Page 21 - PCYC 75th Anniversary Book

PCYC Women All sorts of water problems

Did you know that in 1940 the Club did not accept The spring of 1941 brought very high water to the Credit Commodore ensconced on a barrel. It was at this time Vice-Commodore George McCloy (father of current Club
female members? However, in 1943, we took a brave River. Although the Clubhouse was under three feet of that serious consideration was given to moving the Historian – Marilea McAllister) chaired the Committee
step forward by allowing female relatives on PCYC water for most of the spring, this did provide the Clubhouse to the west side of the river – literally! The that lead the planning and construction activity. The
boats during races, provided that the Sailing opportunity to develop a new sport – boating inside the plan was to slide the existing Clubhouse across the fi rst half of the new building was completed in 1944,
Committee was informed ahead of time and that Clubhouse! Two young boys, Bob Dillon and Jackie Hare, ice during the following winter. Fortunately, a better the remainder in 1945. The total cost for this fi ne new
the other racers agreed, of course. paddled their canoe through the lounge to survey the plan emerged in late 1943 when a fi rm consensus was structure was $1,953.72.
The women of PCYC seem to have adopted Mrs. extensive damage. As soon as the fl ood waters subsided, reached by the members to build a new Clubhouse on By the fall of 1945, members who had served
Morch as one of their early leaders after she hosted the members got busy to make some improvements to the east side of the Credit River. A strategy was overseas returned to the Club. After 4 1/2 years of war
a tea party for members’ spouses in 1938. However, the Clubhouse, including running water and a devised to build the new structure in two identical halves with its sacrifi ces and uncertainties, diminishing
by 1940 the “Ladies Organization” was being formally rudimentary sewage system consisting of a series of (meeting space and lounge/dining area), honouring the membership and resulting cash problems, years of
recognized and thanked for invaluable assistance in 55 gallon oil drums. concept of one day having to slide the Clubhouse across fl ooding and nowhere to meet, PCYC had turned the
connection with the various social activities carried Flooding recurred in 1943 such that the Club Executive the river’s ice, in two manageable pieces. Fortunately, corner and was poised for a new age of recovery
on by the Club. In the following years, the ladies kept took to holding their meetings on the dock, with the it never became necessary to implement this plan. and prosperity.
busy arranging for the purchase of dishes for the Club
PCYC Club Boathouse (1949)
and collecting donations to prepare Christmas boxes Looking at the front of the 1949 Clubhouse from Stavebank Road.
for PCYC members on active duty overseas. Happily, in
the decades since then, we seem to have modernized
the role of the women of PCYC while still preserving
the fi ne values, traditions and initiatives that have
been our hallmarks.

Confucious
PCYC’s Committee boat heads out to the Lake to start a race – 1940s