HISTORY
BASS HAVEN YACHT CLUB
· The 1910’s ·
July 1, 1910--The first meeting of the United Shoe Machinery Athletic Association Boat Club was held in the company restaurant located in the factory complex at Elliott Street in Beverly, MA. The USMAA was an umbrella organization for recreation at the factory. The Boat Club would be a part of the larger organization and company supervised. The members present elected a temporary president and secretary. The records show that 17 people attended this first meeting. They also voted to form a committee of three--a theme through the early years--to draw up suitable bylaws, to obtain members and draw up a suitable float. Over the next few months, plans for a building, a railway and storage were drawn and executed.
In the fall of 1910 the first “outside people” were allowed to haul and store their boats at the club. At the December meeting, the committee reported that no outside people made application and the committee was discharged.
In 1912 the clubhouse was under construction.
At the January 21, 1913 meeting, the club formed a committee of three to put out mooring buoys, at the proper time, at the beginning of the season.
May 6, 1913--The secretary reported the club had received invitations to accept the hospitality of the following clubs:
Portland Power Boat Club
Manchester Launch Club
Haverhill Yacht Club
September 8, 1913--A motion was made to look into heating the clubhouse. (The club finally got heat in March of 1956.)
December 16, 1913--The first member was expelled for non-payment of dues. Interesting that we still use the December meeting for discharging members for non-payment.
February 3, 1914--A motion was made to add lights to the clubhouse. A second motion was made to form a committee of three to install the four lights and to control turning the lights on and off. In the spring of 1914, the committee reported the cost of the power line to be $35 and the project was dropped as too costly.
In the spring of 1914, club privileges for the Chelsea and Kennebunk Yacht Clubs were added. And that June, the first of the Misery Island parties was held; in fact they were an annual event until the late '90's.
1915 brought the first Chowder Party--a tradition that has survived to this day.
September 23, 1919--The secretary was Charles E. Brush. The secretary was by now giving an annual report of the club. In his report of the annual meeting he ended with this paragraph:
“After an informal talk on the general condition of the hauling paraphernalia, which brought out evidence of thorough harmony and a disposition of the individual members to do anything in their power to promote the usefulness and bettering of the club, the meeting adjourned at
9:50 p.m.”
In the Secretary’s report of September 30, 1919 he wrote:
“The credit of the club has been withheld and several members donated items to keep things going.”
In his last paragraph he wrote this marvelous description:
“It is with no little satisfaction when we think that our club is a club for motorboats pure and simple and that everything that we do is for the service and advancement of motorboats and motorboating. Our social functions are few and far between but for good fellowship and a general lend-a-hand to help the other fellow out. It would be hard to find its equal and as we look back over the past year, each of us can say that it has been a little brighter and a little better by our having lived in it.”
· The 1920’s ·
The decade started with the club in debt $188. By the end of the year, they had paid it down to $49.13. The secretary noted that dues were $2 per year, with $1 additional going to the USMAA as dues.
The annual report of the secretary on September 12, 1921 is of note:
“Our club has been through some little history during the past few years and the season of 1921 has undoubtedly been the best for many years. In passing it is well to recollect that our club is only a division, one of many, attached to the USMAA and it will be seen therefore that our clubhouse is only a locker house, correctly speaking, and social functions which ordinarily might be looked for at this place should be held at the main clubhouse on McKay Street. However, as we review our status as a boat club, we see 22 powerboats and including boats of all kinds, we can claim fully 40 craft. That sounds well and is fully up to the records of previous years.
“We always look for reasons or excuses in every affair whereby we account for our shortcomings. Accordingly we should not pass this occasion without mentioning the business depression which has spread over the country and its effect upon our club. We have booked 26 paid members, 11 in arrears, 6 honorary or complimentary; total 43. 10 of these are not employed in the factory and constitute the 25% allowable outside membership. Owing to the factor of unemployment represented in our club, the members in arrears have not been notified as to their status by the secretary and have been made to feel as comfortable and welcome to our house as ever.”
He closed with these thoughts:
“In closing we would emphasize the good fellowship which exists in our midst, and the helping hand which is always extended to a fellow in trouble-
There is no north, there is no south
Nor color, nor race, nor birth
When two strong men meet face to face
Though they come from the ends of the earth.
And now before we leave and lock the gate of 1921 let us all face the east and watch for the dawn of 1922 with its unwritten history of gasoline and grease, fish and fuss and rope, and hope for many a good time to come.”
The treasurer’s report showed a balanced budget for the year of $92.80.
September 25, 1922--Annual Report of Secretary:
“The club has a paid-up membership of 37, an increase of 2 over last year. 40 boats fly our club burgee and fully 50 craft of all kinds are owned by members. The incorporation of young blood into the club has rekindled the waning interest of past years and today our committees are showing more activity and doing more toward the success of the club than ever before.
“There has been no rivalry or dissatisfaction among our members for the reason that every man was expected to and did valiant work whenever called upon to assist and that by the way is the very reason why we are able to run the club for such a sum as dues amounting to $2.00 a year.
The presence of more than the usual number of ladies about the club during the past season calls for a tidier house, neater furnishings and well-kept grounds. All these are receiving due attention and will undoubtedly be a item of our next report.”
Secretary’s Report, October 18, 1923:
“Our club has made its usual record this season and the addition has listed the largest and the smallest power boats ever owned in our club. Cooperation seems to be the watchword among us. The fellow having trouble with his boat soon finds that his trouble is everybody’s trouble and if in need of help he soon has it--in fact if advice was building material, he would soon have several boats to his credit.”
