BHYC's Rich History

A BHYC member launching their boat. Pictured are Nathaniel Chase (winching boat), Jack Murray (in boat) and David Murray (child standing). Mr. Chase was a club member and executive at New England Telephone. He was responsible for changing the telephone offices in New England from crank to dial in the 1950s. 

Photo taken by Conrad F. Bowden supplied by David N. Murray

1905 photo of the B&MRR Elliott Street crossing. Note the electric bell box on the white pole (one bell for each direction), the cobblestones, and the Danvers trolley car tracks that intersect the B&M train tracks at this crossing. New England Telephone & Telegraph leased the right to set telegraph poles along the railway. 

A picture of the B&M Railroad bridge over Federal St. near River St. Note the old fashioned semaphore railroad signals and the steam locomotive in the background. Circa 1905 

Photo taken by Bert Hanlon family supplied by David N. Murray

HISTORY OF THE BASS HAVEN YACHT CLUB

 · The 1910’s ·July 1, 1910--The first meeting of the United Shoe Machinery Athletic Association Boat Club was held in the company restaurant located in the factory complex at Elliott Street in Beverly, MA. The USMAA was an umbrella organization for recreation at the factory. The Boat Club would be a part of the larger organization and company supervised. The members present elected a temporary president and secretary. The records show that 17 people attended this first meeting. They also voted to form a committee of three--a theme through the early years--to draw up suitable bylaws, to obtain members and draw up a suitable float. Over the next few months, plans for a building, a railway and storage were drawn and executed.

In the fall of 1910 the first “outside people” were allowed to haul and store their boats at the club. At the December meeting, the committee reported that no outside people made application and the committee was discharged.
In 1912 the clubhouse was under construction.

At the January 21, 1913 meeting, the club formed a committee of three to put out mooring buoys, at the proper time, at the beginning of the season.

May 6, 1913--The secretary reported the club had received invitations to accept the hospitality of the following clubs:
Portland Power Boat Club
Manchester Launch Club
Haverhill Yacht Club

September 8, 1913--A motion was made to look into heating the clubhouse. (The club finally got heat in March of 1956.)

December 16, 1913--The first member was expelled for non-payment of dues. Interesting that we still use the December meeting for discharging members for non-payment.

February 3, 1914--A motion was made to add lights to the clubhouse. A second motion was made to form a committee of three to install the four lights and to control turning the lights on and off. In the spring of 1914, the committee reported the cost of the power line to be $35 and the project was dropped as too costly.
In the spring of 1914, club privileges for the Chelsea and Kennebunk Yacht Clubs were added. And that June, the first of the Misery Island parties was held; in fact they were an annual event until the late '90's.

1915 brought the first Chowder Party--a tradition that has survived to this day.

September 23, 1919--The secretary was Charles E. Brush. The secretary was by now giving an annual report of the club. In his report of the annual meeting he ended with this paragraph:
“After an informal talk on the general condition of the hauling paraphernalia, which brought out evidence of thorough harmony and a disposition of the individual members to do anything in their power to promote the usefulness and bettering of the club, the meeting adjourned at
9:50 p.m.”
In the Secretary’s report of September 30, 1919 he wrote:
“The credit of the club has been withheld and several members donated items to keep things going.”
In his last paragraph he wrote this marvelous description:
“It is with no little satisfaction when we think that our club is a club for motorboats pure and simple and that everything that we do is for the service and advancement of motorboats and motorboating. Our social functions are few and far between but for good fellowship and a general lend-a-hand to help the other fellow out. It would be hard to find its equal and as we look back over the past year, each of us can say that it has been a little brighter and a little better by our having lived in it.”
· The 1920’s ·The decade started with the club in debt $188. By the end of the year, they had paid it down to $49.13. The secretary noted that dues were $2 per year, with $1 additional going to the USMAA as dues.
The annual report of the secretary on September 12, 1921 is of note:
“Our club has been through some little history during the past few years and the season of 1921 has undoubtedly been the best for many years. In passing it is well to recollect that our club is only a division, one of many, attached to the USMAA and it will be seen therefore that our clubhouse is only a locker house, correctly speaking, and social functions which ordinarily might be looked for at this place should be held at the main clubhouse on McKay Street. However, as we review our status as a boat club, we see 22 powerboats and including boats of all kinds, we can claim fully 40 craft. That sounds well and is fully up to the records of previous years.
“We always look for reasons or excuses in every affair whereby we account for our shortcomings. Accordingly we should not pass this occasion without mentioning the business depression which has spread over the country and its effect upon our club. We have booked 26 paid members, 11 in arrears, 6 honorary or complimentary; total 43. 10 of these are not employed in the factory and constitute the 25% allowable outside membership. Owing to the factor of unemployment represented in our club, the members in arrears have not been notified as to their status by the secretary and have been made to feel as comfortable and welcome to our house as ever.”


