A Proud History

In 1868, two years after the city of Portland was leveled by a fire that was the largest man-made disaster in American history up to that time, twenty-one sailors met in the office of W. W. "Whisker Bill" Thomas Jr. to discuss the formation of a yacht club.  They decided that if they could attract 100 members they would go ahead.   Evidently they found them, for on April 26, 1869, the Portland Yacht Club was founded, with 121 sailors on the roster.  Shortly thereafter it was incorporated under the laws of Maine; the original charter hangs in our Great Room.  The Initiation Fee was set at $2.00 and annual dues at $1.00.  

The initial Club anchorage was on the Cape Elizabeth shore -- the part of the Cape that later split off to become the city of South Portland.  The first Club House was a rented room on Custom House Wharf in Portland Harbor -- rental $8.30/month.

As the years passed the Club grew and shrank and grew again as it survived booms, depressions, wars, a fire that destroyed the Clubhouse, and other joys and sorrows.  In 1946, with Portland Harbor still a mess after World War II, the members began consideration of a change of venue.  In 1947 a cottage on the water in Falmouth was purchased, and the first of a continuing series of renovations began.  The House has grown, the Dining Room and Kitchen were added, the pier and floats expanded, and more land was acquired for parking and boat storage.  

As we approach our 150th anniversary, the Club is blessed to have a full membership, sound balance sheet, a plethora of volunteers, and an embracing community spirit.  As we move confidently into the future, we do so with pride in the heritage left to us by those who went before, and a commitment to leave the Club better than we found it for those who will come after us.