A Short History of the St. Joseph River Yacht Club

This is a short history of the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. A more comprehensive accounting can be found in the book, "Whitecaps, Swimcaps, and Nightcaps", available for purchase at the club. Written in 2013 as part of the club’s Centennial celebration, it describes in words and pictures the rich history of our yacht club.

The Early Years

On May 20, 1913, six “gentlemen and powerboat owners” met in attorney John St. Clair’s office in downtown St. Joseph for "the purpose of forming an association or club for those interested in pleasure boats and aquatic sports...”. The club’s name was to be the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. At the time of its creation, the St. Joseph River was a bustling and lively commercial port. In addition, the whole area was an attraction for tourists coming by steamboat from Chicago, Milwaukee, and other Lake Michigan ports. The first clubhouse was a modest concrete block building that had been used by ice skaters. It was located on the north side of the St. Joseph River immediately east of the old State Street bridge in a marshy but secure area in which to dock boats and build boat houses. The early club members were primarily powerboat owners. They frequently hosted clubs from around Lake Michigan in various regattas. It was in those early years that the Jackson Park Yacht Club from Chicago worked with SJRYC to form the “triangular race” that went from Chicago to Michigan City to St. Joseph and back to Chicago. By the end of the 1920’s, the club had 57 members who paid a $5.00 initiation fee and $2.00 for annual dues.

The Yachting Years

In the 1930’s, despite the Great Depression, SJRYC continued to be active with both boating and social events. Summer beach picnics, powerboat regattas, and social gatherings at the small clubhouse filled summer days. During this period, a second boating club in this area – the Edgewater Yacht Club - was founded by Louis Upton to support the growing Star class sailboat racers. The Star fleet used the old Spar House on the south end of Buoy Depot property for their boating activity. In 1934, SJRYC coordinated the on-the-water activities for the first ever Venetian Festival that was the centerpiece for the city of St. Joseph’s Centennial celebration. Phil Upton, son of Louis, won the 1936 Great Lakes Championship Star Boat Series in 1936. As the country was plunged into the Second World War, SJRYC continued on but in a much-reduced manner. In 1942, SJRYC merged with the Edgewater Yacht Club to form one boating club for the community. By the end of the decade, the club also had to give up its original clubhouse to make way for the new Blossomland Bridge.

On the Water, By the Water, In the Water

During the post-war years, club members began to rebuild, with the first task to find a new clubhouse. Various options were considered, and it was finally decided to purchase an existing home on Ridgeway Ave. and have it moved a few hundred feet to property previously procured by SJRYC from the city. The rear of the site had a lake view and the front overlooked the newly-built marina. In May 1954, club members celebrated the opening of the new yacht club. Regattas had resumed on the lake and several new sailing classes like Thistles and Snipes raced along with the Stars. The Junior Foundation was incorporated in 1952 with the mission to cultivate young sailors. In the mid-1950’s, SJRYC adopted our current burgee that had been previously created by the Edgewater Yacht Club. By 1957, the club had 328 members. In the early 60’s, another expansion occurred with the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool at the rear of the club. SJRYC formed its own swim team, known to be quite competitive in the region. The club continued its sponsorship of the Labor Day Tri-State race hosting gala parties at its new clubhouse.

A Tenacious Period

In the decades of the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s, the club faced increasing financial difficulties. Membership had declined since the 1960’s, and the club struggled to support its full range of services - sailing programs, social events, an aging clubhouse, and a full service year-round restaurant. Nevertheless, resourceful club members persevered. A special-events group created lively events that attracted members to the club. The famous Mystery Dinners during that period were annual sold-out events. Others included TV Dinner Night, Smash, Speak Easy, and more. By the end of the 90’s, dues-paying members numbered only 100. Despite the trying times as the century ended, tenacious members kept the club afloat.

The Club Today

In those early years of the new-century, St. Joseph River Yacht Club members continued to look for a way forward for their club. With too few dues-paying members to support an aging clubhouse and declining services, options were limited. Then, in 2002, two local leaders - Bill Marohn and Ron Schults - proposed a swap of the Lighthouse Depot for the property that the SJRYC owned. The Lighthouse Depot was the old Naval Station/Buoy Depot that had been converted to a restaurant. The swap presented a viable way forward for the club, but required giving up the lakefront property and the venerable clubhouse. After vigorous discussion and debate, a deal was struck. SJRYC would give up its property for the Lighthouse Depot, a new pool, and other considerations. In very short order, the club had a new place to call their own, housed in a historical building adjacent to its namesake, the St. Joseph River.