He closed with these thoughts:
“In closing we would emphasize the good fellowship which exists in our midst, and the helping hand which is always extended to a fellow in trouble-

There is no north, there is no south
Nor color, nor race, nor birth
When two strong men meet face to face
Though they come from the ends of the earth.
And now before we leave and lock the gate of 1921 let us all face the east and watch for the dawn of 1922 with its unwritten history of gasoline and grease, fish and fuss and rope, and hope for many a good time to come.”
The treasurer’s report showed a balanced budget for the year of $92.80.
September 25, 1922--Annual Report of Secretary:“The club has a paid-up membership of 37, an increase of 2 over last year. 40 boats fly our club burgee and fully 50 craft of all kinds are owned by members. The incorporation of young blood into the club has rekindled the waning interest of past years and today our committees are showing more activity and doing more toward the success of the club than ever before.
“There has been no rivalry or dissatisfaction among our members for the reason that every man was expected to and did valiant work whenever called upon to assist and that by the way is the very reason why we are able to run the club for such a sum as dues amounting to $2.00 a year.
The presence of more than the usual number of ladies about the club during the past season calls for a tidier house, neater furnishings and well-kept grounds. All these are receiving due attention and will undoubtedly be a item of our next report.”
Secretary’s Report, October 18, 1923:
“Our club has made its usual record this season and the addition has listed the largest and the smallest power boats ever owned in our club. Cooperation seems to be the watchword among us. The fellow having trouble with his boat soon finds that his trouble is everybody’s trouble and if in need of help he soon has it--in fact if advice was building material, he would soon have several boats to his credit.”
On May 3, 1929 there was a special meeting called to vote on the construction of a fireproof building to store outboard motors. The club voted a committee of three to get it built for the sum of $200. The building still stands and is called the outboard shed.
· The 1930’s ·The records of the club are missing until 1937. The club by now was having annual meetings and elections and records in this period were uneventful.

· The 1940’s ·In 1942 the railway was moved to its present location.
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· The 1950’s ·April 13, 1950--The record shows the first meeting of the United Shoe Yacht Club. These minutes also reported that the club would install a telephone on a one-year trial. The phone is still in the clubhouse.
In 1951 the club had 73 factory members and 23 outside members. It was voted to close the outside membership for the year.
July 1951--United Shoe Yacht Club hoisted the Mass Bay Yacht Club Association burgee at the country club. In October of 1951 the club voted to let the Sea Scouts tie up their boat at the club float.
March 1956--The clubhouse heat was installed (see 9/8/13 entry).
· The 1960’s ·June 14, 1965--Ralph Hobbs attended the Board of Governors meeting as a visitor. Commodore Hobbs is our senior Past Commodore.
January 10, 1967--George Foster applied for membership to the club. The original membership was taken out by Norma Foster, a USMC employee, who had to resign due to ill health. Her husband, a non-employee, applied for membership. A motion was made and passed to open outside membership. A motion was made and passed to accept George Foster as a member in good standing. A motion was made and passed to close the outside membership.
December 11, 1967--The Board of Governors voted to install a CB radio on the roof, the cost to be borne by those using the radio.
On January 15, 1968 the club was issued a bill by the USMAA for taxes on the property. To raise money, the club measured boats with the measurement to be used as a yardstick to raise the required amount of money. Storage bills are now a way of life. In 1968 the club started posting the boat name and owner’s name for use of the railway. We still use a board for that purpose.
April 24, 1969The Board of Governors was invited to a meeting at the USMAA clubhouse to hear Mr. Joiner, President of United Shoe Machinery Corporation, discuss the future of the USMAA. He gave a brief talk on the USMAA, its cost to the corporation and the small  percentage of employees who benefited from it. It was the decision of the corporation to lease the property. The Yacht Club was separated from the Golf Club. Mr. Joiner stated that the members of the Yacht Club should get together and form a group or incorporate and present a plan to the USM Corporation. The plan should show sound financial and management plans. USM would lease the property to the group.