On May 3, 1929 there was a special meeting called to vote on the construction of a fireproof building to store outboard motors. The club voted a committee of three to get it built for the sum of $200. The building still stands and is called the outboard shed.
· The 1930’s ·
The records of the club are missing until 1937. The club by now was having annual meetings and elections and records in this period were uneventful.
· The 1940’s ·
In 1942 the railway was moved to its present location.
· The 1950’s ·
April 13, 1950--The record shows the first meeting of the United Shoe Yacht Club. These minutes also reported that the club would install a telephone on a one-year trial. The phone is still in the clubhouse.
In 1951 the club had 73 factory members and 23 outside members. It was voted to close the outside membership for the year.
July 1951--United Shoe Yacht Club hoisted the Mass Bay Yacht Club Association burgee at the country club. In October of 1951 the club voted to let the Sea Scouts tie up their boat at the club float.
March 1956--The clubhouse heat was installed (see 9/8/13 entry).
· The 1960’s ·
June 14, 1965--Ralph Hobbs attended the Board of Governors meeting as a visitor. Commodore Hobbs is our senior Past Commodore.
January 10, 1967--George Foster applied for membership to the club. The original membership was taken out by Norma Foster, a USMC employee, who had to resign due to ill health. Her husband, a non-employee, applied for membership. A motion was made and passed to open outside membership. A motion was made and passed to accept George Foster as a member in good standing. A motion was made and passed to close the outside membership.
December 11, 1967--The Board of Governors voted to install a CB radio on the roof, the cost to be borne by those using the radio.
On January 15, 1968 the club was issued a bill by the USMAA for taxes on the property. To raise money, the club measured boats with the measurement to be used as a yardstick to raise the required amount of money. Storage bills are now a way of life. In 1968 the club started posting the boat name and owner’s name for use of the railway. We still use a board for that purpose.
April 24, 1969--The Board of Governors was invited to a meeting at the USMAA clubhouse to hear Mr. Joiner, President of United Shoe Machinery Corporation, discuss the future of the USMAA. He gave a brief talk on the USMAA, its cost to the corporation and the small percentage of employees who benefited from it. It was the decision of the corporation to lease the property. The Yacht Club was separated from the Golf Club. Mr. Joiner stated that the members of the Yacht Club should get together and form a group or incorporate and present a plan to the USM Corporation. The plan should show sound financial and management plans. USM would lease the property to the group.
After the meeting at the USMAA clubhouse, the Board of Governors met at the Yacht Club for a special meeting. The special meeting was opened by Commodore Hobbs at 7:55 p.m. The following attended this meeting: Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Rear Commodore W. Arlington, Secretary R. Lane, Board members H. Hutchinson, R. Bradley. C. Picardy and H. Brokvist. The following guests were recorded: R. Silsby, C. Lockwood, F. Whitmarsh, Dr. F. Carbone, C. Olnion, A. Sheehan and J. Brown.
A discussion was held on how to proceed in taking over the club and reorganizing and incorporating. Mr. Silsby stated the charter of the Manchester Harbor Boat Club was an excellent guide and suggested we use it as a guide which was agreed to by those present. The Commodore gave a brief summary of the charter and the workings of the Board of Governors of the Salem Willows Yacht Club.
It was agreed that the Commodore appoint a committee from those present to form a new club, with the Commodore to act as chairman of all committees. The Charter Committee was R. Bradley, J. Brown and R. Silsby. The Finance Committee was F. Whitmarsh, A. Sheehan, F. Carbone, H. Brokvist, C. O’Brien, W. Arlington and C. Lockwood. The Name Committee: Frank Lima, H. Hutchinson and C Picardy. The committees would report back at the regular Board of Governors meeting on May 12, 1969.
The Commodore was instructed to write a letter to the USM Corporation thanking them for the opportunity to reorganize the Yacht Club and stating that we would give them a summary of our proposal in 60 days. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
In just under one hour, the club started on a new direction.
The next meeting was May 12, 1969. Present at that meeting: Commodore Ralph Hobbs, Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Rear Commodore W. Arlington, Secretary and Treasurer R. F. Lane, Board members R. Bradley, H. Hutchinson, C. Picardy, H. Brokvist and F. Gordella. Guests at the meeting were R. Silsby, C. O’Brian, F. Whitmarsh, A. Sheehan and J. Brown. The meeting was opened by Commodore Hobbs at 7:30 p.m. Frank Whitmarsh, chairman of the Finance Committee, passed out an analysis of revenue needed to operate the new club. Also included was an analysis of the number of members and the amount each would have to pay for the bond required by the USM Corp., broken down in amounts of $25,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000.
This report also included a proposed budget. This report was accepted by the board. Robert Bradley, chairman of the Charter and By-Laws Committee, read this committee’s report. The report was accepted with some minor changes to clarify a few articles. The section on dues and fees was to be rewritten pending further information on the commitment of collecting the necessary money to lease and operate the club.
A discussion was held on what fees would be charged for separate services such as dues, yard fees, railway use, etc. Roger Silsby gave a brief outline of money necessary to operate the club and the method of collecting it. It was agreed that all fees would be collected in the fall of the year when boats are hauled out of the water.
The question of an entrance fee and whether it would be repaid to the charter members at a later date was held in abeyance pending the exact amount required by the USM Corporation and the final operating expenses. Frank Whitmarsh contacted Attorney Ray Julian relative to the legal
matters and incorporation as a non-profit organization. Mr. Whitmarsh submitted copies of the lease for Julian’s study and report.
Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Chairman of the Name Committee, had placed a box at the USM Yacht Club requesting suggested names for the new yacht club from all the interested members. The box contained 24 names which were placed before those present. From these, the name Bass Haven Yacht Club was picked.