 History
of LaHave River Yacht Club
50 YEARS OF BOATING
1947 - 1997
as compiled by Denyse Lee for the 50th
anniversary
1997 marks the 50th anniversary of the LaHave River Yacht
Club (webmaster: "That makes it the 58th anniversary in 2005). The club is located on the West side of the LaHave
River, 12 kilometers south of the town of Bridgewater.
The club was founded with 50 members who held their early
get-togethers at the old Drill Hall in Bridgewater, as many of
the original members were also in the reserves.
The first slate of officers were:
Commodore - Ed Goudey,
Vice Commodore - Fred Surbeck,
Rear Commodore - Captain Malcolm Wilkie,
Treasurer - Macgregor Miller,
Secretary - Victor Killam
The first boats in use at the club were mostly fishing boats
which were converted to pleasure crafts - quite a fleet of
non-descript crafts.
The site for the clubhouse was chosen because it possessed an
excellent wharf where Captain Wilkie kept his three-masted
schooner and it had access by public road. This land was
leased for $10.00 a year from Mr. Josiah Pernette.
Bonds were sold in order to raise money to build a clubhouse,
and in many cases, the interest earned on those bonds was
returned to the club. These bonds each had a value of
$10.00 and $660.00 was realized in this manner. A bank
loan for $550.00 was also taken out in January, 1950.
Construction began in the spring of 1949 - about the same time
the yacht club was incorporated in the legislature by Chapter
102 of the Acts of Nova Scotia.
Built of split-log siding supplied by the Caledonia Hard Wood
Company and 2,000 square feet of red pine given at half price by
Macgregor Miller from his family lumber yard, the clubhouse was
designed by the members and the master builder was Angus Ernst,
assisted by Stanford Baker, Melvin Schnare and Thomas Haughn.
Mr. Charles Wentzell represented the Club in overseeing the
project as he was quite "mechanically minded". Mr. Ernst
received a salary of 90 cents an hour, Mr. Baker - 65 cents an
hour, with Mr. Schnare and Mr. Haughn each receiving 55 cents an
hour. A canteen was started almost immediately after
completion, although a well was not drilled until July of 1952.
This work was done by the Bluenose Well Drilling Company
Limited, of Bridgewater. Lavatories were installed in
1953.
The yearly
dues were $5.00 for senior members and $2.00 for junior members;
and by 1952 dances were being held in the clubhouse every
Saturday night, with the first dance on June 14th.
Members
held annual cruises with destinations such as Deep Cove and
Chester, and they were soon hosts to annual cruises from the
Armdale Yacht Club. A racing schedule was begun with
Predicted Log Cruises with each skipper predicting how long it
would take him to travel the course. Watches were not
allowed except on compass courses, while charts could be used
except on the compass course. Each cruise was divided into
two legs with the second leg orders being sealed and only opened
after the first was completed, with each boat carrying a
scrutinizer.
The
earliest trophy was the Bulletin Trophy. A burgee was
designed - a royal blue pennant with a white stripe running
through the center and a red cairn surmounted on the white
field. The cairn represented the cairn located at Fort
Point. The Nova Scotia flag was chosen as the Club ensign.
The first flagpole and staff was donated by Mr. Teddy Snyder and
Captain A. S. Publicover. The marine railway was
constructed in 1955 and the rock wall was enlarged.
By 1958
all remaining bonds were redeemed and the Bond Redemption
Account was closed. An outboard motor division of the Club
was established with the Club open for gas sales on Wednesdays
from 1 - 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 - 9 p.m.
If members required gasoline at other times, they contacted the
Commodore or the Treasurer. A slipway for small boats was
erected at the lower edge of the clubhouse with a barrier placed
to mark off deep water. By 1960 many improvements were
made to the house and grounds. A space heater was
acquired, as well as picnic tables and garden chairs.
There were now two slips and finally, a floating wharf with crib
and cat walk. Unfortunately this resulted in a mishap on
one dance evening when several enthusiastic members decided to
do the 'bunny-hop' down the floating wharf, overloading it and
depositing the ladies in long dresses and gentlemen in suits
into the water!
In 1956
the first LaHave River Yacht Club Sailing Trophy ever won in
competition was earned by Mr. Gerald Stevens of Chester, who at
the time was sailing under the colors of the LaHave River Yacht
Club at the Lunenburg Regatta.
Land for
the present site was made available at a minimal cost by Mr. and
Mrs. Chris Couthard and with the generous financial assistance
of fifteen present and former club members. In 1972 Dr.
