balanger, D. B. C. Y.; Abner E Larned, D. A. C.; Frank J. Navin, D. B. B. C.; George E. Hawley, president Detroit Boat club; Commodore A. A. Schantz, Detroit Gold cup committee; Dr. James W. Inches, commissioner of police; Henry Steffens, Jr.; and Clara E. Dyar, president Chamber Music society.

Charles D. Lynch, D. A. C., is chairman of the committee; H. W. Busch, department of parks and boulevards, and Warren J. Frye, department of recreation, are vice chairmen. Franklin G. Armstrong, department of recreation, is secretary.

Other Bodies Appointed.

The following committees have been appointed; Sail yachts, John A. Owen, D. Y. C., chairman; John Mathison, D. Y. C., Edward Mercier, D. B. C., and A. Simmons, E. B. C.; canoe pageant, Major J. G. Rankin, department of parks and boulevards, chairman.

Canoe races: John C. Spaulding, C. B. C., chairman; Leo J. Monohan, D. Y. C., Ernest Weber, C. B. C.; patrol committee; Lieut, Joseph Burkhelser, department of police, chairman; Arthur Plesum, D. A. A. A., vice-chairman; E. M. Gregory, D. Y. C, and Dr. W. E. Sanforn, D. Y. C.

Power boats: Dr. George H. Voikner, D. Y. C., chairman; Fred R. Still, D. Y. C., Dr. A. R. Hackett, D. Y. C.; Otto F. Barthel, D. Y. C.; J. J. Miller, D. Y. C.; J. Lee Barrett, D. G. C. C.; F. J. Clippert, W. D. B. C.; Theo F. A. Osius, D. Y. C.; O. C. Reber, W. D. B. C.; Paul Strasburg, D. B. C.; Edsel Ford, D.B.C., and W. D. Edenborn.

Duffield Heads This One.

Rowing: Divide B. Duffield, D. B. C., chairman; Edward Henkel, D. B. C.; Everitt W. Pingree, D. B. C.; Clarence E. Otter, D. B. C., and William N. Campbell, W. B. C..

Outboard motor race: George W. Graves, chairman, Masonic Country club; programs, prizes and arrangements: Warren J. Frye, department of recreation, chairman; Willian E. Weber, department of recreation.

Invitations: Miss Lottie McDermott, chairman, department of recreation; announcer, Chas. T. Earl, I. A. C. C.; properties, Paul A. Vanderschow, department of recreation and Louis J. Thierry, department of recreation; publicity, E. S. Barton, department of recreation chairman; H. G. Salsinger, H. H. Barcus, Harry Bullion, H. C. Walker, Howard Pearson, Fred R. Jorn, D. A. A. A., and Roy Hippler.

Have Safety Committee.

Safety committee: Red Cross Live Saving corps, No. 1, A. G. Dupuis, president, and George Pipper, captain; swimming and other sports: Paul Henning, D. A. A. A., chairman; Don Dickinson, D. A. C.; Goegre Elworthy, G. P. A. C. ; Hugh Ferry, K. of C.; Mrs. Glydie Fulmer, W. S. A.; E. W. Sullivan, Detroit Auto club; Dr. Bruce Anderson, D. A. C.; D. S. Becker, DYC; W. E. Broughan, Y. M. O.; S. O. Deorlow, D. Y. C., C. W. Tyson, DABBF; Mrs. Vinne Malcomson, W. A. C.; Mathew Mann, D. A. C.; Mrs. Rose Newell, C. B. W. A.; George Robb, C. B. C.; Dr. C. B. Lundry, K. of C.; Peter C. Lisberg, Y. M. C. A.; Charles H. Brennan, D. A.C.; Chas. D. Bennett, D. A. C.; Paul Roberts, D. B. S.; Mrs. Jane Stocking, W. A. C.; Margaret Woodbridge, D. A. C.; Tom J. Clemens, Y. M. C. A.; Clifford G. Rollings, Y. M. C. A.; Dr. J. A. Jeffery, D. A. C.; E. M. Reed, D. A. C.; Jacob Mazer, D. A. A. A.; Vaughn Blanchard, R. J. Horton, Y. M. C. A.; Miss Maude Lemon, D. A. A. A.; D. L. Seymour, D. A. C.; B. M. Eustice, D. A. C.; J. D. Watts, U. of M.; Dr. H. A. Osborn, D. A. C., and Theo L. Smith, D. M. C. C. Music: Chamber Music society and Municipal Park band.

