Poughkeepsie Yacht Club
Encyclopedia
The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club is a small private yacht club
based in the Hudson Valley
in upstate New York
. The club is one of the earliest yachting
institutions in America and founded in 1892. The Club's members have contributed to the sport of yachting, sailing, rowing, and ice-boating. The Club is located on the Eastern shore in the heart of the scenic Hudson Valley, on a quiet and beautiful part of the Hudson River about halfway between New York City and Albany. It shares a close proximity to the Hyde Park
historic sites and the town of Rhinebeck. Traditionally, membership has provided functionality for boaters and non-boaters alike. Its officers include a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore, Measurer, Secretary, and Treasurer.
In 1905, the Club's second clubhouse was erected at a new location. The Club largely had an untroubled history until the Fall of 1904 when the club had to move due to a land deal. After a great deal of effort and negotiation, a deal was made just south of the present Mid-Hudson Bridge, at the end of Union Street.
In 1974, the Club's third clubhouse was built. Due to frustration with the Poughkeepsie Urban Renewal project, and the lack of land for winter storage and launching, the club moved location to its present location in Staatsburg, New York
.
The current clubhouse
is a modest two-storied building offering an unobstructed panoramic view of the Hudson River from its East shore location. Although the name (“Poughkeepsie”) comes from the Club's origins in the late 19th century (founded in 1892), it is presently located in Staatsburg New York, on historic Route U.S. 9. Nearby attractions include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hyde Park Home, FDR Library and Museum, the Eleanor Roosevelt Home, the Vanderbilt Estate and grounds (including hiking trails), the Ogden Mills Estate, Norrie State Park, and the Culinary Institute of America.
During the early years of the club's history, rowing played an important role fostering interest and membership. This led to the negotiations securing the first race of the "University Eights" (Intercollegiate Regatta) in June 1895. In addition to racing, yachting, and rowing, iceboating was popular with club members as well. The club field had as many as seven ice yachts, generally storing four in the boat house.
Traditionally the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club has been a "working club," where members take part in maintaining the club facilities and grounds. Participation hours include activities such as the "all hands on deck" docks in and docks out as well as working on the annual events hosted at the club. Members may choose the committee with which they wish to be affiliated (i.e. docks, membership, house, grounds, moorings, entertainment, etc.).
Yacht club
A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to sailing and yachting.-Description:Yacht Clubs are mostly located by the sea, although there are some that have been established at a lake or riverside locations...
based in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
in upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The club is one of the earliest yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
institutions in America and founded in 1892. The Club's members have contributed to the sport of yachting, sailing, rowing, and ice-boating. The Club is located on the Eastern shore in the heart of the scenic Hudson Valley, on a quiet and beautiful part of the Hudson River about halfway between New York City and Albany. It shares a close proximity to the Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
historic sites and the town of Rhinebeck. Traditionally, membership has provided functionality for boaters and non-boaters alike. Its officers include a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore, Measurer, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Clubhouses
In 1892, the Club’s first clubhouse was established in a modest, building in Poughkeepsie, New York, on what is now the water front of lower Main Street in Poughkeepsie. Originally, the club leased a dock known as the "Sand Dock" from the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad company at a rate of twenty-five dollars per year. The first clubhouse was built by May of the following year. The location was on the site of the old Revolutionary Ship Yard (or Continental Shipyard) at Ship Yard Point, now known as Fox's Point in Poughkeepsie. The first Club house was a wooden structure twenty by twenty feet, and two stories high. With money in short supply, unusual fund raising methods were employed. For example, in 1897, the veranda in front of the house was added using the proceeds of the "Autumn Carnival". The Club has always been a "working man's club" and today aims to uphold the humble tradition.In 1905, the Club's second clubhouse was erected at a new location. The Club largely had an untroubled history until the Fall of 1904 when the club had to move due to a land deal. After a great deal of effort and negotiation, a deal was made just south of the present Mid-Hudson Bridge, at the end of Union Street.
In 1974, the Club's third clubhouse was built. Due to frustration with the Poughkeepsie Urban Renewal project, and the lack of land for winter storage and launching, the club moved location to its present location in Staatsburg, New York
Staatsburg, New York
Staatsburg is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
.
The current clubhouse
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
is a modest two-storied building offering an unobstructed panoramic view of the Hudson River from its East shore location. Although the name (“Poughkeepsie”) comes from the Club's origins in the late 19th century (founded in 1892), it is presently located in Staatsburg New York, on historic Route U.S. 9. Nearby attractions include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hyde Park Home, FDR Library and Museum, the Eleanor Roosevelt Home, the Vanderbilt Estate and grounds (including hiking trails), the Ogden Mills Estate, Norrie State Park, and the Culinary Institute of America.
History
The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club was founded on 1892 by a small group of working sailors and yachtsmen. Over the years, the Club has had a varied membership expanding at times to well over one-hundred and currently has approximately one-hundred twenty "active" (boat owning) and "social" (non-boat owning) members.During the early years of the club's history, rowing played an important role fostering interest and membership. This led to the negotiations securing the first race of the "University Eights" (Intercollegiate Regatta) in June 1895. In addition to racing, yachting, and rowing, iceboating was popular with club members as well. The club field had as many as seven ice yachts, generally storing four in the boat house.
