Algonac-Clay Historical Society
1240 St. Clair River Drive
Algonac, MI 48001
(810) 794-9015

Water Speed Capital of the World... One cannot help but visit the Greater Algonac area and hear the great stories of the great power boating era. A man by the name of Chris Smith motored his row boat at 9 miles per hour with the first gasoline powered boat and Mr. Smith changed this area, and the world, forever!

Chris Smith joined with John "Baldy" Ryan in 1911 and built a speed boat. They built the "Baby Reliance", raced it and won $8,505.00 in their first race. Then in 1915, the Miss Detroit Power Boat Association was formed and Smith was asked to build a boat for the famous "Gold Cup" race. It was the fastest boat Smith had ever built and on August 14th of that year, the "Miss Detroit" was the only boat to finish the race and thus brought the "Gold Cup" to the Midwest for the first time ever.

In 1916, Chris Smith and Gar Wood became associated and built boats and raced for the next six years. Gar Wood bought the "Miss Detroit" and continued a legacy for the next 17 years and for generations to come. On February 5, 1932, Wood raced his boat over 100 miles per hour (first ever to do such) in Florida. Then in September of that same year, right here in Algonac, the "Miss American IX" traveled 124 miles per hour! From these beginnings came the power boating that all persons have enjoyed.

And in the Beginning... The French priests, Dollier and Gallinee, had journeyed into Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River around the mid 1600's. Then Adrien Jolliet paddled his canoe along our shores around 1669 but overturned his canoe during his return trip and ended up destroying all of his personal accounts and maps. The next explorer was Robert Calelier. He traveled into our waters on August 12, 1679 and it is noted that the suggestion of naming the lake "St. Clair" came from his companion Father Hennepin due to the "feast day" in honor of Santa Clara on that historical day.

After these early explorers prepared the way, then came the numerous voyages in search of furs, especially beaver pelts for those affluent in the French Society. The early pioneers in the area started to settle around 1815. Progress came slowly but with the State of Michigan becoming a territory in 1805 and the organization of St. Clair County in 1821. In that year there were only four taxpayers in this area we call Algonac!

First, there were log cabins and when 1836 rolled around, there was definitely a community starting to form. This are was known by two names, Manchester and Pointe DuChene (Point of the Oaks). Then that spring, four gentlemen organized the "Algonac and Pointe DuChene Company" and platted our the village of Algonac. The name came from Mr. Henry R. Schoolcraft. The word Algonac comes from the "Ac" meaning land or earth and "Algon" from the word Algonquin. It became official in 1843.