After the meeting at the USMAA clubhouse, the Board of Governors met at the Yacht Club for a special meeting. The special meeting was opened by Commodore Hobbs at 7:55 p.m. The following attended this meeting: Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Rear Commodore W. Arlington, Secretary R. Lane, Board members H. Hutchinson, R. Bradley. C. Picardy and H. Brokvist. The following guests were recorded: R. Silsby, C. Lockwood, F. Whitmarsh, Dr. F. Carbone, C. Olnion, A. Sheehan and J. Brown.

A discussion was held on how to proceed in taking over the club and reorganizing and incorporating. Mr. Silsby stated the charter of the Manchester Harbor Boat Club was an excellent guide and suggested we use it as a guide which was agreed to by those present. The Commodore gave a brief summary of the charter and the workings of the Board of Governors of the Salem Willows Yacht Club.
It was agreed that the Commodore appoint a committee from those present to form a new club, with the Commodore to act as chairman of all committees. The Charter Committee was R. Bradley, J. Brown and R. Silsby. The Finance Committee was F. Whitmarsh, A. Sheehan, F. Carbone, H. Brokvist, C. O’Brien, W. Arlington and C. Lockwood. The Name Committee: Frank Lima, H. Hutchinson and C Picardy. The committees would report back at the regular Board of Governors meeting on May 12, 1969.
The Commodore was instructed to write a letter to the USM Corporation thanking them for the opportunity to reorganize the Yacht Club and stating that we would give them a summary of our proposal in 60 days. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
In just under one hour, the club started on a new direction.
 
The next meeting was May 12, 1969. Present at that meeting: Commodore Ralph Hobbs, Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Rear Commodore W. Arlington, Secretary and Treasurer R. F. Lane, Board members R. Bradley, H. Hutchinson, C. Picardy, H. Brokvist and F. Gordella. Guests at the meeting were R. Silsby, C. O’Brian, F. Whitmarsh, A. Sheehan and J. Brown. The meeting was opened by Commodore Hobbs at 7:30 p.m. Frank Whitmarsh, chairman of the Finance Committee, passed out an analysis of revenue needed to operate the new club. Also included was an analysis of the number of members and the amount each would have to pay for the bond required by the USM Corp., broken down in amounts of $25,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000.
This report also included a proposed budget. This report was accepted by the board. Robert Bradley, chairman of the Charter and By-Laws Committee, read this committee’s report. The report was accepted with some minor changes to clarify a few articles. The section on dues and fees was to be rewritten pending further information on the commitment of collecting the necessary money to lease and operate the club.
A discussion was held on what fees would be charged for separate services such as dues, yard fees, railway use, etc. Roger Silsby gave a brief outline of money necessary to operate the club and the method of collecting it. It was agreed that all fees would be collected in the fall of the year when boats are hauled out of the water.
The question of an entrance fee and whether it would be repaid to the charter members at a later date was held in abeyance pending the exact amount required by the USM Corporation and the final operating expenses. Frank Whitmarsh contacted Attorney Ray Julian relative to the legal
matters and incorporation as a non-profit organization. Mr. Whitmarsh submitted copies of the lease for Julian’s study and report.

