A Piece of History Wooden Dumbbells

[Pages:1]A Piece of History Wooden Dumbbells

Featured Artifact: 1964.450.1-2. Wooden Dumbbells, 1 lb. each.

Measurements ? 9 inches long and 3 inches high. Made of maple wood with

dark blue strip around the center of each "bell". Donor unknown.

The idea of exercise for a healthy body has been around for centuries.

Surprisingly, so have some of the methods of exercise. The earliest known

piece of training equipment resembling a dumbbell with a prescribed use was

utilized by the Greeks. They were called the alteres or halteres and were used up the equipment.

to help with various exercise movements. It is believed that the drill or

The "YMCA Notes" in the November

exercise went along with the music of a flute. Just imagine an aerobics class in 4th paper proudly announced that the new

the 1980s and tone it down a little... ok, a lot. But the principal is the same. gymnasium was completed. The article listed

Use the music to keep a rhythm in movements and as a motivational tool.

all of the apparatus that was available, including

The dumbbell using various names has been in use ever since the "31 pair dumb bells." The group soon had an

Greeks, and possibly even earlier. But just as aerobics peaked in the 1980s, instructor and members had to pay an additional

the dumbbell has had its ups and downs in popularity.

fee for gymnasium privileges.

The trends in popularity varied through out the centuries. In early

I should note that I did not come across

America, dumbbells were used by strongmen performers and sometimes pre- any mentions of athletic or gymnasium based

scribed by doctors as a healthy activity for men and women. Benjamin exercise specifically for women in the

Franklin even used dumbbells on a daily basis and recommended that his son Waterford newspaper in the early 1890s.

do the same. However, the dumbbell appears to have stayed on the backburner

This brings us back to our Featured

of popularity in America until the 1890s.

Artifacts, did the dumbbells or "dumb bells"

Exercises with dumbbells as part of a "gymnastics" exercise system belong to the Waterford YMCA? There is no

were introduced to America by the 1830s. Although from my limited research way of truly knowing. It is likely that individu-

and resources, it is unclear as to who was using these systems on a regular als owned their own dumbbells as they were

basis. Many girls' schools incorporated exercises into their curriculums in- available in mail order catalogs during the

cluding work with dumbbells from this early time. While doctors and strong- 1890s. Matching descriptions for our dumbbells

men came up with exercise programs and equipment (with books to teach the were found in the Sears and Roebuck catalogs

methods) throughout the 19th century and earlier, exercise for fitness does not and Montgomery Ward catalogs from 1894-

seem to have been popularly valued in America until the 1890s, and only by 1902. By 1908, the dumbbells were no longer

the middle to upper classes. Considering our Featured Artifacts are only "1 listed. Sears & Roebuck & Co. listed "Wood

pounders," I will not go over muscle building or strength training with larger Dumb-Bells, made of maple, best quality and

amounts of weight, which had a different trend history.

nicely polished." Prices for 1 pound wood

Training at the Waterford YMCA

dumbbells ranged $.30 per pair in 1894 to $.17

The Waterford YMCA opened in 1887. Weekly activity reports, listed in 1902.

as "YMCA Notes" were given in the Waterford Advertiser (the local newspaper). According to those notes, the Waterford YMCA's early activities were

Brad

limited to religion lectures and discussions, music lessons and discussions and

they provided a reading room for members. It wasn't until late 1891 that these Selected Resources

reports started mentioning athletic pursuits as part of their activities.

The Waterford Advisor, 1890-1896. Available at the

In May of 1892, the YMCA hosted a lecture by Professor Heidler, Physical Director of the Troy YMCA. The title of the lecture was "Athletic Sports." According to the newspaper, "In opening his remarks Mr. Heidler

NYS Library on microfilm. From Milo to Milo: A History of Barbells, Dumbells, and Indian Clubs, by Jan Todd, Ph.D. SportsLibrary/IGH/IGH0306/

said that athletics must not be confounded with gymnastics, one could be an IGH0306c.pdf

athlete who has never trained in a gymnasium. Athletics were of more value Dr. Susan Ouellette, Professor at St. Michaels Col-

he said than gymnastics because the exercise was carried on in the open air. lege in Vt.

The speaker than named five athletic sports which could be carried on in a

town like Waterford without athletic grounds. These were ramblings, road

runs, cross country running, bugle chases and hare and hound chases." By the

remarks we can surmise that gymnastics was popularly known in Waterford

and the purpose for exercise was also known. But the details were not so well

known.

Although, earlier mentioned activities continued, the "YMCA Notes"

increasingly listed more athletic activities for its members. By September of

1892, the group announced that they would start fundraising to build "bath

rooms and a gymnasium." $1,000 was needed to refit their current rooms with

the gymnasium apparatus, steam heat and baths. Within months the money

was raised and an expert from the Albany YMCA was brought in to help set

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download