History
The Second Clubhouse
1887
At the close of 1886, Rochester Canoe Club was leasing two clubhouses built by William Sours, owner of Newport House, on Newport (Canoe) Point just north of Newport House. As a result of merger with the adjacent Remus Club, RCC now had 32 members with a limit of 50 and would remain about this size until the 1950's. This was the Gilded Age of prosperity, declining interest rates, deflation, and no income taxes. Irondequoit Bay was booming with many social and sport clubs, hotels, the Sea Breeze resort, and steamboats. Newport House was a favored spot for group picnics, and attracted a crowd for the opening regatta of RCC each June. A new clubhouse was built in the spring of 1887 just north of the 1884 building, again by Sours, for $2000. It was a two story wood building and attic with two wings for boat storage, 60 by 40 feet overall. Up to 40 canoes could be stored inside, plus locker space. The main building had a pleasant sitting room and fireplace and a large room upstairs for receptions and dances. Members also frequently slept upstairs on cots hung from the walls. A picture of the building taken in 1891 shows a variety of paddling and sailing canoes, both open and decked, and the 30 foot war canoe, "Huff". A large dock has a small cannon sitting on it, which is now the second place trophy for Thistle Challenge series. Two steel beams that supported the dock near the shore can still be seen today at low water just south of the bay bridge. After this building burned (with all the boats inside) the Canoe Club purchased its present property in 1914, including the clubhouse of the Sawennishat CC which became the third clubhouse. That was demolished in 1957 and replaced by the present steel building.
Officers for 1887 were Captain H.L.Ward, Mate W.B.Williams, Purser George Harris, Measurer A.E.Huther, plus executive and regatta committees. Here is the program for opening day, Wednesday June 22:
The annual meeting and banquet was held Dec. 13 at the New Osburn House at Court St. and South Ave. alongside the Erie Canal. A letter to the editor of the Union & Advertiser on Dec.15, 1887 about the club said, in part, "The club has a membership of thirty-two, is entirely free of debt, with a balance in the treasury, has one of the largest and finest canoe houses in the United States, on Irondequoit bay, fitted with every necessary for the comfort of its members. Its roll contains the names of some of the best canoe men in the country, and the regattas are often fine exhibitions of skillful and daring seamanship. The annual meeting and banquet were held at the New Osburn House, as stated in yesterday's UNION. Twenty-five members sat down to the excellent banquet spread by mine host, Almy. Regrets from absent members were read. Speeches, songs and instrumental music enlivened the occasion. The purser responded to a call by a speech in the Canienga or Mohawk tongue, which Mr. Angle "translated" in a humorous style, with laughable references to the personal characteristics of various members. Ending with remarks appreciative of the purser's long service as an officer of the club and success as an historical investigator, he presented the latter, on behalf of the members, an elegant gold-headed cane. Mr. Harris responded with brief and earnest thanks. The dude dance by Commodore Andrews and double pigeon-wing by Captain Ruggles closed an evening long to be remembered."
And so the club closed its sixth year in an exuberant if not modest fashion with a new clubhouse and nearly full membership. It would emphasize competitive sailing over paddling canoes as time went on, and the boats would change, but the style of the club would continue in small same type boats. Except, of course, we don't do the dude dance or the pigeon-wing anymore. Or not as much.
Leo Balandis, March 20, 1997