Skating Across Cayuga Lake

Thanks to Gwen Webber-McLeod
Director of Communications at Wells College

Having fun on Beebe Lake is one thing, but would you skate across Cayuga Lake? Photo ca. 1944.

Wells College tradition states that whenever Cayuga Lake freezes over entirely, or at least past Aurora, the president must cancel classes for the day. The first time Cayuga Lake froze over in the college's history was in 1875. There is no record to indicate classes were cancelled on that occasion. However, the lake stayed frozen for a month during that time and student Emma Lampert Cooper, much to the horror of faculty members, ice-skated across the lake and back. Numerous sled rides were subsequently taken across the lake that year.

College records indicate that the lake also froze in 1912, 1918, 1934, 1948, 1962, and 1979; and on each occasion, classes were cancelled by the president. The most recent close call occurred in 1994, when then-President Robert Plane was called to close the college due to freezing conditions. However, he noticed that the ice was melting and did not cancel classes. Perhaps he felt it would be prudent to keep students occupied indoors!

On other bit of student lore has always been attached to the lake freezing over. Supposedly, if the lake freezes, this natural act indicates that all the members of the first-year class are virgins. According to the Almanac, the winter of 2002-2003 should be a cold one, and we're off to a good start. What do you think are the chances that Wells students will get a chance to skate, walk or sled into history this year?