poughkeepsiebridge

Rowing on Hudson River, New York, with Poughkeepsie Bridge in background.

Wystan: Thanks for the additional information. We'll add the names to our description next time we update the record.

"Rice" is probably Jim Rice, who coached the Columbia University team for 17 years.

This, and another 14 Bain pictures, seem to be of the 1915 Poughkeepsie Regatta, which began on June 28, 1915 on the Hudson River. It was the premier collegiate rowing event of its era and attracted huge crowds along the river. Competing that year were Cornell, Columbia, Syracuse, U. of Penn, and Stanford. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E04E6D81631E733A... The other Bain photos of the event www.flickr.com/search/?w=8623220@N02&q=1915%20poughke...

More about the Regatta: "The IRA [Intercollegiate Rowing Association] was founded by Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. These universities wanted to form an association in order to hold a race every year in which all of the top rowing schools in the country could compete. They chose the Hudson River, outside of Poughkeepsie, as the location to hold the race. It was one of the few places that had a straightaway that was four miles long. Only a single race was run to determine the championship—winner take all. An even more significant difference is that it was a four mile long race. This fact set the Regatta apart from all other crew races that have ever been held. It is the reason why the IRA Regatta became as prestigious as it did, and why the crew team that won was nationally regarded as the best of the best. The Poughkeepsie Regatta quickly became one of the greatest sporting events to watch in the country, and put Poughkeepsie on the map. Every year tens of thousands of spectators would come pouring into Poughkeepsie to watch the races. They covered the shores next to the river, many waiting all day, picnicking on blankets, to ensure they had a good view. The railroad tracks on the west side of the river had a flatbed train which held grandstands from which spectators could watch the race. As the crews rowed up the river, the train would keep pace with them, giving the people on board the best view possible. Hundreds of boats, yachts, and occasionally even Navy destroyers sailed to Poughkeepsie, and moored on the sides of the river to watch the event. The town of Poughkeepsie came alive on the day of the Regatta, with parades, bands, vendors, and banners. In addition, colorful pennants displaying the school colors of all the participants were flying everywhere. The Regatta was extensively covered by newspaper reporters, and as time went on it was even broadcast over local and national radio stations. But the crowds, the cheers, the reporters, parades, and pennants were not the reasons why the Regatta became so intensely popular, the explanation lay in the physical feats of the crew teams. To race at full-speed for four miles required such a breathtaking amount of strength, skill, and endurance that it was awe-inspiring to watch." library.marist.edu/archives/regatta/history.html

I think you're right bior, this is probably Jim Rice. He would have been coach during the 1915 Poughkeepsie Regatta.

Looks like same people as in www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2889448163/.

The bridge displayed here is the railroad bridge, which burned in 1974 but is still standing. It is no longer in use as a railroad bridge. Plans have been made to reopen it as a walking bridge. Normally, when people say the Poughkeepsie Bridge they are thinking of the automobile bridge a bit to the south of the railroad bridge. It was built in the 1930s after this picture was taken.

yeah the bridge is open fro walking now.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Hudson Valley, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Wooden Rowing Shells, and we'd love to have this added to the group!