HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF

THE PORT HURON YACHT CLUB

1930  1950  1975   2000 

1906 The earliest printed word that could be found concerning Port Huron Yacht Club came from a copy of the 1906 City Directory. It lists Thomas Major as Commodore, Dr. Frank E. Sharp as secretary / treasurer and John V. O'Sullivan as corresponding secretary. The address shown for the Club at that time was 1 Butler Street. There are no documents available from this early time to indicate that the Club was officially organized.

1923 On July 4 1923 a group of Port Huron boat owners got together for a race on the St. Clair River. After a wonderful afternoon of competition, followed by a banquet at the Harrington, it was decided that there was enough interest to form a yacht club in the city. Organizational meetings were held every two weeks at the Harrington through the end of the year. Captain E. W. Kiefer and Captain John Hodge were the chief organizers.

1924 In March, the first annual dinner dance was held at the Harrington. Officers were installed. They were Commodore, Henry Clough; Vice Commodore, Joseph Gannon; Rear Commodore Norman Cosgrove. The purpose of the Club was both nautical and social.

1924 A Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed with the purpose of raising money for the Club and especially to have funds to furnish a clubroom if and when a clubhouse was secured.

1924 Official status began with membership in the Detroit River Yachting Association and the Inter-Lake Yachting Association. Membership in both associations has been continuous since that time.

1924 July, 4 Racing began immediately by hosting a regatta and inviting Edison Boat Club, Detroit Boat Club, and Bayview Yacht Club. To insure a good attendance, a fishing tug went to Detroit and towed the boats to Port Huron. Thirty boats participated in the event. The reception and awards banquet were held at the Harrington Hotel. The Commodore at PHYC at this time was Henry H. Clough. The 4^th of July would become an annual event, sanctioned by the DRYA and ILYA.

1924 Members from the PHYC take part in the Inter Lake Week at Put In Bay, Ontario.

1925 The first Port Huron to Mackinac race sponsored by the Bayview Yacht Club was hosted by the Port Huron Yacht Club.

1926 The first recorded mooring area for P.H.Y.C. was at the foot of Dove Street in a space leased from the Port Huron Dry-dock Co. Well space was inside, what in it's early days, was the largest wooden floating dry-dock in the Great Lakes. At the time it was used by P.H.Y.C. for mooring, the dry dock was sitting on the bottom. At this time the Club had no building in which to hold meetings and the business of the Club was usually carried on in the home of the current Commodore. A fishing tug was hired to tow boats up to Lake Huron for the Sunday races.

1930 A large storage shed on the front lawn of Skip Liscomb’s house became the temporary clubhouse. Skip Liscomb’s home was immediately south of Pine Grove Park.

1934 In the middle 30's river front property was leased from the City of Port Huron north of Lincoln Avenue in Pine Grove Park. A dock was installed parallel to the shore with inside and outside moorings. Between the dock and the shore, a small two-story clubhouse was built on pilings. About a dozen boats moored there and winter boat storage was just south of the Water Works on their dock. This is the present home of the U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender 'Bramble'. Additional mooring was just to the south behind Skip Liscom's house on Michigan Street.

1935-1940 During the pre World War II years the P.H.Y.C. fleet was primarily involved in racing, with a fleet of five 26-foot dories and approximately seven Star Boats. At this time racing began on an international level with Sarnia. The Sarnia Clubhouse was directly across the river in line with the Grain Elevator on the north shore of the bay. The Star boat fleets combined totaled eleven boats. There were also a few cruising boats and two meter boats. Some of the early Commodores of this period were "Cap" Walker, Henry Clough and Rex Miller all of whom were active racing skippers.

1938 The Port Huron to Mackinac has a record number of participants with 32 yachts.

1942 The United States is at WAR. Most of the skippers enlist.

1941-1945 Activity slowed during the World War II years. Many of the active sailors continued to race in centerboard boats off the beach. The group was known as the Edison Beach Boat Club.

