WYANDOTTE YACHT CLUB
In 1951 a few men had an idea and from
this idea the birth of the Wyandotte Yacht Club became a reality. On November
16, 1951, twenty-seven men were selected to serve as officers and Joe Zanglin,
member and prominent attorney, was appointed to proceed with the task of
incorporating the new club. Wyandotte Yacht Club was incorporated January
3, 1952 and was formed with the community purpose of ensuring the
continuity of the sport of rowing. To that end, Wyandotte Boat Club leased a
piece of their property to us and assisted in building the first clubhouse at
our former location of 2299 Van Alstyne, Wyandotte (behind Wyandotte General
Hospital).
After more than forty years of leasing
property from the Wyandotte Boat Club, a decision was made by the then board of
directors of WYC to explore the possibility of purchasing property to ensure the
long term growth of the club. And so, a Purchase Committee was formed in 1993
for the very purpose of finding available riverfront property or an existing
marina for the Wyandotte Yacht Club.
1998: Wyandotte Yacht Club
turning point
The General Membership Meeting on
December 3, 1997 was one of special note because the membership voted to
purchase the River's Edge Marina in Ecorse. On March 24, 1998 the members of
Wyandotte Yacht Club purchased our present facilities and began the monumental
task of renovations. With the dedication, donations and many hours of labor from
our members, our clubhouse was opened for business with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony on February 14, 1999.
In the late spring of 1999, we began the
renovations and reconstruction on our docks and marina including dredging, new
docks and new electric power and water on the docks. This monumental project was
totally completed in the Spring of 2001.
We still have many projects in our long
term plans for completion, but as with any new venture these will come with time
and the dedication of our members. Wyandotte Yacht Club members have long prided
themselves in their ability and tenacity to immerse themselves in projects that
will benefit the club long term. Over the years our Club has grown and prospered
and will continue to grow because of the willing members whose good fellowship,
cooperation and enthusiasm have made the Club what it is today, the most
congenial club on the river.
2013: And so comes the next chapter in
the life of the Wyandotte Yacht Club.
Over the last several years the economy has taken its toll on our club and its
membership. The leaders and members put their hearts, souls, and much of
their own money into the club to help maintain its existence, however, with a
less than pleasant landlord in the mix, the Wyandotte Yacht Club members made a
decision to pull up stakes and attempt a paper club existence. It is our
plan to maintain this existence until such time that we find another place that
we can call our home. Our signature mascot, The Wyandotte Indian, has
been tucked safely away until that day arrives and we can once again stand him
tall for all to see where we have landed. We are looking forward to being
a traveling club and have much faith that our devoted and loyal members will
enjoy this next phase of our beloved Wyandotte Yacht Club.