The Oswego Yacht Club’s storied history—from its modest 1883 Stick Style clubhouse through its decline in the 1920s and revitalization in the modern day—is now on display through December at the Richardson Bates House Museum.

1881–1935

The Oswego Yacht Club was initially organized on April 14, 1881 as the Oswego Boat Club, although yachting and leisurely sailing had been a popular pastime in Oswego many years before. A year later in 1882 the members of the club renamed the organization the Oswego Yacht Club.

On January 30, 1883 the club filed their certificate of incorporation with the County of Oswego. They received an official charter from the State of New York on February 5, 1883, making the organization the oldest officially incorporated and chartered yacht club on the American side of Lake Ontario.

In 1883 the club built its first clubhouse at the foot of West Fifth Street on the banks of the Oswego Harbor for $700. This clubhouse was situated on land owned by Albert G. Cook, a wealthy coal merchant and railroad agent, who allowed the club to occupy the site. The clubhouse was a modest Stick Style building, square in shape and featured a tower with a conical roof and a large covered veranda facing the lake.

Shortly thereafter, a boathouse was built on the east side of the clubhouse to accommodate the growing fleet of yachts. In 1885, an additional boat house was built on the west side of the clubhouse and lockers were included for every member of the club.

The second Oswego Yacht Club was constructed starting in 1914. Though famous architect Claude Bragdon is credited with drawing the plans, a contemporary news article credits the design to Luthor Harding and construction to the Peter Raby Company. It opened with a grand ball in 1919.

Yachting declined in the 1920’s due to the expense, coupled with the Great Depression starting in 1929. As many of the Yacht Club members had formed a Naval Militia in 1915 and that training unit needed a building, it was decided in 1935 to sell the club, docks, boathouses and lakefront to become the armory for the New York State Naval Militia.

Wings were added to the center section in 1949-50 by the State of New York for use as a New York State Naval Militia Armory and a U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center. Today, it is the McCrobie Civic Center, named in 1981 after the former Oswego Superintendent of Parks and Recreation.

1979–present

After a period of dormancy, the Oswego Yacht Club had a revival. In 1979 a group of sailing enthusiasts and boat owners held a meeting, and elected officers. These included F.E. Cullen, Chet Downing, Bart Gentile, Pat LaFrate, Ernie Mears, Bob Palmer, and Vic Regan.

The 1980s and 1990s saw racing programs centered around several fleets of boats: Sunfish, Lightnings, and Flying Scots, J-24s, J-30s and a fleet which includes boats of various sizes. From the 1980s until the present day, boats of all sizes raced every Wednesday night. There were 25 to 30 boats racing each week during the 1990s and 2000s. In addition, long-distance races were held each summer, notably the Galloo Island Race and the Lighthouse Race to Selkirk.

One of the largest regattas on eastern Lake Ontario, Sail Oswego, was hosted by OYC every year during Harborfest from the first year of the festival, 1989 until 2019. The lockdowns of 2020 prevented any regattas from being held on Lake Ontario.

In addition OYC has hosted other major regattas including the Flying Scot North American Championships, J 24 District and Great Lakes, the Lake Yacht Racing Association regatta, the Eastern Yachting Circuit regatta, and the National Hospice regatta.

In the mid 1990s what was once the Coal Trestle Pier, was developed into a marina with deep water docking, and a building that housed facilities for boaters in the marina. Deep water docks became more important as Zebra mussels, cleaning up the water, made Wrights Landing increasingly weedy and less desirable for dockage of full keel sailboats. Many members then rented slips in the International Marina. In 2005, the club was invited to rent part of that building. The club invested in renovations including expanding the existing deck to more than double its capacity, which was very well used during club events and regattas.

In 2020, the city evicted the yacht club and demolished the International Marina. Without the deep water docks, many club members moved their boats away from Oswego to other marinas. This resulted in a drop in membership and diminished racing. In addition, the pandemic put a hault to regattas. Wednesday night racing continued in Oswego, but without a clubhouse, OYC was back to meeting at the East Side Marina under the awning that sheltered them in the 1980s.

In December 2021, the club began leasing a room on the corner of West First and Seneca streets. Having a temporary home has allowed the club to regroup and begin plans for its future.

In June of 2023, the club was able to host the Oswego Hospice Cup Regatta, a major fundraiser to support Friends of Oswego County Hospice. This regatta will be held again in 2024 celebrating 25 years.

The club welcomes non-club members as crew on race nights. For many years the club has operated a Try Sailing program to introduce people in the community to sailing. OYC members also continue to support the Oswego School District Sailing Club for middle and high school students. Recently, they are also involved in reestablishing a Sailing Club at SUNY Oswego.

Yacht clubs are no longer exclusive to the wealthy. The Oswego Yacht Club is open to all people, and one need not own a boat to be a member.