1946 After the war, there was renewed activity in P.H.Y.C. The majority of the members of the Edison Beach Boat Club became members of P.H.Y.C. The racing fleet was mostly Lightnings and Star boats.

1948 It was during these early post war years when the PHYC acquired it fledging fleet of "Meter" boats. Fran Merritt and Bill Montgomery were the first with a 22Sq. Meter called "Diane". Later the acquisition of the 6 Meters and 30 Square Meters, namely; a 30 Sq. Meter "lil Singva" owned by Mel Hall, "Mairade" owned by Cap. Keifer, "Helldiver" owned by Fran Merritt, and a 6 Meter "Irene" owned by Ed Beebe completed the Meter fleets.

1953 High water in the Great Lakes caused the membership of P.H.Y.C. to begin looking for a new home. It became uncomfortable to stand ankle deep in water on the first floor of the Clubhouse. Skippers and crews had to step up to the decks of their boats and a good south wind would submerge the dock.

1954 A building and property on the Black River was leased from a Mrs. Clements. The building had been used to re-refine used motor oil. Needless to say the building was in a sorry state. This was the beginning of the modern P.H.Y.C. and the Clubs' "Do it yourself" attitude. A new concrete floor was poured over the original 'oily' one. Walls, partitions and rest room facilities were constructed that first year.

1954 Along the river 16 moorings were installed. Two or three additional moorings were used in what had been the turning basin for the Port Huron to Sarnia Ferries. This 'non-official’-mooring place was affectionately known as the 'Snake-Pit'. The members accomplished the move from Pine Grove Park and probably the most memorable move was that of the piano. It was loaded cross-wise on the bow of the 6 Meter 'Irene', motored down the St. Clair River, up the Black River, and there unloaded and put into the clubhouse. To any who may disbelieve this story, the piano in the clubhouse at this time is the very same one that made the voyage aboard 'Irene'.

1957 Port Huron Yacht Club's new home seemed destined to be taken from the Club after all the hard work that had gone into it. The City, after a three year legal battle, succeeded in the condemnation proceedings against the Club, to make way for the new 1st. Ward Urban Renewal Project.

1961 Due to a lack of funds in the city coffers the Club was allowed to stay with the provision that we would raze the existing building. A temporary lease agreement was worked out with the City to allow us to use the moorings, until such time as the City decided what use they would put the property to.

1967 The Club made a proposal to the City for a long-term lease on the property. Included in it’s proposal were our plans for the mooring basin, redoing the out front moorings, etc. The City commission at that time looked upon our proposal favorably and after about a year of negotiations in which the Club agreed to certain conditions as to making the building and grounds compatible with the City's plan, we signed a thirty-year lease, which contained an option to buy after the prescribed conditions were met.

1969 Under the helm of Commodore Bob Visger and with the help of member Martin Tweedie the negotiations with the city of Port Huron allowed the members to purchase the Quay Street property! Members backed the loan from the bank with a promise to pay.

1970 In 1970 the basin was constructed. We were fortunate in that we were able to buy the sheet piling at cost. Ken Marx, owner of K.G. Marx Construction Co. furnished the shovel, with the Club paying the operator. Pengra Oil Co provided fuel for the shovel. Members did all of the 'Bull' work. All of the pilings for moorings were driven that winter with the men working on the ice. All of this was done with donated equipment and volunteer labor. The new basin gave us 36 wells.

1974 The exterior of the building remodeled, the basin complete with all the concrete work. The grounds cleaned up and we felt the time had come to take our option to buy. By this time the basin was almost paid for and we had no trouble getting a mortgage to buy the property. The mortgage dwindled rapidly and the Club was on sound financial footing. Membership is up to the limit set by the Board of Directors and we have a waiting list.

