Our History

In June 1903, a meeting was held at the home of Dr. Willis S. Putney at 55 Broad Street in Milford to address the needs of boaters. It was at this meeting that the Milford Yacht Club was formed. Proper papers of incorporation were prepared and signed by Dr. Putney, Thomas J. Falls, Henry J. Taylor, and Ashmun Beaven…these individuals became some of the first officers of the Club. Article II described the purpose of the association as follows: “The purposes for which said corporation is formed are the following to wit: to encourage yacht building, to promote naval architecture, and the cultivation of naval science, and to encourage yachting and other social recreations, and to promote social intercourse amongst its members.”

Once the papers were approved by the State of Connecticut, the next step was to provide a place for meetings on suitable land for a yacht club. At that time, on the property now owned by Milford Yacht Club, there was a building owned by the H. J. Lewis Oyster Company. After some deliberation, the early members were successful in leasing the property for $10 per month. Meeting minutes from 1918 refer to a committee being appointed to contact the oyster company about the possibility of purchasing the property but they were only able to secure a four-year lease. In November 1926, a few members formed the Milford Yacht Realty Corporation and purchased the property from the oyster company. Stock in the corporation was offered for sale but held by relatively few individuals. At the start of the 1928 season, the club was paying an annual rental fee of $1,500 per year. The Club held many conversations with the Corporation relative to purchasing the property, and in 1945, Milford Yacht Club became the owner of a good portion of the Club property we now enjoy today.

While we are no in longer in possession of all the early documentation of the Club due to fire and other damages, we do know that yachting and boating were core components of the Club since its inception and have remained so in various forms over the years since 1903. Early boats included Sharpies, which were originally built for the oystering business and permitted navigating in shallow water. The 1937 MYC yearbook listed the Fleet has having 59 vessels of every description including motor cruisers, auxiliaries, sloops, schooners and outboards. A separate listing noted the first sailboat racing class of Snipes, which consisted of 10 boats. By the 1950s, the additional racing classes included Star, Lightning, Thistle, Rhodes and Blue Jay. The junior sailing program and swimming team were started in the 1950s, with swimming lanes set up along the old beach and between the slips.

The original Club building was a simple two-story, wooden structure. As the Club grew, it was modified and added on to in order to increase the size of the porch and add cooking capabilities. The first food facility was a simple sandwich counter which was added in 1935. This quickly proved inadequate and full restaurant service was introduced. Eventually a full-time restaurant manager position was added and in 1953, a special assessment was approved to remodel the kitchen to meet the then current demands and innovations.

Unfortunately, a fire occurred in the main Club building on Christmas Eve of 1961. While some losses were recovered through insurance, the event resulted in planning for significant improvements. The Club and building footprint as we know it today was significantly renovated and rebuilt during the 1977 season.

For many years, the beach and bathing facilities were primitive compared to what we have today. We had a small beach but the sand washed away with the tides and needed to be replenished annually. The depth dropped off abruptly and the normal mooring and passing of boats in the harbor did not contribute to ideal beach and bathing conditions. In 1955, a small building was built for the use of the Junior Yacht Club in the summer and for equipment storage in the winter.

A swimming pool had been considered for many years, but the cost was felt to be beyond our means. The first Pool Committee was appointed in 1959 to explore the feasibility of a pool and a plan for how to finance the work. At a special meeting in 1965, the Board of Directors was authorized to borrow $215,000 for the construction of the pool, activities building, slips and the supporting bulkhead. The work was completed in time for members to enjoy these new amenities at the start of the 1966 season.

The Club often considered the purchase of adjoining properties over the years. In 1974, we purchased the land on Rogers Avenue adjacent to the access road which has a storage garage on it. In 1989, we purchased what is now known as Anderson’s Landing, which is located at the base of Trumbull Avenue and provides additional harbor access for the launching of small boats.

In the early 2000s , the original 1966 wooden bulkhead began to fail, threatening the safety of the pool and Club buildings. We were fortunate to be able to obtain approval to install a steel bulkhead in front of the wooden bulkhead, which enabled us to secure the pool and buildings as well as expand the deck overlooking the harbor and Club marina and in front of the main clubhouse. The Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003, a significant milestone in our history, with an expanded Commissioning Day ceremony event.

One of the Milford Yacht Club’s greatest assets is our enviable location on Long Island Sound at the mouth of Milford Harbor. This location, however, exposes us to nature’s powerful storms and tides. We have survived many storms and hurricanes over the last 120 years, and in the most recent past decade did sustain some damage. Hurricane Irene hit us in August 2011 with notable flooding. A year later, Superstorm Sandy surged through and caused damage to the main clubhouse, front lawn and deck area, as well as to the slips and dock office.  The Club was closed for several months in order to rebuild and repair the damage. A granite front patio replaced the former wooden deck and improvements were made to the main dining room and kitchen.  The patio, decks and front lawn area with Adirondack chairs are now some of our members’ favorite locations at the Club in the warmer months.

As we enter another new decade for the Club, we remain in strong financial health with a full membership roster.