Created in 1949, SkimmerFest (then called “Skimmer Day” or just “Skimmer”) was an attempt from Penn to re-generate student interest in Crew by honoring its head coach, Rusty Callow. The event was a huge success and continued to be celebrated throughout the years, but it a caused a series of mishaps in the '50s and '60s. Thanks to images and records from the University Archives, Street uncovered the ~scandalous~ side of SkimmerFest.
1955: Celebration of Penn varsity crew’s regatta victory over Princeton and Columbia got a little too raucous, and a “Rowbottom,” a student riot, broke out at the corner of 39th and Spruce Streets. About 700 Penn students, 50 policemen and a six–piece jazz band were involved in the three–hour commotion, which was centered around two fraternity houses, SAE and DKE. The students stalled six trolley lines by removing their poles from the overhead wires. They also let air out of car tires and threw beer bottles at police, injuring several people. By the time the riot died down, 44 guys and one girl were arrested.
1958: Disturbances similar to the one in 1955 took place over the next few years, and finally the Fairmount Park Commission prohibited alcohol in the park. The Undergraduate Council tried moving the regatta to the University's Valley Forge property along the Schuylkill River, thinking that Penn would allow alcohol as long as its use was consistent with University regulations. The plan was unsuccessful, however, because Penn had just leased that property to a farmer for planting.
1959: In the fall of 1958, after too many years of Skimmer rowdiness, the Fairmount Park Commission urged Penn administration to cancel Skimmer Day. The University agreed, and the coming spring of 1959 passed without a Skimmer. When asked about the reasons for the cancellation, administration cited the high costs of cleanup and illegal alcohol use among undergraduates.
1963: Skimmer coincided with the Penn Relays as well as Hey Day, and police and security were no match for the students at the races on the Schuylkill, at the Franklin Field concerts or the usual debauchery at fraternity houses. Fifty students jumped into the river to compete with the four-man canoes, and a car was dumped into the stream. Back on campus, more cars were overturned, fist fights broke out and gasoline was poured onto the unused trolley tracks on Locust Street, which were set aflame. University administration banned all future events as a result.
1964: In response to the administration banning Skimmer and warning them about the repercussions of their behavior, students held an independent and peaceful Skimmer. They called it "Remmiks" (Skimmer spelled backwards).
1965: In an attempt to control alcohol and behavior, the men's student government proposed a "no-beer-in-the-hand Franklin Field lawn" version of Skimmer. The members promised Penn administration that they would run Skimmer weekend with better control. The administration went along with this proposal, adding a disclaimer that the University had no connection with any of the activities held at the river.
1973: After several years of less enthusiastic celebrations, Skimmer was officially replaced by Spring Fling. The tradition faded into obscurity over the next 38 years.
2011: In a stunning turn of events, the class boards of 2013 and 2014 revived the long–lost tradition of Skimmer in September. Their new intention was to make it a celebration of the start of the athletic season, specifically the football team’s first home game. Since then, Class Board has held the event on College Green and Penn Park with a series of food, games and guest performers, and students have found yet another reason to darty. Happy SkimmerFest!