1975 The screened in porch was added and the bar area was extended to include a lounge.

1978 The club adopts a new octagon racecourse farther out in the lake and away from the shipping channel. Each leg is 1.5 miles long. The new long course is 14 miles with the finish between the red channel buoy and the entrance to the Sarnia Yacht Club.

1980 As interest and demand for membership increased, it became apparent that the 36 wells the Club had were unable to meet the needs of the an expanding membership (150). For the next few years, various committees worked on proposals to expand the Club.

1983 The membership voted to accept a proposal of the engineering and planning committee to expand the Clubs dockage space with the purchase of 248.5 feet of Black River frontage. The property was located on the west side of the foot of 13th. Street and had been part of 'Captain Jack's Marine Service' operation. At the time of purchase, the property contained five docks and allowed nine additional wells to be pressed into service. The following spring work began in earnest to improve the property by clearing and landscaping. The biggest problem facing the project was a sunken 90ft. wooden barge that lay parallel to the shore. Members contributing their time, talents, and construction equipment, managed to remove about 3/4 of the barge and in the process salvaged a 500lb. bollard that is now located at the entrance to the 13th. Street property.

1987 The mortgage for the Quay street property was paid off and a mortgage burning party was held at the Club and was attended by the general membership.

1988 By the spring of 1988 the 13ht Street property had been landscaped, sewers installed, parking lot graveled and graded, river banks shored, finger docks installed and pilings driven to yield a marina boasting 20 additional docks. As was done for Quay street property, the mortgage for the 13ht Street Property was paid off early.

1988 An additional piece of property became available adjacent to it on the east side of 13th. Street. The membership again voted on its acquisition and on May 17 1988 the Club bought it. This new piece of property contained a bay and an 82ft. long metal building but was separated from our adjacent property by the end of 13th street. The combined 13th street properties gave us space for 45 wells in addition to the 36 at Quay street and also provided us with winter storage for 55 boats outside and a half dozen boats and trailers inside the metal building.

1989 Both the Quay Street and 13^th Street properties were dredged due to the low lake levels. A new bubbler system was installed at the main Club to try to prevent the ice from moving the slip pilings. This was part of a 10,000-dollar property improvement fund approved by the membership. The Clubhouse (Quay Street) under went extensive redecorating. The members are privately contributing time and money at 13th street to build two shower stalls. A new gin pole is being constructed at the 13th. Street property which when completed will be able to pull the tallest of masts.

1989 With the Clubs main thrust of competitive sailing, it is appropriate to discuss upgrades in our racing program. In 1985 a computer was installed at the Sarnia Yacht Club race shack to usher our unique International Racing Program into the modern age. In 1989 PHYC bought its first computer for the race program and linked it up via a phone modem with the one at SYC. Our race results are now posted at P.H.Y.C. soon after the last boat crosses the finish line. Allowed by the expansion of Club facilities, we now boast a registered fleet of 140 boats and field as many as 87 boats for some of our many racing events.

1990 The Club took over the sponsorship of the Port Huron to Alpena race, which was previously sponsored by MORC Station 11 in Detroit. The race not only had more participation than usual but was ruled a major success by participants and spectators alike.

1991 Spring: At this time, six more boat slips are being prepared at the 13th. Street property which when completed will give us 91 boat wells. As always, members are doing the work and this makes for a strong fiscally sound, socially close-knit yacht club.

ON GOING All Club projects are manned by Club members volunteering their time, talents, and labor. This type of participation not only contributes to the fiscal soundness of the Club but also develops interpersonal relationships and pride in our properties. At the present time (05/09/91) our membership numbers 267 active, 19 inactive, 10 junior, and 4 students.

1994 With membership growing and the Clubhouse deteriorating, plans for a new Clubhouse are approved by the membership. The architect, Bill Vogan, is also a Club member.

