parks
How a Michigan town helped launch recreational power boating in America
By Scripps News Group at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· June 24, 2026
· 3 min read
The roar of an engine across the water is a familiar sound today but more than a century ago, it was something entirely new, and it was built in southeast Michigan.The sights and sounds of summer on Lake St. Clair are unmistakable, but long before recreational boating became a favorite pastime, ...
Key takeaway It began in 1874 with a young boat builder named Christopher Smith.
Why this matters
Local news anchors readers in their community — the people, places, and decisions that shape day-to-day life. The Waco covers these stories because national outlets often won't.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more The Waco stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering parks and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The roar of an engine across the water is a familiar sound today but more than a century ago, it was something entirely new, and it was built in southeast Michigan.The sights and sounds of summer on Lake St. Clair are unmistakable, but long before recreational boating became a favorite pastime, ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Scripps News Group at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More parks →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter