By Dan Shine
Voice Columnist
City Point Yacht Club
130 Years Young
Ever since the first settlers arrived in their “new haven” in 1637, our greater community has been closely linked to the waters of the Harbor and Long Island Sound. Be it Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping Trade, or Recreation: nearly every one of us now and in years past has used it in one way or another.
The inner harbor of today is much smaller than it was prior to 1955: In those days, the harbor extended up to Water Street, almost reached Union Station, and City Point jutted out, forming the west side of the harbor. In that year, an extensive dredging project used 7 million cubic yards of the spoil material to extend the shoreline to the outline that we know today.
Way back in 1895, New Haven Harbor was a busy and exciting place. On a typical day, one hundred sailing ships crowded the docks, as an equal number sat at anchor in the harbor, waiting for a favoring wind and tide. As unreal as it may seem, it has been stated that in 1895, about 31,000 vessels entered New Haven Harbor, and of that number, 9000 were still under sail and over 8000 were barges. The breakwaters, with which we are so familiar, had just been completed. New Haven offered cross-harbor steamboat service, as well as steamboat transportation to and from New York City. And here begins our story.
City Point Yacht Club was formed in 1895; in April, 1899, it was incorporated as a body politic, and created for itself a thorough charter. The object of the corporation as stated was “to encourage yacht building, to promote naval architecture and the cultivation of naval science.” Further, it stated that “Its object shall be for the purpose of forming an association of amateur yachtsmen in New Haven and vicinity, and of organizing a fleet of sailing and power craft for the purpose of sailing, racing and cruising, and for general sociability.” These goals remain unchanged, 130 years later. Membership was strictly available to male boat owners and non-owners in the beginning, but today welcomes women as well.
The first clubhouse was a small shack at the east end on City Point’s Third Street. The original type of boat and number of each are listed below: Schooners-2, Sloops-15, One Sail Sharpie-11, Two Sail Sharpie-9, Cat Boats-9, Launches-2, Jib and Main Sail-12.
Soon, the members became uneasy about the poor condition of their clubhouse, and built a new clubhouse at 163 Hallock Avenue, with a 300-foot pier that extended out into what today is the rear parking lot of Jordan’s Furniture. In1909, the new clubhouse became modernized: the oil lamps that were used for lighting were replaced by electric powerlines and lighting.
In 1948, the club was forced from its Hallock Avenue location by the previously mentioned harbor dredging and filling operations. They relocated to the tip of City Point, at 110 South Water Street. This attractive location included a 125-foot pier, a two-story building and 86 feet of shore frontage. At this time, the club had a membership of 105 and a registry of 70 sailboats, motorboats, skiffs and prams.
But in 1950, a severe storm blew through the area, destroying much of the dock and bulkhead. The club went on to purchase the present location at 347 Kimberly Ave. from C.W. Blakeslee and Son in 1952. A clubhouse was built there that year, and other improvements were made to the site. By then the membership was down to 80.
In 1959, wooden piles and docks were added to the site, streamlining the members’ access to their boats, and in 1978 the club’s waters were dredged.
Today, the City Point Yacht Club owns and is located on both the West Haven and the New Haven sides of the West River. Where once membership of the club was limited to men only—family members could benefit from the membership—today both men and women are eligible for membership and may serve as officers as well. The club offers the use of a swimming pool and a gas dock as well, and a total of 125 boat slips. Currently they have 300 members.
Celebration of the club’s 130th anniversary will take place on June 8. If you have any questions concerning the anniversary or City Point Yacht Club in general, you are welcome to contact Bob Pimer at 203-915-7043 or captbob87@gmail.com. Bob is the third generation of four generations of Pimers who have belonged to City Point Yacht Club.