1995 Two sisters, (also Club members) Katie and Debbie Pettibone sailed as part of the America 3 team for the America’s Cup challenge. They made a presentation for members with slides of the experience. On March 11^th the membership voted to demolish the Clubhouse and construct a new building. Our Club hosted the CAL 25 and the Tartan 10 Class National Regattas. Port Huron Yacht Club hosted the first Leukemia Cup Regatta to take place in Michigan--Gary Jobson attended. The Club held a long time traditional "pot luck supper" prior to he old Clubhouse being razed following the Labor Day weekend Regatta. An album of photos recording the project was put together by Terry Troy, the brother of a member, and donated it to the Club. Construction of the new building began immediately. The floor was poured on November 6^th and the laying of block began on November 16^th. Friday night gatherings continued thru the Fall and Winter months while work parties under the supervision of P/C Ed Beebe and P/C George Beebe occurred daily. Board Meetings and the Election of officers and Board Members were held at Victoria’s Studio. The Change of the Watch was held at the Elk’s Club.

1996 The new two story Clubhouse was completed with the majority of the work being done by the members and was occupied in June. The membership continues to add refinements to the new building. We have become the envy of the down river yacht clubs because of our fiscal soundness and the volunteerism of our members that got us there.

1997 The Club celebrates its 75^th Anniversary with special meeting and celebration. Commemorative shirts, caps and sweaters were produced for this occasion. The celebration banquet featured memorabilia from past times and yarns from old timers.

1998 As early as 1998, committees were formed to establish talks with the city of Port Huron to acquire the Coast Guard property.

1999 Without a doubt the most memorable event this year was the acquisition of the Coast Guard property and the Mobile gas dock. Not only did we have to develop a feasibility plan and present it to our membership for approval, we had to sell it to the city council but even more critical to the people of Port Huron all of which was done in about 6 months. All these pieces had to come together in order for the voters of Port Huron to approve the acquisition.

2000 In March, Gary Jobson again visited the Club and made a presentation on sailing.

2001 Prior to haul out, mast racks and the shed are being moved to the north fence line at the east property, to allow room for the dredging and for tiebacks necessary to support the new sea wall. A General Membership meeting was held on October 14^th to approve the financing for continuation of the Marina Project. The official Ground Breaking took place on December 9^th at 2 P.M. The first sheet piling delivery was on December 27^th and digging began on December 29^th.

2002        The construction of the seawall and excavation of soil from the marina site has continued six (6) days a week.  The newly formed “Forestry Division” cleared the land from our East property line to the St. Clair River allowing a clear view of river traffic.  Saturday work parties at West have completed the finger docks minus the decking.  P/C Ed Beebe, served as the Construction Superintendent until the last piece of sheeting completed the seawall on March 21, 2002.  The excavation and trucking of soil continued and the pump was removed on April 15^th followed by the flooding of the basin.  Floating docks were assembled and installed during work parties. The  members held work parties on weekends during the winter and every Tuesday after launch.  Meals were prepared and provided by our first female Commodore and other volunteers.  The concrete along the East and South sides of the basin was completed prior to Mackinac.   And special permission was granted to allow the basin to be filled with boats for that weekend.  Dick DenUyl, Don Dupuie and Rich Pond were tireless to complete the electrical, sidewalk and water. The basin was available for regular use in time for the CAL 25 Nationals in mid August.  The sale of brick pavers generated additional funds for the project and the initial order was laid as the walkway to the basin. The donor plaques on the landing to 2^nd floor were updated.  The former city marina office was relocated to be our Race Committee building and additional restrooms. The decision was made to refurbish the original basin with floating docks and new power pedestals. Late in the year, the construction loan was converted into our mortgage.  Other events included a rules seminar by Ted Everingham, historical seminar by Nathaniel Herrshoff III,  I-68’s available on special evenings, boat inspections by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Mariner Breakfast and Service at Grace Church, the Blessing of the Fleet, an Antique Boat rendezvous, additional trophy cases in the Club House, and the tall ship, Highlander Sea, winter stored in our basin.