About the AYC
History of the Androscoggin Yacht Club
“There are many persons who have watched with interest the steady increase in summer activities on and about Androscoggin and Pocasset Lakes, and who are of the opinion that it would of great advantage to all concerned to afford these activities adequate protection and encouragement.
Believing that a yacht club would be of assistance in accomplishing these ends, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of Wayne as a summer resort, a small meeting was arranged for Thursday, August 5, 1909, at 3 p.m. to discuss the organization of such a yacht club.”
This first organizational meeting to discuss the formation of the Androscoggin Yacht Club was held on August 5, 1909 at J. H. Millett’s boat house on the shore of Androscoggin Lake. Present were J.H. Millett, A. H. Davis, C. H. Millett, A. H. Davis Jr., F. F. Burr, H. T. Burr and G. E. Brumbaugh. The chairmanship of the meeting was unanimously awarded to A. H. Davis and G. E. Brumbaugh was made temporary secretary. It is to these men that the founding and organization of this club is due. A committee was formed to take up the question of rules and regulations, with the committee invited by Joshua Millett to accompany him to Lake Cobbosseecontee to visit the yacht club there and obtain as much information as possible.
On August 12, 1909, a second meeting was held at J. H. Millett’s boat house. On this date a petition was drawn up for the incorporation of the yacht club. Chosen was a name for the club, Androscoggin Yacht Club, and drawn up was a broadly inclusive list of purposes of the new club –“ promotion of the yachting and boating on the waters of Lakes Androscoggin and Pocasset, protection and preservation of the fishes and game on the waters thereof and care and improvement of the shores of said lakes.”
Swimming and dock area of the AYC.
This first organizational meeting to discuss the formation of the Androscoggin Yacht Club was held on August 5, 1909 at J. H. Millett’s boat house on the shore of Androscoggin Lake. Present were J.H. Millett, A. H. Davis, C. H. Millett, A. H. Davis Jr., F. F. Burr, H. T. Burr and G. E. Brumbaugh. The chairmanship of the meeting was unanimously awarded to A. H. Davis and G. E. Brumbaugh was made temporary secretary. It is to these men that the founding and organization of this club is due. A committee was formed to take up the question of rules and regulations, with the committee invited by Joshua Millett to accompany him to Lake Cobbosseecontee to visit the yacht club there and obtain as much information as possible.
On August 12, 1909, a second meeting was held at J. H. Millett’s boat house. On this date a petition was drawn up for the incorporation of the yacht club. Chosen was a name for the club, Androscoggin Yacht Club, and drawn up was a broadly inclusive list of purposes of the new club –“ promotion of the yachting and boating on the waters of Lakes Androscoggin and Pocasset, protection and preservation of the fishes and game on the waters thereof and care and improvement of the shores of said lakes.”
The first official meeting of the Androscoggin Yacht Club was held on August 28, 1909 at which time by-laws were adopted. The following members were elected to the Androscoggin Yacht Club: F. L. Chenery, B. F. Bradford, C. E. Wing, A. H. Davis Jr., Rev. A. A. Callaghan, C. H. Millett, J. D. Hodsdon, C. D. Lincoln, D. R. Berry, L. M. Morris, N. K. Lincoln, E. L. Lincoln, C. Swift, Dr. C. H. Barker, J. W. Gott, A. Stinchfield, J. W. Moulton, A. B. Lord, S. W. Bishop, C. Lincoln, L. Lincoln, L. T. Bryant, S. R. Morse, H. N. Morse, C. F. Davis, J. W. Lufkin, W. F. Rathburn, T. G. Jennings, A. F. Johnson, Dr. T. P. Hyatt, W. Ballou, Mr. Burghart, E. D. Tribou, D. R. Hood, H. Swift, P. L. Bradford, J. H. Bradford, N. Maxim, J. E. Turner, F. L. Chenery Jr., M. M. Smith, Prof. Ottman, Prof. H. T. Chase, W. A. Richardson, H. E. Buzzell, M. Johnson, J. Ridley, A. Frost, P. Johnson, F. F. Burr, and H. T. Burr. G. E. Brumbaugh resigned as Secretary and B. F. Bradford was elected in his place. A. H. Davis remained as Commodore.