Vice Commodore Frank Lima, Chairman of the Name Committee, had placed a box at the USM Yacht Club requesting suggested names for the new yacht club from all the interested members. The box contained 24 names which were placed before those present. From these, the name Bass Haven Yacht Club was picked.
It was agreed to have another meeting on May 20, 1969. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
· The 1970’s ·From May 20, 1969 until June of 1970 the records are filled with the work of the several committees working on the transition of the club from being a part of the USMAA to a private club renting the land. During this transition new members, both factory and non-factory, were admitted. At the March 9, 1970 meeting, Commodore Ralph Hobbs informed the Board that USM required a $75,000 bond. USM would also send out all the dues bills--but not storage
bills--until August 31, 1970. On September 1, 1970 the club was to take over the billing. Now you know why we send out bills due September 1 to this day.
At the April meeting, Commodore Hobbs informed the Board that the bond had been reduced to $20,000 as the club had difficulty getting a bond for $75,000. The Commodore also informed the Board that Salem had enacted a regulation allowing a yacht club to regulate the moorings of the club. They decided to see if Beverly would act likewise. At the May 11, 1970 meeting, Commodore Hobbs informed the Board Mr. H. Booma had signed the lease for the club and that he had assured the club they would be able to get insurance and a bond. The Commodore stated that when all the information was finalized, they would have a meeting of the membership.
At the June 8, 1970 meeting, the club placed a 42 foot limit on the railway.
On June 10, 1970 the Bass Haven Yacht Club, Inc. was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The date of incorporation was March 23, 1970.
At the June 24, 1970 meeting, it was voted to keep the slate of officers until the next annual meeting.
At the July 8, 1970 meeting, we hired our first custodian at $10 per week. The board voted to have Frank Lima set up the club books and determine if the club would pay for electricity and water. They also needed to determine who would handle the trash pickup. They voted to bond the secretary and treasurer for $5000 each.
They were now on their own—almost.
August 10, 1970The club had a rent bill of $208.33 to be paid by September 1. This was a meeting with the USM board--their last joint meeting. The Board discussed volunteer labor and/or some means of procuring same. 
September 8, 1970 was the first board meeting of the Bass Haven Yacht Club--our third name. The Board was looking at a way to purchase a tractor. They needed to raise $950.
December 1, 1970 was the first general meeting of the Bass Haven Yacht Club. Since this was the first meeting, there were no minutes of previous meetings. Discussions from the floor were relative to boat storage and space between boats. Volunteer labor was discussed to repair the floor and paint the outside of the club. USM donated paint. The club was up to 119 members.

On April 13, 1971, the club started charging $100 with a new application. The era of initiation fees had started. Cement floors were laid in the clubhouse. They are still in fine shape as of this writing.
It was noted on on June 13, 1971 thatthe storage bills and membership bills would be mailed August 1 and payable September 1. A note went out with the bills stating that no boat could be hauled until dues were paid.
At the September 7, 1971 meeting, a discussion was held on the new laws that required holding tanks in boats. The exact implications on the club, such as whether we would need to add a pump-out station, were unclear and the situation would be monitored. The discussion turned dark on negotiations with USM, with the prospects for the next several years uncertain. At the next meeting, however, Clem O’Brian reported the property could be purchased from USM. Clem suggested the club hire a professional appraiser to give a starting point to negotiate with USM.
On October 26, 1971, a motion was made and passed to install a hauling and launching board in the clubhouse. This would be used to control the members who had paid their dues. If the dues were not current, the name would be removed.
February 8, 1972--Clem O’Brien reported the purchase of the land was now in a wait-and-see stage. The Shoe (USM) thought it might want to sell the complete parcel of land on the south side of Elliott Street. The club had to just sit tight.
On February 10, 1972 a special meeting of the membership was called by 10 members requesting information about the future of the club. This was the first time the club faced the real threat that they might be forced out and must look for new ideas. The members heard Clem’s report and gave him a vote of confidence.
The October 10, 1972 meeting of the board shows how the stress of uncertainty had spread. For the first time, a member got 10 signatures and ran against the standing commodore.  The vote was close--33 to 29--but Commodore Frank Whitmarsh defeated Frank Lima.
At the December 12, 1972 meeting, Clem O’Brien reported that the Shoe would not divide the property. The board decided to look at the cost of purchasing the complete parcel. A letter was drafted to the president of USM asking for an extension of the lease. The club waited for an answer.
 
