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History
Articles
of Association
When our founders met on the porch
of the Branford Point Hotel, their discussions often focused on
plans to organize a club that would encourage the art of navigation,
the advancement of aquatic sports, and gather yachtsmen into a
common interest association.
Herbert Smith of East Haven, Homer H.
Shepard of New Haven, and Norman Gillette of Short Beach
incorporated the Branford Yacht Club on June 24, 1909. Herbert Smith
became the first Commodore (1909-1910).
When the Branford Point Hotel was torn down, Club members searched
for a new home. Club meetings continued at a couple of different
locations until they finally moved to the building at the town dock
on Harbor Street. A local family in Branford purchased the building
and deeded it to the town. On September 21, 1938, a hurricane
destroyed a large part of the Clubhouse, but our membership rebuilt
it without a lot of fanfare.
Then came the war years. Fifteen percent of our total membership
enlisted and those remaining provided approximately fifty-two
thousand hours of service in U. S. Coast Guard Reserve Flotilla
#707. Without pay, without acknowledgement and at their own expense,
members patrolled our coastline twenty-four hours a day, seven days
a week, to support the war effort.
In October 1945, the BYC moved to the property that originally
belonged to the Farnum Girls Camp - the site we now call home. Our
membership generously donated to the purchase of this property, with
some endorsing the mortgage. Title to the property was transferred
to the Club on November 6, 1946 and our first meeting in the new
Clubhouse was held on March 11, 1947.
During the 1950’s, our marina began to take the shape that we know
it to be today. Michaelson Hall was added to the building in 1963
and gave us a facility that could proudly support our plan to
provide a recreational home for area boaters and their families.
In the winter of 1997-98, a massive renovation project was
undertaken and completed. The original Clubhouse was expanded to
include a new roof, vinyl siding, thermal windows, structural
repair, an electrical and mechanical upgrade, handicap
accessibility, and a complete interior freshening. Also in the late
1990’s "C", "D", and "E" docks were replaced with new ones.
The start of the new century saw two major changes at the club. In
2003 "A" dock was replaced with a floating dock and in 2005 our
membership requirements were modified to allow women to join.
There is no doubt that the BYC has grown to be a respected port of
call for mariners of all types as they navigate the coastal waters
of Connecticut.
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