PYC History In 1969 -

By Bill Spencer, PYC Historian

Most PYC members are aware of the fact that PYC was founded in the city of Poughkeepsie and of the Club’s long association with the city. The other day, someone told me she remembered the yacht club “down by the bridge.” She may not have known that the club was at that location for nearly four decades before the Mid-Hudson Bridge was built. But when the club was 75 years old, the city of Poughkeepsie decided to acquire our property, and the club was forced to leave.

PYC’s membership was dwindling at that time, and many members were content to allow the club to cease to exist quietly. But five of its members were determined not to let that happen, and they pooled their money to locate and purchase property elsewhere that would be more permanent. Past Commodore Einar Reves, P/C David Harrand, P/C Harold Krom, Robert Prichard, and Dr. Arnold Goran were members. Adding their funds to the meager payment for our old property from the city, they searched for and found our current property and eventually relocated the Club’s property to it. But that’s another story, perhaps for another History Update.

At the October 2019 membership meeting, Dr. Goran presented a saved clipping from the February 6, 1969, Poughkeepsie Journal to the club. The article in the clipping announced the Club’s plans to move to Hyde Park, which can be seen in the photo. [to the right / below]

What is particularly interesting about the article in the Journal are the details outlined regarding the City’s plans for the riverfront and the plans of PYC for future expansion, as stated at that time. A lot has changed since then for the city and the club.

Key Takeaways

🏗️ Major Transaction Details

• Buyer: Poughkeepsie Yacht Club

• Seller: Robert Monroe

• Land purchased: 15+ acres of Hudson River frontage

• Shoreline: 900+ feet

• Price: $50,000

💰 Modern value (rough estimate):

• $50,000 in the late 1960s ≈ $450,000 – $500,000 today

• That’s extremely cheap for that amount of Hudson riverfront land → reflects a very different real estate market at the time.

Yacht Club Buys Land In Hyde Park

“The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club disclosed today it has purchased more than 15 acres of riverfront property at Hyde Park and expects to have all members’ boats transferred to the new site by June 1.

The club must vacate its present facilities at the foot of Union Street in Poughkeepsie because the area is within the Riverview 1A urban renewal project.

The Pirate Canoe Club, which also has been located at the foot of Union Street, reported last month it has bought a three-acre site at Long Point, Town of Poughkeepsie.

Mayor Richard W. Mitchell declared the developments will not change Poughkeepsie’s plans to build a marina south of the Riverview project.

Although the marina idea started as an effort to help the two clubs relocate it is a “good project independently,” the mayor said, and “stands on its own feet.”

He added he is sorry the clubs will not be part of the marina but said he wishes them success in the new locations.

Einer Reeves, Yacht Club commodore, said the Hyde Park property with more than 900 feet of shoreline on the Hudson was purchased from Robert Monroe.

The price was reported to be $50,000. Reeves said the transaction was possible because of a $55,000 initial payment from the Poughkeepsie Urban Renewal Agency for the Poughkeepsie site.

Reeves said arrangements have been made to permit Rodriguez and Nixon, yacht builders, to continue operations on a portion of the Hyde Park property.

The Yacht Club plans, he disclosed, call for construction of a clubhouse, marine facilities, restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

(Continued from page one)

The cost was not estimated.

Long-range planning, the commodore said, also includes a 20-unit “boatel” offering motel-type accommodations to visiting boatmen. No such facility now exists on the river, he asserted.

Preliminary site clearing at the new location is scheduled to start Saturday.

Meanwhile, the commodore announced, the club will conduct a drive to increase its membership from the present 75 to approximately 150.

Initial development of the site is under supervision of a committee composed of Harold Krum, David Harrand, Joseph Crane, William Murphy and Dr. Eugene Maillard.

The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club is one of the oldest boating clubs in the state and has been located at the foot of Union Street for more than 73 years.

The craft based there range from small outboard runabouts and sailboats to large motor yachts.

Attorney James E. Carroll Jr. represented the club in the purchase while Edward Rosen represented Monroe. Financial arrangements were handled by the First National Bank of Highland.” - (Source Poughkeepsie Journal, 1969)