St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-08
AQUaticS.

The Minnesota Boat club is one of the
prominent institutions of ST. Paul andr
ceves a good deal of attention from society
people. It is one of the principal features
Of the Fourth of July, and thousands OF
people stand for hours on the bridge and in
other available positions to obtain view OF
the oarsmen as they engage in their contests
on that day. The social gatherings given
by the club on the island, where the boat
house is located, during the hot summer
evenings are attended by the best social
elements of ST. Paul, and during the winter
the hops and dances given by this club are
always point Of great attraction for society
ladies and gentlemen.
1t is not the design Of this brief sketch to
give an elaborate history of the club, but as
the Fourth of July is approaching. when
the club will probably have it's usual regatta,
and as a regatta is to be held at Moline on
the 18th instant, in which it will partici-
pate, attention is naturally attracted to the
home organization. The club was organ
lied March 1, 1870, and was Incorporated
Dec. 1S, 1878, the incorporators being: W.
r. Merriam, Richard j. Bond, II. A.
Boardman, Jr., Eugene G. Bell, Norman
Wright, George S. Acker, H. P. Rugg,
Christian Michael, William II. Ross, Wy.
Rumney, 'Jr., j. N. Granger, A. Kirby
Barnum, S. G. Williams, Edward WI Ohm
son and Paul D. Ferguson. 1t will thus be
seen that the club is now little more than
fifteen years old. 1t has always been on
steady and safe financial footing, as it was
started by men of ample means. 1t has
now list of over two hundred members,
only about sixty or seventy of whom, however,
are what are termed active members. The
club has accumulated qnite a handsome
property valued at about $15, 900. Most
of this amount consists of real estate. Some
years ago the club succeeded in purchasing
the west half of the island opposite the
city known as Raspberry island, and upon
which stands one of the piers of the Waba-
sha street bridge. This was an exceedingly
fortunate purchase. It brings the club house
and paraphernalia of the organization close
to the city, and requires not more than ten
or fifteen minutes walk from Third street
to locate ones self in the boat-house
Though the house is thus close to
the city, when one reaches the island
he is practically as far away from
the city as he would be if he were fifty
miles in the country. The island is covered
with growth of small trees, which fur
nish a grateful shade and render with their
abundance Of green leaves most refresh
ing sight to gaze upon from the hot and
dusty city.
THE BOAT HOUSE.
In 1874 a boat house was built OH the
west point of the island. but in 1881 the
rains descended and the floods came and
pretty much all the club had was swept
away. Probably the damage caused was
somewhere in the neighborhOcd of 50, 500.
Subsequently the club had another and a
more commodiOus house constructed. This
is the one now standing just west of the
bridge. 1t was built upon piles. which lift
the structure up and out of the reach of the
highest rise of the waters ever known.
Access to the house is had from the bridge
by flight of winding stairs. Besides the
erection of the boat house, the club has had
the upper or western part of the island rip
raped with stone so that the current cannot
wear it away. 1t has also graded up the
island by placing upon the surface a large
quantity of earth. Several thousand dollars
have been expended upon the island to
render it more suitable for the purposes of
the club and more pleasing. Still further
improvements are to be made, and sooner
OF later the club will have grounds that will
be quite satisfactory. Lawn tennis grounds
have been taken, and the money apprOpri-
ated, for improving them, and also the rum
ming track The club owns three four
cared paper shells, one six-Oared barge, one
four-oared gig and two double wooden
working boats. Besides, some of the in
dividual members own boats that are housed
in the club house. Numerous improve
ments will be made on the island, but they
will be made gradually, extending through
number Of years before the grounds will
be gotten into such shape as will be salts
factory.
There has been some talk of organizing
similar club in West St. Paul, but SO far as
is known the effort has fallen through.
D. j. Harrington, who is soon to row
against DR.. Schiffmann. Paul Martin, P.
Boeringer and Henry Martin, have all been
mentioned in connection with the project
There is plenty of material on the West
Side for good club, but there is no organi-
Zation at present, and it does not now look
as though there would be.
WHAT THE MINNESOTAS ARE DOING.
Beyond the arrangements being made for
the regular Fourth of July regatta and the
rowing contest between DR.. Schiffmann and
D. j. Harrington, which event is fixed for
the 27th instant at White Bear lake, the
club has nothing on hand. At the meeting
of the club last Friday night it was left an
open question whether or not it would
make any entries at Moline. Schiffmann
and Harrington have been taking moderate
exercise on the river in anticipation OF COM
ing together, but now that the time ap-
proaches for the event they will go into
systematic training. Both will go out to
White Bear lake on the 10th for regular
work. NJ. j. Boyle and T. D. O'Brien
have purchased double scull and
take little row ON the river nearly every
day, though they are not in training.
Whether they will enter for contest at
Moline is question to be decided in the
future. There is talk Of arranging four
cared crew to accommodate the Winnipeg
crew, which it is understood is anxious to
come down here for contest. If this
should be done it is possible it might go to
Moline. The boat house is quite busy
place now, and the boats are being over