Evening star., 1927-05-22

ard f. Piaro president of the
Ana lustan Boat Club. original boat
club Of it's kind here. declares.
Tho most recent and outstanding eX-
position of the decline in membership
Fnd enthusiasm in boat club ranks was
broug, to light by the Analostat
president in the announcement of the
disla ndmcnt of that club after IS
years existence.
officials of the club al recent meet
in decided to disband and II. Prescott
Galley is preparing n bill in equity
for the dissolution of the corporation.
This action followed the sale of the
boat house on the Potomac at the
foot of New Hampshire avenue, to the
United States Government. The
building has been razed to make way
for improvements along the river
Members of the club regretted that
disba ndment was necessary. but enthu-
81 sm has been lacking for the past
decade and membership at the closing
of the books had dwindled 10 23, most
Of whom took no active part in boat
in-. More attractive sports gradually
have stripped the club of it's devotees
of the rowing game and it was felt
that it no longer served its purpose.
Club Popular at Outset.
y IA lOSIdn fbpdC N-luD = early uls3IblS y
probably would he found in the so
cietv columns Once the goal of the
| leading citizenry. the club limited its
membership to 100 and had long
waiting list. Its rly days were
crowded with outstanding social
events as we'll as the leading regattas
of the time.
All Of the charter members have
| died the oldest surviving members
being President Piaro and X. Rush
| Marshall. both of whom gained mem
| bership in 1875.
| Henry D. Cook. first governor of the
| District of Columbia; Richard Wal
| lach, former mayor of the District;
Walter Lennox. prominent lawyer
| of that day. and Marcellus Bailey
were among the charter members and
| leading promoters of the club. Alex
ander r. Shepherd. former governor
of the District and d prominent figure
| in Washington history. was one of the
first honorary members.
| Among the prominent early MEM
| bers were; J. T. Dyer, George \. Nell
benny, Samuel Maddox, president for
years; John G. Edwards William W.
Boarman, William \. McI[enny. John
Carson. Harry Mckenny,> l.. II.
Stevens. at one time president; Theo-
! dore Moser. who lost his life in the
Spanish American War, and f. w.
| Flowers.
Club Prominent Socially.
Soon after it's organization the club
assumed Il prominent social place and
| in 1875 special building was OBJ
tanned from the War Department, a
document dated August IS. 1873,
which still l. preserved by President
| Piaro. over the signature of Gen.
| Andrew y. Humphries. 4 house was
built on the site where the recently
destroyed building stood A temporary
house previously had been maintained
near the Georgetown gas works.
The original house fell prey to
| the PotomaC's turbulent waters
the Spring of the Johnstown flood and
| Il new structure was erected in 1889,
which stood until few weeks ago.
| Although the club members have
classified the organization among the
has beens" for the past l. or Is
years. it was not until several weeks
ago that it was definitely decided to
give up all hope of reviving the in
terest that once made the boathouse
the center of sport activity during the
| Summer months.
| Among the veteran members of the
club there are memories of the excit-
| ing days of the big regattas and social
| affairs. The names of Charles Brown,
| father of Wrisley Brown, a prom-
| nent business man here now, one of
| the best oarsmen in the country years
ago. and John r. White. former super.
intendent of the Bureau of Engraving
| one of the best stroke oars in the
country. both of whom rowed under
| the Analostan colors, are recalled
Potomac Club Chief Rival.
Potomac Boat Club was the chief
rival and very frequently the CON
queror of Analostan, hut both won
| laurels in the big national regattas
in the sos.
real representative crew of the
| club has not competed in score of
years. but Coach Clarence Hecox de-
veloped a crew of Mckinley High
students In 1915 who used the club
house as their headquarters and cop
ped two events at Philadelphia in the
big Fourth of July regatta. These
high school oarsmen displayed the
| last activity that has been seen
around the boathouse.
| Plaro praises HecoX in his efforts
| to keep the rowing sport alive here.
| but fears that the coach is fighting
Il losing battle. The Young blood does
| not go in for the water sport any
more, he claims. Rowing IS too
! E$fSNTESISNTSTTSSyS CTSSIESZSSZSTSS