Traditionally the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club has been a "working club," where members take part in maintaining the club facilities and grounds. Participation hours include activities such as the "all hands on deck" docks in and docks out as well as working on the annual events hosted at the club. Members may choose the committee with which they wish to be affiliated (i.e. docks, membership, house, grounds, moorings, entertainment, etc.).
Commodores
| Year(s) | Commodore | Year(s) | Commodore | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892–1894 | Powell Hobert | 1962–1963 | Frank Koff | |
| 1895 | Edward Laufersweiler | 1964 | William E Murphy, Jr. | |
| 1896 | James E. Birdsall | 1965 | James Creighton | |
| 1897–1899 | William H. Frank | 1966 | George A. Beutel | |
| 1900 | Herman Von der Linden | 1967 | Dr. George T. C. Way | |
| 1901 | William H. Frank | 1968 | Richard C. Smith | |
| 1902–1903 | Frank E. Daubert | 1969 | Einar D. Reves | |
| 1904–1905 | Javy Ackert | 1970–1971 | David A. Harrand | |
| 1906 | George P. Bogardus | 1972–1974 | Harold E. Krom | |
| 1907–1914 | William H. Frank | 1975–1976 | James C. Clapp | |
| 1915–1916 | Albert Traver | 1977 | Wilbur M. Rouse, Jr. | |
| 1917 | Henry S. White | 1978–1979 | Robert K. Brown, Sr. | |
| 1918–1919 | George Saltford | 1980–1981 | Frank R. Vinciguerra | |
| 1920–1922 | Albert Traver | 1982–1983 | Richard E. Martineau | |
| 1923 | Robert J. Pascoe | 1984–1985 | Edward A. Feldweg | |
| 1924–1929 | Alpheus Wright | 1986–1987 | Cornelius S. Krajewski | |
| 1930 | Alfred Heyer | 1988–1989 | Duff M. Neely | |
| 1931–1933 | Keene Richards | 1990–1991 | Kenneth A. Sautter | |
| 1934 | Howard M. Sherwood | 1992–1993 | Claus Uhl | |
| 1935–1937 | Philip Mylod | 1994–1995 | Wiliam F. Washburn | |
| 1938–1939 | Louis J. Hall | 1996–1997 | Harold L. Placke | |
| 1940 | Keene Richards | 1998–1999 | William J. Spencer | |
| 1941–1942 | Joseph Davis | 2000–2001 | Gerald Movall | |
| 1943 | Dr. Howard P. Carpenter | 2002–2003 | Clark Henderson | |
| 1944 | Einar B. Petersen | 2004–2005 | Mark V. Still | |
| 1945 | Louis J. Hall | 2006–2007 | Leathem Memaffey | |
| 1946 | Keene Richards | 2008-2009 | William Fitchett | |
| 1947 | Clifford F. Andrews | 2010-2011 | Frank Desiano | |
| 1948 | Duncan Jago | |||
| 1949 | Carl Fritz | |||
| 1950–1951 | Clifford F. Andrews | |||
| 1952 | Keene Richards | |||
| 1953 | Stanley V. Post | |||
| 1954–1955 | Ralph B. DeLano, Jr. | |||
| 1956–1957 | Stanley V. Post | |||
| 1958 | Thomas A. Moawood | |||
| 1959 | Arthur W. Southwick | |||
| 1960 | Allan C. Miller | |||
| 1961 | James E. Carroll, Jr. |
Locations near P.Y.C.
- Culinary Institute of AmericaCulinary Institute of AmericaThe Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
--- The world's top and most respected culinary school, in the southern part of the Town, between Route 9 and the Hudson River. - Hyde Park The hamlet of Hyde Park is on Route 9 near the Hudson River.
- Margaret Lewis Norrie State ParkMargaret Lewis Norrie State ParkMargaret Lewis Norrie State Park is a state park in Dutchess County, New York in the USA. The park is located on the east shore of the Hudson River in the Town of Hyde Park...
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the northern part of the town. - Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State ParkOgden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State ParkOgden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park is a New York State Park located in Staatsburg in Dutchess County along the Hudson River. It is off U.S. Route 9, between Rhinebeck to the north and Hyde Park to the south, at an average elevation of 5900 feet above sea level. The park is bounded by...
– Located along the Hudson River in Staatsburg, NY. Built by Morgan Lewis and his wife, Gertrude Livingston. It is open to the public and includes house tours and hiking trails. - Norrie Point- Hiking trails and environmental center as well as marina.
- RhinebeckRhinebeck (village), New YorkRhinebeck is a village located in the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,657 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
– An artist's community with well-known local restaurants and shopping areas. - StaatsburgStaatsburg, New YorkStaatsburg is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
– A hamlet by the Hudson River in the northwest part of the town. - West Park A village to the west of Hyde Park, across the Hudson River in Ulster County.