Sodus Bay Yacht Club
The story of The Sodus Bay Yacht Club
Thanks to Rosemary Willette

TROUBLE AT THE CLUB

After a booming early 1900’s period, The Club experienced a decline into difficult times . At the 1912 annual meeting, a bank balance  of $124.00 was reported. By the end of 1913, the Club was $1,505 in debt and by 1914 a second mortgage on the Club was authorized. With a debt of $1475, and a membership of 115, it would appear matters couldn’t get worse. Then came the war. With the onset of World War I, membership and Club usage was down considerably. In August of 1916, the trustees authorized the second mortgage of $2000 be used to pay off the existing debt. Having only 38 members by the end of 1916, it was decided, “unless 50 new members could be obtained by June 1st 1919, the Club would be closed.”

A special meeting of the Club was held on April 27, 1920 to discuss and provide for the non-payment of dues. Annual dues at the time were $10.00 and were asked for in advance of the regular annual meeting.  Thirty members paid cash at this special meeting, but total cash on hand was hardly enough to cover current expenses. Three years of mortgage interest was outstanding, and house and docks were in need of repairs due to safety issues. After much discussion, it was agreed that the mortgage bondholder be directed to proceed with immediate foreclosure.

The foreclosure sale was held on July 27, 1920 with the successful bid of $2550 awarded to Vice Commodore Fred Chamberlain. An auction sale of the Club’s furnishings was also held. On May 4, 1921 the property was purchased from Chamberlain by the State of New York for $5000. The property was used as a fish hatchery for some years by the state.

At a special meeting on December14, 1922 it was decided that after all outstanding bills and claims were resolved, the balance of cash on hand be distributed proportionally to all fully paid active members. A copy of the resolution and a check for $26.00 went to the qualified members. It was further resolved that an annual meeting be held in the Spring of 1923 to assess dissolution of the Club……….

Will the Club be saved?!? See below for the next chapter in this riveting saga!

THE CLUB RESCUED

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum, or as in this case, at the Annual Meeting of March 15, 1923. This meeting had been agreed to at the “dissolution” meeting of December 14, 1922.  Six members attended the March meeting to elect new officers and propose changes to the by-laws.  Commodore Brewster resigned shortly after. Two months later at a very important meeting in our Club’s history, new Commodore, R.A.S. Bloomer along with officers, H.B. Rodgers, C.T. Bloomer, S.E Comstock and founding member, Calvin P.H. Vary, each contributed $100 to fund the Club’s operating expenses bringing the Club back to life. Later referred to by Secretary Vary as, “the five patriots who rescued the Club from oblivion,” these men, who were the ONLY club members at that time, ensured the Club’s survival and thus our Club’s charter was maintained. 

The meeting described above was held two miles off Pultneyville aboard the ship, LOTUS, owned at that time by S.E. Comstock who was Commodore in 1913 and again in 1924. The schooner built some years before near Cleveland Ohio, has undergone extensive restoration over the years. She continues to be the pride and joy of Sodus Bay and our Sea Scouts, and certainly has an honored place in our Club’s history.

During the remainder of the 1920s, membership slowly rose from five in 1923 to fifteen in 1934. As the Club did not own the Clubhouse property (remember it had been purchased by former Vice Commodore, Chamberlain, and resold for a “tidy profit” to the State) meetings were held at various places around the Bay. Annual meetings were held at a residence called “YABS” a summer residence owned by the Bloomer family, or at the LARKSPUR, which was next door to the old clubhouse.

In 1934, through the efforts of Harrison Bloomer and his associates, a new class of race boat was designed and developed especially for Sodus Bay. Enter the Robin Class, seen as an opportunity to attract younger members. With a new racing class on the horizon, Junior and Associate memberships were initiated in 1934, and with that growth in membership the Club joined the Central New York Yacht Racing Association. Things were looking up indeed, and sights were set on making an important purchase…

Look for next month's installment, to be added below...


SBYC Burgee
(SBYC Home)