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One of the
most colorful and interesting events in the
history of Boyne City and the Boyne River is
the creation of "Smeltania, The City On
Ice".
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The Great Lakes Smelt
arrived in the Boyne River in the spring of
1929 at the onset of the great depression.
Not only was it a culinary delight but it
arrived in huge numbers. "The river
was full of fish." It provided food
and income for the out of work citizens of
Boyne City and the surrounding area.
The good old "American Spirit" kicked in and
a city of ice shanties moved out on Lake
Charlevoix near the mouth of the Boyne River complete with a mayor, constable,
restaurant and city hall. The spoof was carried
out to the nth degree to the delight of
all. |
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"The
Smeltania Taxi"
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The Smeltania Taxi
carried the boys out onto the ice.
During some years there would be as many as
300 shanties on the ice. |
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The following poem
was found in an article in the Boyne
Citizen published on January 28,
1943.
The article was entitled,
"SCHALLER SLURS SUNK
BY SMITH" |
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Oh,
why does man pursue the
smelt?
It has no valuable pelt,
It boasts of no escutcheon
royal,
It yields no ivory or oil,
Its life is dull, its death
is tame,
A fish as humble as its
name,
Yet take this salmon
somewhere else,
And bring me half a dozen
smelts. |
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The complete story of "Smeltania" and "The Boyne
City Smelt Runs" both written by Robert Morgridge
will be coming soon.
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