Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
BOATHOUSE GOSSIP.

|
The members Of the Potomac Boat Club
are going to gather the chronicles of the
organization since it's formation in 1869,
and they may be published in book form
for the use of the members and other In
terested parties. 1t has always been a
, mooted question as to which club is the
older, Analostans or Potomac, and the
generally accepted view is that the first
named club antedates the Potomac by
several years. The Analostans were for
mally organized in 1867. though the Falcon
Club. from which they sprung by change
| Of name. was in existence back in the fif-
ties. with a boathouse near the 18th street
entrance to the Potomac Park, the river
then running up to that point. In por-
ing over the old files of The Star. men,
bers of the Potomac Boat Club came
across an item to the effect that the Po-
tomac Barge Club was organized June Is,
1889. and the item further spoke Of the
arrival of it's new forty-foot, six-oared
barge from bodybuilding firm in Phil
adelphia, that the craft would be chris
tened in the harbor of Georgetown and. I'M
der escort of the Falcon Club. would be
taken to the new boathouse of the club
at the 10th street bridge. This locality
in those days was quite a resort, but few
of our people recall the fact, unless they
are classed among the oldest Inhabitants.
and the younger generation can hardly
realize that where the 10th street en-
trance to the grounds Of the Smithsonian
Institute starts was once the landing
stage for boats of all descriptions, pleas
ure and commercial alike.
Such old members of the Potomacs as
Col. Frank Jones place no credence in the
organization OF the Potomac Barge Club
as parent organization of the present
boat club, as the club started in 1869.
and he was one of the charter members.
He did not know that such an organ-
zatiOn as the barge club ever existed, and
says that the year 1869 was the birth year
of the present Potomac Club. Col Jones
will assist the members in the prepara-
ton of the data, as he was for many
years the heart and soul of the club. It
will be very interesting reading for old
timers, as we'll as the present generation
OF the club. and 1t would be fine thing
for all our clubs to see that the logbooks
are kept accurately posted for all future
years.
The Washington Canoe Club, flushed
with their sweeping victories Of the late
regatta. have determined to add an ad-
dition to their coy quarters in order to
meet the demand now being made on
them for locker and canoe space Plans
and specifications for the improvements
were all made and accepted by the board
of governors, and the contractors are now
at work on the addition. 1t will embrace
about twenty feet more water front. will
give their dance and assembly room
something like fourteen by twenty foot
enlargement, making it the largest dance
room among the clubhouses. The adj
dition will be in keeping with the present
architecture Of the clubhouse.
X X
The New York Athletic Club has Or
dered from Simms & Co of London,
England, one of the sectional eight-oared
shells that the firm is making for all the
rowing clubs of the old country, and
which was first introduced in this coun-
try by the Detroit Boat Club last season.
The success of the Detroit club with its
detachable boat was the main reason for
inducing the New York athletes to DUR
chase one Of the new style rowing craft.
\ x X
| The success of the September regatta is
bearing fruit along the river front, as is
attested by the new building of the re-
Gently organized Riverside Boat Club, the
starting of the new addition on the
| Washington Canoe Club, and the request
for room in the public houses by those
desiring to take up aauatics IN the spring.
1t Is also true that the Analostans and
Potomacs have had a large number of ap-
plicants presented. and which are now
being investigated by the membership
committee of the two organizations Inc
AnalOstans have had for quite a period
a waiting list, while the Potomacs have
always been able to accommodate all
| those who pass muster. But the present
new home of the Potomacs Is not as large
as Their old home. and hence the boat
rack space is limited. so the boathouse
committee is now devising ways and
means to take care of the increasing
membership. 1t Is expected that the space
| under the archway of the bridge will be
converted and made to fl the void now
4 ffvnsr iv, he oI,,hL
| work will all be finished by early spring,
| and the officers are confident things Will
| be more than agreeable when completed
| But all admit that a great boom Is on
for the improvement and fostering of
rowing.
The officers of the Patapsco Navy Of
Baltimore are confident that they have
| the Middle States regatta of 1910, and
will be pulled off on the Spring Garden
course Of their city. and with that view
of the situation. are going ahead and
mapping out plans for the big gathering.
No one hereabout will regret it if our
| neighboring city does land the date for
it means big things for our local clubs, as
| it will be easy for them to each the
course without much expense. The Spring
Garden course is an admirable one for the
| Middle States and from the fact that
both the Arels and Arundels are seen
| at Almost every tegatta held in America.
| There Is no OOuOt tldt the attendance of
outside organizations will reach the high
water mark. and most of 1t coming as
a compliment to the two clubs for the
zeal they always show toward other To-
calities. The Potomacs Of this city. who
are members of the Middle States Asso-
citation. will fight shoulder to shoulder
with the Ariels and Arundels in the hone
of landing the regatta for the Patapsco
Navy.
49,
| The great army of canoeists of this
city are going to make a general demand
that at all future regattas held here on
the Potomac river events be schedul-
| ed for various classes of canoes The
canoeists argue with great deal of rea-
soning power that for every shell oars
man on the river there are fifty canoe
| SITS, and hence there is more interest in the
sport for canoes than there is for
shells. Leaving out the spectacular eight
| cared shells the canoe races are just
| as attractive, on q count Of their short
| distance and the dash and spirit seen In
such races. The National Association has
| allowed war canoe races at man of
It's regattas. and the contests have add
ed considerable to the sport. The canoe
| lists intend to force themselves to the
front and to become factors in all flu
lture reKattas.