Mike Delory arranged through Mr. Jim Kinley for a LIP grant to
move the building across the cove on the ice, to its present
location. The move was not without mishap as much damage
occurred when pulling the building up the bank.
Land not
needed for the Club, boat yard and cradle yard was subdivided
and lots sold to raise money for club enlargement and site
development.
The boat
house and sheds were designed and engineered by Mr. Ralph
Richards and Mr. Arthur Dechman. These were built
privately with donated materials and contributed labour and an
actual cash requirement of $13,142.53, but were always a
source of controversy. The marine railway was constructed
in 1972. The main wharf was built in 1973 as well as an
addition made to the clubhouse, with another bank loan for
$17,500.00. The tree-farmer was purchased in 1979 for
$5,600.00. Also the rock wall from the main wharf around
the point to the dinghy wharf at the rear of the clubhouse was
built. This was necessary because of the continual winter
flooding around the club (as happened again in 1996 with the
tidal surges from the fall hurricane. At this time the
floating docks were higher than the land!). All the work
was volunteer with Hugh Corkum from Mount Pleasant hired to
place the rocks with his backhoe. The boatyard was
enlarged and improved. The area behind the boatshed was
widened to allow easier access with large spars.
The shoreline from the railway up river was enlarged about 40
feet into the river - reclaiming what nature had washed away!
The yard closest to the clubhouse was improved with 100 loads of
fill, after which Class A gravel was spread over the whole yard.
This was then compacted by Acadia Construction for free.
New wheels were made for the railway dolly somewhere around
New Glasgow. Previous to this the wheels were cast iron
and could not be greased. The new wheels were steel and
had grease fittings. The railway at the time was of an odd
gauge found between New Germany and the Valley. As these
tracks were removed, the Club collected all they could.
This railway was always in need of maintenance. During
this period one of Nauss Brothers' large trucks carrying a dozer
demolished Cook's Bridge. After this, a large amount of
steel from this bridge was given to the club. This steel
along with some new was used to construct a new dolly. In
1977, thanks to Dr. and Mrs Mike Delory, the Smeltarama was held
at the Club - now replaced byt the Conquerall Bank Fire
Department Smelt Tournament - an early trophy is present at the
club.
Beginning in 1977 the Club held several overnight sailing
races. These started at the Club and ended at Himmelman's
wharf in LaHave.
Also by 1979, the club assets were valued at approximately
$100,000.00. In 1981 a Boston Whaler and 25 H.P. motor
were acquired and Junior Sailing was a going concern. By
1986, membership dues had risen to $130.00 for boat owners, and
$35.00 for outboard members and $55.00 for Social members.
There were approximately 125 members and over 60 boats at the
Club - a major growth from 21 boats in 1973.
A sound system was acquired for the clubhouse and a
playground area for the children was being planned.
Also in 1986, our present Commodore, Monty Mosher acquired
his schooner Harmona and a christening took place during the
cocktail hour prior to the Commodore's Ball.
By 1987, the Junior Sailing Program totaled 26 sailors and
by 1988, an Adult Sailing Program was started. However,
that year the river was closed to swimming due to contamination,
which greatly affected the Learn to Sail Program for a couple of
years. 1988 also saw the introduction to the Labour Day
Regatta which has proved very popular.
In 1989 the clubhouse was further improved by the addition of
a lighted trophy cabinet and more comfortable seating.
Research continued into acquiring a travel lift for the
boatyard. A motion to purchase a lift was made in
November, 1989, and acquired in 1990. To accommodate this
addition to the clubhouse, dues were increased to $180.00 a
year. By 1990, the river pollution was greatly improved,
and the junior sailing boats on loan to the Lunenburg Yacht Club
were returned - needing many repairs.
A new Boston Whaler and motor was purchased in 1995, and 1996
saw the addition of a new gin pole on the main wharf.
For 1997, we are looking at a membership of 128 families of
which 61 are active members, 61 - social and 3 out port members.
Our life members are Macgregor Miller, Mr. & Mrs. Chris
Coulthard and Mrs. Ruth Fralic.
The Club has new marina floats and 17 or 18 are available for
members' rental on a seasonal basis, and we offer 6 guest
moorings. Racing this year will be under the direction of
Mr. Sherman Creaser and Mr. Bruce Wentzell is the man to contact
for membership. The clubhouse is open weekends in May and
June. as well as week night evenings once racing starts.
In July and August the Club is open daily.
I wish to thank all who helped me compile this history - with
stories, minutes, photos and receipts. However there are
still many gaps in the history, and if any member has more
information to share, I hope they will contact me!
Ms. Denyse Lee
Bridgewater
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