September 11, 1973--The club now had two years left on their lease and were very concerned about their future. A committee was formed and Ralph Hobbs was selected to talk to Bruce Paul, Manager of Facilities for USM, to see if an extension to the lease could be worked out.
At the October 9, 1973 meeting, the club became the sponsor for a Sea Scouts group. At the annual meeting, it was announced the club now had assets in excess of $27,000, the spending being very carefully controlled by the Board of Governors. The meeting with USM had resulted in the club having a month-to-month lease with a one-year option to cancel. They would not have an option to purchase the property from USM. It was concluded that further discussions were fruitless.
The year following was a sad era for the club. The lease was month-to-month and the news from the Shoe was not optimistic. At the June 2, 1974 meeting Commodore Joe Brown announced that he was looking for another location for the club should they lose their present location.

In October of 1975 the club voted not to allow absentee ballots in any election. The club also started discussing a work assessment for the members not willing to help out around the club. The secretary noted in the annual meeting report that the club had 33 members present out of a possible 156. That showed him not many were willing to participate. The age of work assessments was coming.
The year 1975 ended with a letter to USM President H. Jarvis asking for a reconsideration of the lease. The club had not had a response and was now actively looking for alternate sites. The Boston Gas location upriver was one consideration and Commodore Joe Lima was following that lead. The special meeting at the local union hall resulted in a discussion of the gas company land and a plan to finance this endeavor.
January 13, 1976The club sent a letter of intent to the Boston Gas Company for the purchase of the gas company property, subject to permits and zoning changes. The commodore and Andy Sheehan met with Bill Scanlon and Bruce Paul of USM to discuss the lease and future of the club. Mr. Scanlon felt nothing would be changed until June of 1976 as the Trash-to-Energy plant moved forward.

February 9, 1976The proposal from the BHYC to Boston Gas was rejected. However, the door was open for negotiation. A letter was sent to USM informing them that the yacht club was still interested in the purchase of the club property.April 4, 1976The board decided not to contact the USM Corporation any more unless a emergency should arise or until they answered the last letter sent to them.

May 13, 1976The club purchased a new Coke machine for $799 and raised the price of a bottle of Coke to 25 cents. The club committee chairmen met and plans were underway to stay for a while. Commodore Joe Lima and Past Commodore Jack Brown met with the IRS and paid a delinquent tax of $690 under protest.July 29, 1976--A letter was sent to T. Mitchell Ford of Emhart Corporation, who was now the owner of USM. The letter asked for information and a long-term lease or sale of the property. Mr. Ford answered the letter August 12, 1976 and told the club there was nothing he could do and the best hope was the trash-to-energy project as this was to allow the yacht club to co-exist with the trash plant—a political ploy. In the letter he called this project the Low-Cost Energy Project.

The balance of 1976 went by with no more information as to the fate of the club. The record showed that in September 13, 1977 the club sent a letter to the Board of Health showing support for the trash-to-energy plant.
On Saturday, January 28, 1978, the club had a special meeting to form a committee consisting of Rudy Conant, Bill Brown and Jim Ulhelton and gave them approval to purchase a used crane for sailboats to remove masts. The total cost of the crane was to equal the storage cost of Mr. Robert King’s boat for one year. No mention was made as to why it was not just not to exceed $100.00 The crane stands today.
January 31, 1978The club survived the Blizzard of ‘78, with only the oil burner and the Coke machine getting wet. They donated $50 to the Can-Do Widows Fund. 


April 11, 1978--The Board approved a plan that required each regular member to work five hours or be billed $10 per hour up to a maximum of five hours.

· The 1980’s ·On March 11, 1980,
the club sent a letter to Emhart Chairman T. Mitchell Ford, reminding him of our interest in the purchase of the land and inviting him to visit the club when he came to Beverly. He would later report that he understood the interest but had nothing for us then. He never visited the club.

August 12, 1980The secretary was asked to post minutes of the Board of Governors monthly meeting in the clubhouse. We still do.

