Hamlin Lake Preservation Society

Protecting Hamlin Lake for Future Generations 

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Ice Skating on Hamlin Lake

By Caryl Barnett Ferguson

It was unusual to see so much traffic headed north on M-116 in the winter especially early in the afternoon.  What was going on?  Little did we realize that we were heading for an adventure.

Skating on Hamlin Lake was something “locals” looked forward to most years, but usually the surface of the lake was too bumpy to skate any distance.  If we were lucky enough to locate a smooth spot that had been sheltered from the wind and snow, we wouldn’t have to do much clearing of the surface with our shovels.  That Christmas beak from school, 1954-55, the weather had been, windless, snowless and very, very cold. 

What we found at the lake that winter was a wonderful surprise!  The ice had frozen smooth and clear!  And there was no snow on the ice.  We could hardly wait to put on our skates and go out onto the lake.  As we skated away from the beach area of the State Park we could clearly see logs, stumps, and canoe paddles on the bottom!

Most of us modified our posture so we were humped over (much like speed skaters today) to see more of what was under the ice.  It must have looked strange to someone on shore who didn’t know what was going on.

As we skated further out onto the lake we saw fish, large and small, and some unexpected underwater sights/sites: rusty bicycles, wagons, anchors fishing tackle boxes, and a couple of sunken rowboats!! Someone said they even spotted a sunken car near the Narrows!

As the word spread, there were more people on the lake everyday.  Soon it wasn’t just us school age kids but many adults, some on skates and some walking, often pulling children on sleds.

At about twilight, M-116 was, again, alive with car traffic, now headed south.  The occupants were probably already looking forward to returning to the lake the next day.  I know I was.

What a wonderful memory.