One evening in 1948, friends convened on the lawn of the Beach Club on Corporation Pond, when the suggestion of a club in Dennis or East Dennis was raised, and was met with enthusiasm. The idea caught on quickly, and by spring there were two groups of divided opinion – one for a yacht club and one for tennis courts. In June 1948, a meeting was held at Carleton Hall, a vote was taken, and the yacht club was launched. Sesuit Harbor was selected for its location, and a lot of land was purchased for $2,500, with an option of an adjacent lot. Miss Suzanne Rice, a daughter of a member, designed the burgee using a clipper ship reminiscent of the design built at the Shiverick Boat Yard in Sesuit Harbor in the 1850s.
On July 4, 1950, the members assembled outside, the flag and burgee were hoisted, the door to the club opened, and the club was underway. During the early years, it was a social club only. Dances and club suppers were the main events. Those desiring cocktails brought their own. A group interested in sailing began to organize races. Pressure by the sailors for a dredged harbor (there was no water at low tide) resulted in efforts by the selectmen to have the state take action. In 1958, the harbor was dredged, the east jetty extended, the west jetty built, and we had “a harbor”. Sailing enthusiasm was high. Three turnabouts were purchased, and Rhodes and Beetle Cats became our official boats. In 1968, the Widgeon class was added.
The club originally had only a screened porch off the main hall. The open deck was built in 1958. The screened-in porch was converted to the senior lounge and named the Charles O. Nichols room in 1960. In the early 1960s, a program was initiated to install two tennis courts. In the mid-60s, a dock and a walking ramp were built, and in 1969 an additional lot of land was purchased to ensure a sufficient waterfront and land for future growth.
In the 1990s, we added to our fleet by purchasing 420s, and made improvements to the club house. We began our waterfront project in 1997, which included dredging the waterfront and the construction of a new dock. The winter of 2001 brought about major changes at the club with a new septic system, and additions to the senior lounge with dining room and deck on the second floor, offering views of the harbor and bay. The kitchen was extended and state-of-the-art equipment installed. The entire club was brought up to the current building codes. Kayaks were added to our fleet and additional floats were added to the dock. We have been at our maximum membership for a number of years and have many potential members eager to join. The club continues to flourish as a direct result of the enthusiasm and commitment of our members.
Contact Info
Address:
4 Harbor Rd, East Dennis, MA 02641, United States
Phone: 1 508-385-3741
Email: dennisyachtclub@gmail.com
Website: dennisyc.com