February 9, 1982--A motion was made and passed to form a mooring committee to be responsible for the moorings from the Hall-Whitaker Bridge to the Club’s property line.
On June 8, 1982, the Club sent a letter to the Coast Guard informing them of the club’s support for a new fixed span bridge between Beverly and Salem. The bridge took 18 years to get built.
November 11, 1982 A special meeting formed a budget committee to manage the club finances. There were to be six members, with two elected each year. In the beginning, two were elected for one year, two for two years, and two for three years.
In February 1984 the club and the Shoe started talking about the possibility of leasing more land. A committee was formed and discussions followed.
January 14, 1985--The club decided to send another letter to Emhart looking for information on the future of the club.
 
March 11, 1985--The records show that the letter to T. Mitchell Ford was read and placed in the file. No remarks were recorded.
May 12, 1985--The secretary was directed to send letters to Mass Electric and USM looking to lease land.
1985 ended with no solid information about the future of Bass Haven Yacht Club.

On June 9, 1986, the board had a short discussion on the leasing of land. No progress was reported.
August 11, 1986--The record shows that a new discussion started on the purchase of land. No description of the plan can be found in the records up to now.
September 19, 1986-- A special meeting was called to discuss the purchase of the Spite Bridge Boat Yard. Meetings between the Land Purchase Committee and Spite Bridge had taken place and the committee had agreed to a $10,000 deposit, non-refundable, to hold the land for 30 days. The purchase and sale agreement would need to be signed in 30 days. The board unanimously approved the deal. At the next Board of Governors meeting, the membership was closed until further notice. No explanation is given for this action.
October 16, 1986--At the annual club meeting, the members approved a motion to purchase Spite Bridge.
November 23, 1986--A special meeting was held with the Board of Governors, Finance Committee and a small group of members to go over the books of Spite Bridge. The board made a motion to send a letter to the owners of Spite Bridge and tell them the club could not afford the yard. The board also sent a letter to Emhart looking to meet with them.
On March 9, 1987, the club sent a letter to the City of Beverly looking to lease land from them. Over the next several months the club sent letters to aldermen and the mayor looking for land for the club. No answers were recorded.
The year 1987 ended with no word from any source as to a location for the club. Yet the membership built new floats, had a fishing tournament, and looked to the future with faith that a solution would be found.
On February 8, 1988, the Board voted to have a memorial plaque made for Henry Brokvist. Henry was a hero to many at the club and at the USM factory. He was a master boat builder, carpenter and friend to the club. God Bless you Henry.
The year (and decade) ended with nothing in the way of answers as to the future of the club. There were discussions several times at the Board of Governors meetings to send letters to Emhart and the Mayor, but nothing concrete.

· The 1990’s ·February 12, 1990--The year preceding had several notes relative to looking to Emhart to lease more land or give a long-term lease. Nothing came of several discussions with the Corporation.
Representatives from the State Department of Public Works were present at this board meeting to discuss ways to reduce the bridge openings. The state was under financial pressure from the recession and money needed to be reduced from all budgets. The club would do its part to organize the openings. The year passed without any information and no new proposals came forward.
June 10, 1991--A shed was started to house the new crane, donated by the USM Corporation. The year proceeded without any news from the Shoe or the city.

