From Harper's Weekly, March 9, 1878 ICE BOATING
The city of Madison, Wisconsin is built upon an undulating isthmus between Mendota and Monona, two of a chain of four beautiful lakes. She thus enjoys great natural facilities for yachting in summer and ice-boating in winter, and her young people make the most of their advantages in both seasons. Our illustration on page 189 fives a graphic view of an ice-boat regatta that took place recently on the smooth and glossy surface of Lake Mendota.