Originally written by Carl White.
A friend recently asked me which was the oldest yacht and boat club in Greenwich. I said I thought it was the Indian Harbor Yacht Club on Steamboat Road. After all, this was the site where ferry boats from New York City and Long Island moored. Local agricultural products (apples, potatoes, etc) were once shipped from this location. Once people from New York City began to vacation in “the country”, they began sailing on Long Island Sound. So this was the most logical place for a yacht and boat club to pop up. My first thought was to grab Karen Jewell’s book “A History of the Greenwich Waterfront” (2011). She’d used the Local History vertical files and reference collection for her research. I then checked the history section of the websites for the individual clubs. Finally, I reviewed several Oral History Project Redbooks and transcripts for more information.
The Riverside Yacht Club
Well, I was close! It just so happens that the Riverside Yacht Club was formed on May 25, 1888. Mr. George I Tyson, a successful businessman, and yachtsman donated an acre of land along the Riverside shoreline. He wanted to organize a unique group of his friends for the purpose of sailing. Tyson even paid to have a new clubhouse built. Karen Jewell states that this was the second club to be founded in Connecticut and the eighth on Long Island Sound, despite the rise and fall of many startups.
The Victorian-style clubhouse was built in 1889. Part of it was built on pilings near a seawall. It contained a kitchen, ballroom, reading rooms, card rooms, bedrooms, locker rooms, and an expansive wrap-around porch. There was even a news article in The New York Herald about the new clubhouse! The club became so popular that it wasn’t long before the members were clamoring for more space. A new “spar loft” was added in 1893. Commodore Tyson once again funded the new addition. It included a billiard room, shuffleboard area, bowling area, staff housing, and horse sheds. The club was able to hold Midsummer Balls and Saturday Evening Hops. The 180-member club owned 10 steam-powered yachts and 52 sailboats. Eventually, the club began participating in regattas, and a Junior Sailing Program was initiated.
The club managed to flourish, despite several setbacks. On September 21, 1938, the “Great New England Hurricane” flooded the main and junior clubhouses. Amazingly, no boats were damaged. The clubhouse was back in service the next day due to a superhuman effort by staff and club members. The War Years (World War I & II) proved financially challenging for the Riverside Yacht Club. As the nation was redirecting material and financial resources toward the war, the club faced financial hardship, which it was able to overcome. As the war was winding down, another hurricane hit Greenwich from September 14 to 15, 1944. Although the clubhouse escaped damage, this time the vessels were damaged.
Indian Harbor Yacht Club
Surprisingly, the Indian Harbor Yacht Club was founded in New York City in July 1889, and incorporated in New York State on April 11, 1892. Elbert A. Silleck and Richard Outwater were the only Greenwich members. The first clubhouse was set up on Finch’s (Tweed’s) Island. Members would travel from New York City to Greenwich. The clubhouse stayed there from 1892 to 1895. When E.C. Benedict bought the land in 1895, the club tried to get Benedict to agree to rent Finch’s Island as a “Club Station.” When Benedict didn’t respond, IHYC started a search for a new site.
Initially, a Rocky Point Neck site was selected, but the deal fell through. After other considerations, a permanent home was built in 1897 on Steamboat Road. It was renovated in 1898 to include a new grill room with an adjoining café, formal dining room, storage rooms, additional storage rooms, a larger piazza, and a 278-foot jetty.
On October 3, 1919, the clubhouse was completely destroyed by a fire. The damage was estimated to be100-thousand dollars. The building was only insured for 30 thousand dollars. Fortunately, the Club was able to raise enough money to build a new clubhouse, which opened on Memorial Day 1921. Today, it remains a (navigational) landmark adjacent to Greenwich Harbor.
The Belle Haven Yacht Club
Around the same time as the Indian Harbor Yacht Club was established, the Belle Haven Land Company established “The Greenwich Casino Association.” It was hoped that this would help attract people to buy property on the peninsula. The term casino may be misleading since it was initially used to refer to a place for social interaction (i.e. meetings, entertainment, dancing but not gambling.) A clubhouse was opened on July 4, 1892. Activities included boating, swimming, tennis, horse shows, live music, and theater. In 1926, the name of the organization was changed to The Beach Club. It was only open for part of the year. Club boating didn’t become popular until 1953 when a member introduced a new fiberglass sloop. This seemed to pique interest, and more people joined the club. By 1961, the name was changed to The Belle Haven Yacht Club.
The Byram Shore Boat Club
The Byram Shore Boat Club was founded in 1938. It was formed for people who enjoyed yachting, sailing, fishing, and boating, as well as education in seamanship and navigation. The clubhouse was built in 1935 and 67 marina berths were added in 1970. Club events included a Seafood Bakeoff, St Patrick’s Day Party, movie nights, Rock the Docks concert, and New England Clambakes. There were approximately 270 members.
Greenwich Boat and Yacht Club
The Greenwich Boat and Yacht Club (GBYC) was established on Grass Island in 1938. Several businessmen formed it so that residents could enjoy boating. They also worked closely with the Town to enhance the harbor area. The current boathouse was built in 1955, and the docks provided 65 slips.
Old Greenwich Yacht Club
At the eastern end of Town, the Old Greenwich Yacht Club (OGYC) was formed in 1943. It was formed to provide sailing education and social interaction. Walter Pendleton served as the first Commodore. A boathouse was built as the first clubhouse, and a deep-water dock extended out toward Sand Island. The Town purchased Tod’s Point in 1945 and planned to convert a “three-car garage” building into a clubhouse. It had double doors that opened to a work pit for trucks and automobiles. A coal-fired boiler provided hot water heat. Future additions included a porch and shed. In 1938, the Great Hurricane destroyed the dock. Small boats had to be pulled up on shore and tied to stakes. Large vessels anchored offshore. Club boats were pulled into the clubhouse for maintenance.
Going Down To The Sea In Ships
So the Riverside Yacht Club beat out the Indian Harbor Yacht Club by a year. I’m happy to say that each of the boating and yachting clubs appears to be healthy and vibrant today. I love to take the ferry out to Island Beach and see all the boats on Long Island Sound on the weekend. It reminds me of the important role boating and sailing (and Long Island Sound) have played in the history of Greenwich. Although commercial boating has waned, recreational boating flourishes. There’s something about a sail filled with wind, carrying a boat quietly across the water. It’s somehow magical.
May the residents of Greenwich continue to “go down to the sea in ships,” and keep the spirit of adventure alive.
SOURCES
Jewell, K: “The History of the Greenwich Waterfront”; History Press, Charleston SC, 2011.
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