Events Are Free.

Everybody is invited to witness these events free, and all will be in plain view from shore. Events will be postponed to August 6 in case of bad weather.

Entries close with Franklin G. Armstrong, secretary, Detroit department of recreation, 504 Elmwood avenue, telephone Edgewood 3840. Entries for boys and girls will be taken up to the time of events, but entries for men and women must be in by August 2.

Contestants in the various boating events may enter at the Detroit Yacht club, Detroit Boat club, or the department of recreation. The sailing events will be run over courses and under regulations of sail yacht committee.

Yachtsmen in Line.

The following events of the inter-club sail yacht regatta will be held under the auspices of the Detroit River Yachting association:

K class, catboats; T class, dorles; R class, “R” yachts; star class, A class universal; Y clas, yawts; C.C. class, cabin cathonis. Events are: Power boat regatta change race, open to any power boar, other open boat or cruiser. There will be prizes for speed for hydroplanes, displacement boats and cruiser types and winners have chances of drawing for principal prizes according to finish position and number of yachts in race.

Onboard motor boat race is limited to single cylinder 2-horse-power and owner operated.

Rowing regatta events are subject to arrangement of committee.

Are Title Races.

All 50-yard swimming events are for city championship. The following rules will be strictly enforced; Divers must have a list of their optional dives in the hands of the chief diving judge at least 24 hours before the meet. Competitors in the diving should send their list to Elwood Reed at the D. A. C.

Any athlete who fails to compete after entering an event according to the rules shall be required to furnish a satisfactory excuse for such failure or render himself liable to censure of suspension by the local registration committee.

Paul Henning, chairman of the committee on swimming events, says that this year rule 14 of section 3 of the National A. A. U. rules will be strictly enforced. This rule is in regard to the regulation swimming costume and bath robe. Last year a number of swimmers who did not provide themselves with bath robes were allowed to participate. But this year everyone must have the proper costume and bath robe.

List of Events.

Swimming and diving events follow: Boys’ 50 years free style; girls’ 50 yards free style; boys’ 50 yards breast stroke; girls’ 50 yards breast stroke; boys’ novelty race; girls’ novelty race; fancy diving from low board for boys and girls, two dives each; diving from 10-foot board for boys and girls, six dives each; men’s 50 yards free style, junior; women’s 50 yards free style, junior; men’s 50 yards breast stroke, senior; women’s 50 yards breast stroke, senior; men’s 50 yards back stroke, senior; women’s 50 yards back stroke, senior; fancy diving from 10-foot board, senior, 10 dives for men and women.

Other Features, Too.

In addition to the regular swimming and diving events, there will be swimming exhibitions and stunts, a life-saving exhibition by the Detroit Life Saving corps of the Red Cross, canoe races of 200 yards for singles and doubles, canoe tilting and canoe bailing.

The canoe pageant will start at 7:30 p. m., sharp, from the canoe shelter and proceed through the canal, passing the band stand where the judges will be stationed, and on through the lagoons back to the canoe shelter, making a complete circuit.

The parade of the illuminated and decorated canoes should be the best that has ever glided through the waters of the “beautiful island,” for cash prizes totalling more than $350 will be awarded to the winners. The prizes will be distributed as follows: For beauty–first, $50; second, $30; third, $25; fourth, $15, and fifth, $10. For novelty–$50, $30, and $15. For comedy–$25 and $15.