Shortly after this meeting, due to the death of Albert H. Davis, a special meeting was held in the Wayne Library rooms, to elect a Commodore, construct a float at the end of Lake Street, and to provide a regatta in 1910. The new commodore elected was J. Ward Maxim. Albert H. Davis Jr. was elected Commodore in 1914, and with the exception of one year, he held that office until his death in 1961.
The building committee consisted of C. H. Millett, F. G. Lamson, and H. N. Morse. $2,500.00 was to be raised. There is a list of thirty-five persons who originally subscribed to bonds used to fund the construction of the building. C. F. Davis provided a plan for a building with a shingled roof, outside walls of finished matching siding, sheathed wood partitions, and all interior woodwork planed but otherwise unfinished with all necessary plumbing, and was completed in July 1912. The land cost $400.00, the building $1,950.00. Architecture plans; plumbing, grading, etc. took the balance of the $2,500.00, except for a “balance on hand” of $1.47.
The first regatta was held in 1910. There were sailboat races over a marked course, also motor boat races. In 1911 the club voted to adopt a flag in a triangle shape, red above and blue beneath, with a white square in the center and a blue A in the center of the white square.
A crib dock had been built in 1915. It was built in winter on the ice and filled with stone; then the ice was sawed out around it and it was sunk. This dock lasted about three years, when the ice wrecked it. In 1919 a floating dock was built to replace it.
The original dues for the Club had been $2.00, but they were soon raised to $4.00 and at one point $9.00. In 1921 it was decided to admit women to membership and the dues were set at $6.00 for men and $3.00 for women. The addition of the women added the names of the wives to members as well as of other women to the list of the Club, and a Social Committee was elected to have charge of dances, suppers, and social activities.
Around 1919 the AY Needle Club was first noticed in the club records. Tuesdays were considered “Needle Club” day at the Club. Members gathered on the club’s porch with their sewing bags. This continued throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The Yacht Club “Bean Suppers” were often planned during the Needle Club days.
By 1940 WWII had begun and summer travel to Wayne was also affected. During those years there was little to report at the Androscoggin Yacht Club and very little club business occurred. Somehow the club managed to continue and remained open. After the war’s end in 1945 club activity returned slowly.
The Club had difficulty in meeting its expenses during its early years, and was unable to meet the interest on its bonds. Some members turned in their bonds and finally in 1960 E. H. Healey got in touch with the bond-holders and by a letter showing the situation of the Club led others to surrender their bonds. The Club is free of that obligation.
In 1962 Dr. A. Smith was elected to be in charge of boating and swimming activities of the Club. He introduced sailing and swimming lessons and during 1963 further progress had been made in many beach and water activities under the able leadership of Commodore TDO Stevenson.
In 1963 the Clubhouse received a much needed coat of paint, a macadam launching ramp has been made for the easier launching of boats, and a new flagpole had been installed.
Throughout the last forty years, membership in the Androscoggin Yacht Club has grown to its current level of approximately 120 family memberships and 55 single memberships. Activities include three sessions of summer swim lessons, two sessions of sailing lessons and a regatta. Depending on the plans by various organizers there has been pot luck suppers, music night, dances, game night, family day and fundraising suppers.
The building has been updated with handicapped ramp, handicapped accessible restroom, updates to the kitchen that include a new six-burner gas stove, two refrigerators, a boat stand to store canoes and kayaks, brand new aluminum floating dock system, a wooden dinghy dock and an aluminum swim float. Mooring placements are coordinated to assure adequate space for member boats, either sail or motor boat. The Club rents a parcel of land next to the club in order to provide parking for member vehicles.
In 2009 the Club celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a number of fun activities throughout the summer months.