History

Dear Members,
> I have been asked to furnish some information on the
> history of the St. Joseph Outboard Motor and Yacht
> Club. As I do not have a great deal of material to
> refer to, I will have to refer to my memory.
>
> Soon after World War II water sports and related
> activities began to be very popular. This caught the
> attention of a number of water sport fans in the area.
> On March 31, 1949 twenty-two people called an
> informal meeting at the General Marine Co. (then a
> manufacturer of pleasure and racing boats) located on
> South 6th Street in St. Joseph for the purpose of
> organizing a boat club at Lake Contrary. At this
> meeting, it was agreed (at that time) the name of the
> club was to be "Contrary Boat Club".
>
> As boating facilities at this time in the area were
> next to none, some place had to be found for a home
> port. Mr. Floyd Idlet, who attended the meeting,
> advised he owned property located on Lake Contrary
> which the club could develop as a home base. Before
> the meeting adjourned, officers were elected for a one
> year term: Commodore - L. D. Davis; Rear Commodore -
> Lou Reynolds; Recording Secretary- Paulene Reynolds
> Treasurer - Floyd Idlet.
>
> The purpose of the club was to acquaint the citizens
> in and around St. Joseph with boating and to create
> activities of that nature. In the following weeks
> many memberships were accepted and the club began to
> make waves. Memberships came from all walks of life
> ready to lend a hand at whatever needed to be done.
>
> In a short time the property provided by Mr. Idlet was
> occupied and some docks and a ramp for launching and
> reloading our boats was completed. Then the boating
> on Lake Contrary began in earnest.
>
> In the meantime, sanitary facilities were obtained and
> shortly thereafter a small clubhouse was erected. All
> of this was accomplished by the efforts of club
> members, marine dealers and marine manufactureres. We
> also had the help of our local News Press, City and
> County Officials.
>
> During this time a group of members were working on a
> club charter which was not so easy to come by as we
> had little cash to work with. Later a charter was
> obtained under the name of St. Joseph Outboard Motor
> and Yacht Club, Inc.
>
> Very soon after organizing the club, it was evident
> that several of our members were interested in boat
> racing as well as family boating. The membership
> immediately visualized the opportunity of adding
> racing in our summer programs as a very enjoyable
> sport and a means by which we could obtain soem much
> needed revenue.
>
> Almost at once a number of our members obtained racing
> memberships and "off to the races" we were. Our first
> organized race, as I recall, was held on Lake Contrary
> with several entrees from our club and a number of
> out-of-towners. It was a great day for all involved.
>
> About this point in time, outboard marathon races
> became popular nationally. Our club jumped on the
> band wagon and promoted a race of our own on the
> Missouri River. This kind of race included all
> classes of boats to run at the same time on the same
> course. Some are run on a closed course and others
> are from point to point. The time involved can be
> from three to nine or so hours.
>
> This adventure proved to be quite a challenge with the
> News Press, radio, County Officials, Corps of
> Engineers, Merchants and the City helping us. This
> became a hugh success for several years.
>
> In the meantime, there came a great flood and our
> clubhouse on Lake Contrary became unusable. The
> increase in membership had become so large,
> approximately 100 members, we were not able to hold
> the meeting and potluck suppers there and the
> clubhouse was abandoned and later sold. The flood
> also rendered Lake Contrary unsuitable for boating.
>
> Oddly enough the flood provided us with Browning Lake
> surrounding the Airport. We installed a ramp and some
> docks. This provided us a nice place for a few years.
> The members would meet at different restaurants or
> other facilities and would go boating on Browning
> Lake, Bean Lake, Horton Reservoir and surrounding
> lakes as far as Lake of the Ozarks.
>
> With boat racing phasing out, the club turned to what
> you might call full time boating. In the mid 50's,
> Leroy Mead (a member of the club) owned property
> bordering the Missouri River and offered it to one of
> our dealers to develop. The Marine Dealer, with more
> business than he could handle, agreed with Mr. Mead to
> make it available to the boat club to complete.
>
> Members of the club jumped on the band wagon and
> accepted the challenge and thus we have the facility
> of the St. Joseph Outboard Motor and Yacht Club as it
> now stands on the property of the Mead family who
> first made it possible.
>
> Then began many weeks of hard work which was enjoyed
> by all, I'm sure. First the brush had to be cut and
> disposed of and a ramp, which had been started, had to
> be completed. The ramp as it is now, has been
> completed and rebuilt many times because of flood
> waters. Places to park and a "his" and "hers" were
> built. As soon as the "hers" was completed, the wasps
> homesteaded the inside. It was great fun for the
> "Captains" to watch their "First Mates" quickly exit
> the place - some at "half mast".
>
> With work on the River by the Corps of Engineers
> improving the channel, it made boating more pleasant.
> Organized cruises were made on the River by the club
> as far north as Sioux City, which became an annual
> event. Cruises were also made on the Lake of the
> Ozarks and the Mississippi River.
>
> During the years of 1957 through 1959, the membership
> of the club grew to 200. In January, 1959 some of the
> members of our club chartered a railroad coach and
> made a trip to the Chicago Boat and Sport Show. Two
> days and two nights in Chicago hotels - what a bash!
>
> Fortunately, the barracks at Rosecrans Field were
> being disposed of. Two of our members, Francis Small
> and Milton Small purchased one of them, dismantled it
> and donated it to the club - lock, stock and barrel.
>
> After months of hard labor, it was reconstructed,
> painted and electricity installed. Heat, telephone,
> water, kitchen facilities and restrooms were added.
> The clubhouse as it stands today, was completed in
> 1963. In the late 1970's a section for trailers was
> constructed and used frequently by club members until
> floods partially destroyed it.
>
> Many times through the years, the clubhouse, docks and
> ramp suffered much damage from flooding, but always
> the members have responded and rebuilt it to original
> or better shape.
>
> Let us not forget that our "First Mates" were on hand
> to help and at all times provided good food during
> work or pleasure. After all, who wants to go boating
> without their "First Mate" and kids. Let us once
> again praise our "First Mates" continuous support.
>
> This will bring to close my comments on some
> highlights of the history of the club, but can in no
> way begin to convey the joy and satisfaction it has
> brought to many of our members throughtout the years.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Cal Shaw
>
> The above is a reprint from 1988. There have been a
> few changes at the boat club since then - most of
> which came about after the "Great Flood of 1993". The
> biggest change was erecting the new club house, which
> can be utilized year round. As in prior years,
> members have responded when help or assistance is
> needed in cleaning or repairing the facilities. As
> Cal mentioned, the club has given many members
> enjoyment and satisfaction throughtout the years and
> it should continue to do so for generations to come.