October 30, 1991--A special meeting of the Board of Governors was called to discuss the future of the Bass Haven Yacht Club. Several ideas were floated and $3,000 was appropriated to seek legal counsel on our rights under our lease. A committee was formed to report back to the board on its findings. This was the start of a process that would lead to the present club.
On November 11, 1991, the board was briefed by Alan Grenier on the club’s rights. Each month thereafter the records shows that a brief discussion was held by the committee to purchase the land.
On May 15, 1992, there was a special meeting of the membership to discuss the findings of the Land Acquisition Committee. They also approved a $100 assessment of the membership for the new fiberglass floats.
August 11, 1992--A special meeting of the Board of Governors was held to discuss the possibility of purchasing the land from Black and Decker. Items such as power, bulkhead repairs and permits were discussed. A motion was made and passed to offer $100,000 for the club property.
August 26, 1992--A special meeting was called of the Board of Governors. It was decided to make a formal offer to Black and Decker for the club property for the sum of $100,000 plus improvements, subject to approval of the entire membership.
December 21, 1992--A report was made on the purchase of the property from Black and Decker. Black and Decker informed the mayor that they were willing to transfer the club property to the Bass Haven Yacht Club for a nominal fee. The club members were reminded that this is a positive step, but only the beginning. Each month the board would receive a update on the progress of the negotiations with Black and Decker.
June 17, 1993--The membership authorized the expenditure of $7,000 for legal expenses.
November 29, 1993--A special meeting of the Board of Governors was held to discuss a letter of intent received from Black and Decker. A motion was passed to have our club attorney review and prepare an answer and have a special meeting of the membership to bring them up to speed.
January 5, 1994—A special meeting of the Board of Governors and the membership was held at the clubhouse. A discussion of the progress of the Land Acquisition Committee was presented by Commodore Jeff Bunk. The legal issues were buildings and the club needing an additional $35,000 to keep the process going. The new layout of the club would depend on the needs of the shopping center that would be in front of the club.

On May 16, 1994 a special meeting of the membership was held in the clubhouse. The meeting started out with a description of the proposed land purchase and a walking tour of the new boundaries. Upon returning to the clubhouse, the hall was opened up to questions and answers from the floor. A motion was passed to authorize the Board of Governors to sign a purchase and sale agreement, provided the cost did not exceed $100,000 and Black and Decker finance the loan for four years. Payment was to be a $30,000 deposit and $65,000 over four years interest free. The Board of Governors meeting was called to order and the board voted to authorize the Commodore to sign the purchase and sale agreement. After all these years we finally knew we were here to stay. The hundreds of hours spent by several Commodores and Boards had paid off.
On August 15, 1994, a special meeting of the membership was called to discuss the election of officers. It was proposed to keep the present line in place until the land was purchased or the 1995 annual meeting. The membership also voted to suspend the bylaw that allowed a line officer to hold office for two years. The secretary was directed to cast one vote for the present slate of officers.
On January 16, 1995, the Board of Governors was informed the club signed a purchase and sale agreement.
On July 17, 1995, the Board of Governors voted to place two Handicap parking spaces in front of the clubhouse.
At the October 17, 1995 annual meeting, the members voted to make the Land Acquisition Committee a standing committee, with members Scott Houseman, Jeff Bunk and James Brayden.
January 15, 1996--The Board of Governors set May 17, 1996 as the date for the celebration of the purchase of the club. The event would be held at the Beverly Golf and Tennis Club.
April 8, 1996--A special meeting of the Board of Governors was held to discuss the possibility of the power being turned off when the club purchased the property from Black and Decker. From the beginning, the club had received power from the power plant at the Shoe. The cost of renting a diesel generator was discussed. It was decided to rent a civil defense generator, have specific hours of operation, and shut down the railway until we understood the power issue. The board also ratified the purchase and sale agreement and authorized the Commodore to sign the remaining agreement as attached.
On May 9, 1996, we completed the quest that had been the goal of every Board of Governors and flag officer since 1975. Through the many years, our goal had been simple–to own the land we occupied and to be a permanent part of Beverly and the surrounding area. From Commodore Hobbs thru Commodore Brayden, the wisdom and planning of the past led us to a promising future.
Our slogan Bass Haven--a unique experience--past, present, future seems especially appropriate today. Back in 1921, a member cited our club as “a place where a boater in trouble will always find a helping hand and a reasonable cost to keep a boat.” The same thing can be said today. Plus as our membership has expanded, we have the great good fortune of always being able to find the right person for the right job at the right time.
Our past: wooden boats, glass boats, sailboats too,
Mostly owned by people of the Shoe.
A membership made up of men, women, and kids,

Nights for the young folks, days for the Admirals (Porch that is).
The yard for the workers and lovers of boats,
The clubhouse for stories and all the straw votes.
But for everyone there is a bond–loosely fit, it holds us tight
And serves as Bass Haven’s beacon of light.
    Jim Brayden, Commodore 1996
The history of Bass Haven is being written each day and by different characters, but it is continuing. Come down and add to its history!